University of Wisconsin–Madison

Thailand: Patrick Colegrove

Program: UW Biological Sciences Research Internships in Thailand, Summer

Patrick’s Major: Microbiology

Patrick holding up two plastic bags filled with goods. Behind him is a busy market filled with tents and stalls.
Food markets are very common throughout Thailand, and there was even a market on campus twice a week in which you can share so many traditional Thai foods, snacks, and drinks with your friends and coworkers.

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

One of my most exciting memories was during the first lunch market at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. Twice a week, the campus would host one of many street markets in which a wide variety of traditional Thai foods, drinks, and snacks were for affordable purchase. It was my coworkers’ first major attempt to bond with and teach me about their daily lives, so we all shared a lot of flavorful dishes and I got hooked on this freshly squeezed orange juice (which I bought every market going forward).

My advice is very common, but for good reason. Stay open-minded, get excited, and try to embrace the local cultural differences as much as possible.

What did you learn about yourself or the world because of your experience?

I learned something new almost every day during this program. One major lesson that I learned, which Bangkok definitely helped me discover, was my innate curiosity to explore and make the most of opportunities. Almost every day in Bangkok, I would learn about a new museum, park, restaurant, temple, or nearby town in which we had access to and go investigate, usually with other interns and friends. Other times I would just (safely) wander the streets and run into a market, monitor lizard, street performance, or more. I definitely fell in love with the constant energy and excitement while in Bangkok, and I’m very confident that will translate into Madison, Chicago, and other places I have yet to explore.

Patrick sitting above a small, grassy open space. Densely-forested hills are behind him.
During the first week, we were able to explore many places in Thailand like the city of Chiang Mai which was surrounded by sprawling farms and mountains, activities like snake farms and bamboo rafting, and delicious restaurants.

What is your advice for someone considering your program?

My advice is very common, but for good reason. Stay open-minded, get excited, and try to embrace the local cultural differences as much as possible. From my experience, Thai culture shares many similarities to American, but with some key differences which should be respected. If you find yourself feeling frustrated with a certain aspect of Thailand’s cultural, academic, societal, or natural setting, it’s best to trust the process and remember it will all turn out okay, especially if you let Thailand be Thailand.