Kaliyah Cherubin, A29, and Brandy Gutierrez, A29, share a laugh while holding a lantern and an umbrella during a visit to Wat Intharawat, an old-style wooden Buddhist temple built in 1852, in Nong Khwai, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Tisch College Civic Semester Thailand students Kaliyah Cherubin, A29, and Brandy Gutierrez, A29, shared a laugh during a visit to Wat Intharawat, an old-style wooden Buddhist temple built in 1852. Photo: Alonso Nichols

Education

For These Tufts First-Years, Thailand Is the Classroom

From khao soi to sky lanterns, Class of 2029 Civic Semester students immersed themselves in Thai culture

While most of the members of the Class of 2029 have settled into the rhythm of classes and campus life this fall, their classmates in the Tisch College Civic Semester Thailand cohort have been halfway around the world in Chiang Mai, the country’s second largest city, learning Thai language, history, and cultural traditions and discovering new favorite foods like khao soi.

The Civic Semester program through the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life is an innovative first-semester program that combines academic and experiential learning with a focus on community engagement and social and environmental justice.

Just as folks back in Massachusetts were getting out their sweaters and finishing off all of their Halloween candy, Civic Semester students joined their Thai host families to celebrate the Yi Peng and Loy Kathrong lunar holidays with sky lanterns and kathrong floats meant to carry away worries and uplift hopes and wishes.

As of Thanksgiving Day, these Jumbos have made their way back to their families and are getting ready to join the rest of their classmates on the Hill for the spring semester.

 

Instructor Hannah Ketzel takes a selfie of the Tufts Civic Semester cohort and some of the host families as they take a walk around the Huai Lan reservoir.

Instructor Hannah Ketzel took a selfie of the Civic Semester cohort and some host families on a walk around the Huai Lan reservoir. Photo: Alonso Nichols

    Banana trees frame a view of the rice paddies that are typical of the landscape of the Baan Pong village where the Tufts Civic Semester cohort stays with their host families. Photo: Alonso Nichols
    The Civic Semester cohort stayed with host families in the Baan Pong village, where rice paddies are typical of the landscape.
    Axelle Ineza, A29, walks through a rice paddy near the Civic Semester homestay. Photo: Alonso Nichols
    Axelle Ineza, A29, walks through a rice paddy near the Civic Semester homestay.
    Mae Wanna shows students how rice grows and is harvested in a rice paddy near their homestay. Photo: Alonso Nichols
    Students learned from locals, including Mae Wanna (pictured), about how rice grows and is harvested. Photo: Alonso Nichols

of 3

Axelle Ineza, A29, rides a bike through the courtyard of the homestay where she and her Tisch College Civic Semester cohort eat together and take classes. Axelle learned to ride a bike for the first time in Thailand.

Axelle Ineza, A29, often rode a bike through the courtyard of the homestay, where she and her Civic Semester cohort eat together and take classes. In Thailand, Ineza learned to ride a bike for the first time. Photo: Alonso Nichols

 

Kaliyah Cherubin, A29, learning from a local about how to use a loom to weave traditional Thai textiles.

Kaliyah Cherubin, A29, learned to weave traditional Thai textiles. Each region, and even village, has its own traditional patterns and colors. Photo: Alonso Nichols

 

Flora Yang, A29, and Avery Lee, A29, weed crops at the Mae Tha Sustainable Living Community organic farm.

Students weeded rows of crops, tended to the animals, and learned how local farmers market and sell their produce at the Mae Tha Sustainable Living Community organic farm. Photo: Alonso Nichols

 

Lucy Henrich, A29, Axelle Ineza, A29, and Kaliyah Cherubin, A29, make bowls from leaves at The Garden, an eco conscious and sustainable art space.

Students worked at The Garden, an eco-friendly/sustainable art space, where they developed marketing materials, created signs, and made bowls from leaves. Photo: Alonso Nichols

 

Host mother Mae Tim braids the hair of Yeili Osornio-Castrejon, A29, to help her get ready in traditional Thai fashion for a visit to a local temple.

