1.) The Wat Temple in Elk river was such an amazing experience for me. It still hasn’t fully resonated with me that I’ll be studying abroad in Thailand, but the orientation made it feel so much more real. The moment that I entered the room I immediately felt the overwhelming feeling of peace and enlightenment. It was fascinating to hear about the Thai culture, the concept of mindfulness, simplicity, and everything that Buddhism entails. The meal that we were provided with was not only amazing, but the way that the hosts were so giving and encouraging us to eat more was so heartwarming.

2.) One learning goal I have for myself in regards to this Learning Abroad seminar is to attain the practice of mindfulness and immerse myself in the Thai culture. I love and deeply admire all the aspects that Buddhism embodies and would love to be able to emanate that within myself and have it contribute to my personal growth as an individual.

1. The experience I gained at the Wat Temple was the first time I had exposure to the religion and customs of the Thai people. By observing the meal ritual and the monk’s interaction with the people  very interesting to me because I think it’s really interesting to see other cultures and learn about other customs besides my own. Another example of a cultural shock to me was that I was expecting the temple to be those types of temples you would imagine through pictures online. I was surprised that having a location and a roof can become anything you want it to be.
2. One learning goal I have during this trip is to be open minded and expose myself to as many cultural learning experiences as possible through food, religion, villages, and the city life there.

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