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The UWB groups poses for a photo as they paint the water tank they helped fund in a small Thai village.
The beauty of travel is in its ability to open the eyes and broaden the mind. And for some, like Kelsey Frost, it can be a life changing experience.
The college sophomore recently returned from a UW sponsored Exploration Seminar in Thailand. Led by James Reinnoldt, a UW-Bothell lecturer in Global Business, the three week trip focused on the major challenges and issues facing businesses and public organizations operating in an increasingly globalized environment.
Frost and fifteen other students (10 from UW-Bothell and 6 from UW- Seattle) got the opportunity to apply classroom learning to a real-world global environment in a manner that blended lectures, case studies, assignments, discussions, research projects, home stays and field trips.
"They essentially combined theory with reality," explains Reinnoldt. "That’s really what these exploration seminars do. In this case, the emphasis was on globalization - what drives it, its positive and negative impact on the country and what different organizations are doing to contend with the affects of this phenomenon." He continues, "Thailand is a great example of an emerging economy. It’s one of the tigers of Asia."
During the trip, the students visited various companies, including General Mills, Kamolkij (rice exporter) and TQPR Mass Media, as well as several non-profits such as the Mercy Center, Labor Rights Promotion Network, Elephant Nature Foundation and Yaowawit School. They learned about regional health and gender issues from a UN representative, heard speakers discuss the topic of Burmese workers’ rights in Thailand and gained insight into the importance of Thailand’s river system to its economy.
In addition, participants got to stay with families in two different areas of the country, where they received an up close and personal look at the daily lives of the both the Hill tribe people and those dependent on crab fishing for their livelihood.
Prior to the trip, the students raised a total of $6,572, which they allocated to five charitable organizations during their visit. A portion of the money was used to construct a water tank in a small village.
"It’s really a wonderful experience for the students," comments Reinnoldt. "They gain so much knowledge about another culture and as a result, they come away with a greater appreciation for what we have in the U.S. They also have a better understanding of the types of problems the world faces and the impact they can have -the role they can play to help deal with these problems."
This is the fourth trip Reinnoldt has led to the region and each time, he marvels at the growth he witnesses in the students, both in their perspectives, as well as in their comfort levels and the skills they develop while traveling in a developing country.
He comments that for many of the participants, the trip is their first outside the U.S.
"It was my first time to travel abroad," says Kelsey Frost. "I wanted to experience another culture so that I could understand the world in a broader sense. I had heard about Thailand from a friend who had gone there and it sounded like an interesting place to visit. Plus, business is my major and the seminar’s focus on globalization appealed to me."
The WHS grad (2008) particularly enjoyed her time at the Yaowawit School, a government approved welfare boarding school for orphans and children living in poverty.
"The school is doing such good things to try and help this population, not only to educate them, but to give them practical and technical skills to use in the future," explains Frost.
"There’s a hotel and a restaurant on the grounds where the students learn about the hospitality industry. And there are gardens and a farm area for them to learn about agriculture. I loved playing and interacting with the kids."
Frost was impressed with the Thai people, who she found to be very friendly and warm. Though she saw much poverty, she comments that even the poorest were hospitable and kind.
"Religion plays a big part in their lives," she says. "They also have a lot of respect for their king."
In addition to the newfound knowledge she gained, Frost feels that the experience allowed her to understand herself and her role within a larger context of the world.
She adds, "It was life changing for me because it opened my eyes to a new culture and way of life. It fed my independence and offered me insight on the goals and aspirations I wish to achieve in my life. I only wish I could have stayed longer!"
Another participant, Jonathan Pham, also a UW sophomore, particularly enjoyed the bike ride the group took through the ruins of the former Thai capital of Ayutthaya. He comments that it was a great way to get closer to the people and culture. Phan appreciated the international perspective the trip provided him and adds,
"I plan to get my degree in accounting, but before going to Thailand, I had thought I would graduate and then work for one of the top four accounting firms in the U.S. Now, I see another option. Maybe I will work overseas. The experience really broadened my perspective on my life and career."
Frost and Phan, as well as Reinnoldt, describe their group as extremely cohesive. They note the lack of cliques, friction and problematic individuals. "It was perhaps the best group I’ve had," says Reinnoldt. "There was an age span that ranged from 19 to 29 and everyone got along so well, which only helped to enrich the experience further."
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