- Introduction:
Four of us from Food Technology Second Year, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia have been selected to go for a study abroad programme at Mae Fah Luang University (MFU), Thailand under the Malaysia-Indonesia-Thailand (M-I-T) Pilot Project. We are here for a semester as an exchange student which the period from 6th Jun 2011 to 23 September 2011 during the semester breaks.
At Mae Fah Luang University, we took some courses which related to our field of study, Food Technology under School of Agro-Industry at MFU which are:
i. 1401281 Basic Technology of Food Product
ii. 1404351 Process Engineering
iii. 1408201 Principle of Packaging
iv. 1005121 Thai Language Conversation in Daily Life
As we found out that we need to learn their language in order for us to adapt the environment there, as well as for extra knowledge too.
- Objective of Visit:
We go as an exchange student under the Malaysia-Indonesia-Thailand (M-I-T) Pilot Project on Promoting Student Mobility to study in Food Technology at Mae Fah Luang University for a semester of the academic year 11/12.
- Cost Analysis (per person):
Flight ticket fee (two ways): 15,000 baht
Accommodation: dormitory fee 8000baht
Electricity bills: 1,000 baht
Living expense (food): 18,000 baht
Change Visa status: 2,000 baht
Others expenses (books, notes, souvenirs, travel and etc.): 15,000 baht
Total: 59,000 baht
.
- Place of Visit: ( with picture)
Airports from LCCT to Bangkok to Chiang Rai
Our flight is from LCCT to Bangkok transit to Chiang Rai by using the air asia flight. We reached Chiang Rai at around 10pm, and we were welcomed by 3 of the buddies from MFU. They are the final year students there studying business in Chinese, so we are fortunately that two of our friends can actually communicates
The same path we taking it back home also, but instead of going to LCCT we go back to Penang from Bangkok International Airport, as our new semester in USM already started for two weeks. with them! Besides, they are the first Thai students we met after our arrivals too!
Mae Fah Luang University:
This is the host university that we studied in along the period of exchange program, which is build by the King’s Mother The university is so big and comfortable. We can just go to our class everyday from our international house dominotary by walking. If we would like to go out further other than classroom, we might be using the electronic vehicle to go out also, which is a type of environmental friendly vehicles that do not bring the pollutions.
At here, we also treated well by the international officers and also lecturers. Even the students here are very friendly too. Although we had faced the problem of communicating with one another but they do try their best to help us whenever we are in trouble. Besides that, we also get to meet the international students from China, Myanmar, Japan, Korea, Cameroon, and so on. We learn each other culture, language, and most importantly we get to broaden our view out of Malaysia.
Meeting with the President of MFU (14/6/2011)
Mock tail Party: A Night Among the Stars (6/7/2011) by the International Club
Open Event for Welcoming Freshmen Student (26 June 2011)
School of Agro Industry Teacher Day Event (9 June 2011)
Process Engineering Class with Thai students and Aj.Tony
City Tour 1 (2/7/2011):
On this day, we had been brought around the city in Chiang Rai, where our university is located. They bring us to the famous places in here, from the founder of Chiang Rai, the King Mengrai the Great Monument to the Golden Triangle, which we got the chance to travel three countries in a day: Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. Besides that, Mae Sai is the big market that we can get a lot of cheap stuff here. Not forget to mention about the white temple that really amazed us, the Wat Rong Khun is really a great arts that being built. On that day, we also planted a tree in the university, as a wish that we do it for a greener environment, as well as we can leave a beautiful memory at here.
Every one of us plant a small tree as a memory we have study here and praying that our exchange program will go smoothly also. The international officer, P’Ngew also shows us our senior, Yi Shen and Catherine’s trees.
Wat Rong Khun (White Temple)
The weather there is always windy and cloudy. Rain often but still the White Temple is so amazing.
King Mengrai the Great Monument
Our group photo with in front of the King Mengrai the Great Monument, with all the M-I-T participants, other exchange students and also master students from others countries.
Golden Triangle
Few of us steal a second to take a photo before we enter the ship to bring us to cross Laos and see Myanmar. We cross through the river to go to Laos border and take a lot of some free duty thing to buy. It is much cheaper here to compare to border of Thailand- Myanmar.
Hari Raya Celebration by Muslim Club (30 August 2011)
It was fortunate and lucky for us to get join this program during fasting month and Raya Day especially for Muslim student, Asmeelya and Wani. Here, there is no stated holiday for whole student to celebrate the day like Government in Malaysia do. So, as initiative we just make our own free lecture day on this day as Muslim Club MFU suggests us to do. Early in morning as well we pray Raya Aidilfitri sunat prayer that combined for about 50 Muslim students of Mae Fah Luang University. After that, they bring us to visit all Muslim house around Chiang Rai Area and get free local food for free..! Later, we have to go back earlier to MFU to start Merdeka Day preparation for great Malaysian student special event organizing.
