CISabroad does a nice job setting up their students in nice off campus housing. I’m currently living in apartment style housing called Baan Suan. I live in a double room with a shared bathroom. The only downfall to the housing options at Mahidol University is that there is no kitchen so you are obligated to eat out, unless you keep little snacks in your mini fridge. Other than that, the housing accommodations remind me a lot of freshman year, but thankfully we all have our own bathrooms in our room. In my housing specifically, we have a cute, family run restaurant right on site with it. Its extremely cheap and convenient and the husband and wife are extremely kind to all of the exchange students. Also, the family who runs the housing itself is so thoughtful. There will be times when I’m sitting in the lobby and the owner will drop some bananas or tangerines on the table in front of me. I feel well taken care of and looked after at Baan Suan. Another slight downfall is we are a solid 20-30 minute walk from campus and 30-40 minutes from the International College. This was a change for me as I’m used to Boston’s walk-able city. However, CIS grants us with a taxi stipend to help us fund the taxi rides we take to and from school.
My housing only offers twelve spots to students and with it being such a small group it pushed us all to become extremely close. That might seem like a downfall to some, but it really encouraged all of us to get to know each other. I became super close with many girls right from the start and now I found a group I’m comfortable and happy with. I feel extremely lucky to not have had any issues making friends here. I know that’s most students biggest fear in studying abroad, but I’m grateful that was never a worry for me. Once I got here, I was able to immediately click with everyone in my housing.
Also, Mahidol University International College has a buddy program where a Thai student is matched with an exchange student. I have been fortunate enough to have a buddy who is super outgoing and so willing to help me out when I need it. We’ve already gotten lunch and have hung out off campus with some of my friends and her friends. She’s given me tips on how to travel around Thailand and taught me how to say some things in Thai. I think it’s amazing that Mahidol has this program and I would encourage any students who are studying abroad here to do the same as well.