Host mother Mae Tim helped Yeili Osornio-Castrejon, A29, get ready in traditional Thai fashion for a visit to a local temple. Photo: Alonso Nichols

    Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, a golden temple dating to the 9th century. Photo: Alonso Nichols
    The exterior of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, a golden temple dating to the 9th century and frequented by Buddhist faithful during the Thousand Lantern Festival.
    Axelle Ineza, A29, Yeili Osornio-Castrejon, A29, and Avery Lee, A29, followed by host mom Mae Supan, walk around the temple and ring gongs as is the custom at Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, a golden temple dating to the 9th century. Photo: Alonso Nichols
    Students were able to tour Wat Phra That Hariphunchai and ring gongs as is the custom.
    After inscribing it with an intention, Flora Yang, A29, hangs a lantern in the plaza of Phra Nang Chamathewi Monument during the Thousand Lantern Festival. Photo: Alonso Nichols
    After inscribing it with an intention, Flora Yang, A29, hung a lantern in the plaza of Phra Nang Chamathewi Monument during the Thousand Lantern Festival. The color of the lantern is related to the day of the week on which Flora was born.

of 3

Brandy Gutierrez, A29, Avery Lee, A29, Flora yang, A29, and Axelle Ineza, A29, make krathongs, small, decorated rafts floated on rivers and waterways, to celebrate the Loy Krathong lunar festival.

Students, including Brandy Gutierrez, A29, Avery Lee, A29, Flora Yang, A29, and Axelle Ineza, A29, made krathongs—small, decorated rafts floated on rivers and waterways—to celebrate the Loy Krathong lunar festival. Photo: Alonso Nichols

    Host mom Mae Supan and Avery Lee, A29, prepare to float their krathongs, small, decorated rafts floated on rivers and waterways, used to celebrate the Loy Krathong lunar festival. Photo: Alonso Nichols
    Host mom Mae Supan and Avery Lee, A29, prepare to float their krathongs to celebrate the Loy Krathong lunar festival.
    Bowls of flowers picked to decorate krathongs, small, decorated rafts floated on rivers and waterways, used to celebrate the Loy Krathong lunar festival. Photo: Alonso Nichols
    Bowls of flowers picked to decorate krathongs.
    Krathongs, small, decorated rafts used to celebrate the Loy Krathong lunar festival, float on a pond. Photo: Alonso Nichols
    Krathongs floating on a pond during the Loy Krathong lunar festival.

of 3

The Civic Semester cohort launches a khom loi or “sky lantern” decorated with Jumbo to celebrate the lunar Yi Peng holiday with their local Thai host families.

With their host families, the Civic Semester cohort launched a khom loi (sky lantern) decorated with Jumbo to celebrate the lunar Yi Peng holiday. Photo: Alonso Nichols

    Civic Semester students and their host families hold a banner at the entrance to Wat Pa Tung on the morning of services for the lunar Wan Da holiday and the Yi Peng lantern celebration. Photo: Alonso Nichols
    The Wat Pa Tung Buddhist temple hosts services and festivities for religious ceremonies on the eve of the waxing 14th moon culminating in the Yi Peng lantern celebration. Civic Semester students and host families attended services at the temple.
    Flora Yang, A29, laughs as her host mom Mae Kaew adjusts the wrap of her traditional northern Thai skirt at the Wat Pa Tung temple on the morning of services for the lunar Wan Da holiday and the Yi Peng lantern celebration. Photo: Alonso Nichols
    Flora Yang, A29, laughs as her host mom Mae Kaew adjusts the wrap of her traditional northern Thai skirt at the Wat Pa Tung temple.
    Wat Pa Tung, which hosts services and festivities for religious ceremonies on the eve of the waxing 14th moon culminating in the Yi Peng lantern celebration. Photo: Alonso Nichols
    The exterior of the Wat Pa Tung Buddhist temple.

of 3

Host moms Mae Wanna (left) and Mae Ausa (right) order dinner with Axelle Ineza, A29, and Kaliyah Cherubin, A29, at a local market.

Host moms Mae Wanna (left) and Mae Ausa (right) ordered dinner with Axelle Ineza, A29, and Kaliyah Cherubin, A29, at a local market. Photo: Alonso Nichols

 

Avery Lee, A29, Lucy Henrich, A29, and Brandy Gutierrez, A29, share a laugh at dinner.

Avery Lee, A29, Lucy Henrich, A29, and Brandy Gutierrez, A29, shared a laugh at dinner. Photo: Alonso Nichols

Back to Top