54th Malaysia Independence Day (31/8/2011)
In MFU, P’Ngew suggested us from Malaysia to set up booth to show our culture, our people, and our stories to the students in MFU. As to introduce our beloved country to the Thai people, we agreed and tried very best to do it. Fortunately they like it and enjoy what we did. On the day of our 54th Independent Day, all of us wearing the Baju Kurung and make up our day to tell the others about Malaysia.
City Tour 2 (10/9/2011):
Before our exchange program ends, we had our last trip with all the M-I-T participants again. After the first city tour of white temple, this time we chose to go to the Black Temple, another famous temple build in Chiang Rai. Love it too the great art. We have been introduced for the Black and White Temple not long after we reached here. The stories that these two temples are actually build by the master and his teacher. Both had been built to such a big contrast, and yet both is so amazing!
Ban Dam (Black Temple)
The second destination of the day is Doi Tung, a project that runs by the Thai government of plantation. Beautiful scenery you can see here, we like it a lot here as a perfect place for us to relax and forget about all the tensions.
Doi Tung is a good place for us to take a lot of photos. The whole place is so beautiful that we don’t want to go out of this place. The green, the natural, is all the reason we love here, not only Doi Tung, but the whole Chiang Rai city!
Doi Tung (one of The Royal Project)
Opium Museum
Last destination of the day is The Opium Museum, another loyal project that runs by the government to educate people. In there, we are given the knowledge all about opium, the stories how it appears in the world, why people are taking it in the olden days, what make the King of Thailand make this museum to educate the people to avoid opium. All the pros and cons of opium show to us, left at the end for ourselves to think of our future. I can still remember vividly the exit is surrounded by the big mirrors, to give us a room to re-think and re-considerate all the things we have learn there.
Our Farewell Party by the International officer and also our lecturers from school of Agro-Industry. (22nd September 2011)
Last two day before four of us leave here, P’Ngew organized a farewell for us. Although we had been busy studying for the final examinations as they had been carried forward for us to take before we go back, we still enjoyed it, enjoyed our last moments with the lecturers, Ajan Oil, Ajan.Anne, Ajan Nut and P’Ngew.
We really appreciate their caring and love. Along this period of exchange to Mae Fah Luang University, they had been trying their best to help us, to introduce the places and the people to us. They have tried their best to deliver the knowledge to us too. Whenever we got doubt, they will explain to us in more details too. No doubt, they are strict to us even we are exchange students, but they do all the best for us, just like their children.
Not forget the other M-I-T participants, there are four from UPM, one from UiTM and three from Bogol University, Indonesia. We have been passing through the sweet and sour along these four months. These added pages again in part of my memories in my journey, and my life.
Farewell by En.Yusof in D1
The only halal food stall in D1, which often visit by us, we had a great moment eating the food there. On Wednesday, 21st of October, En. Yusof, the owner of the Halal food stall treat us for a big meal for us before we go back. Seriously we are missing foods there with cheaper with the price only 25Baht. Even though we can find similar type in Malaysia, but the treat and environment by people over there aren’t the same.
Bangkok: Short Transit. (24th September 2011)
Before going back to face our hectic University life again, we decided to have a short transit for about 2 days in Bangkok to enjoy our last holiday trip. Thanks to Asmeelya again, as this time we stayed at her aunt's house for that period. And guess what? We are staying at the Embassy of Malaysia in Bangkok, Thailand!
- Conclusion/ Summary from this program:
Along the period of exchange program at Mae Fah Luang University, we have been taken good care by the International Officer, Ms Chadaporn and also lecturers at here especially Dr. Phunsiri. They are always ready to give a helping hand whenever we are in trouble.
During the normal studies in lecture hall, we gain the knowledge in our field of study. Besides the lectures, we also learn a lot from the surrounding, the environment and also the people. We learnt to adapt in a new environment which is totally different with our current university especially the culture here which are based on Buddism is different than Malaysia. Besides learning their cultures, we also learn to cooperate with people from all walks of life.
Not forget to talk about the other MIT participants that are with us also 1 from University Teknologi Mara (UiTM), 4 from University Putra Malaysia (UPM) and also 3 from Bogol University, Indonesia, we really had a good time here via the MIT program.
