News@Ivey · Ben King

More than an exchange: Three lessons I learned studying abroad in Thailand

Jul 16, 2026

HBA student Ben King in Thailand — Ben King on his first day in Bangkok

During his exchange semester at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Ben King, an HBA ’26 candidate, immersed himself in a new culture, travelled throughout Asia, and stepped well outside his comfort zone. In the reflection below, King shares three lessons he learned abroad – from practising gratitude and embracing uncertainty to becoming more independent and curious about the world.

I paced my house, furiously shining the hardwood floors with the constant swivel of my well-trodden sock. Checking the clock, each minute that passed seemed to be mocking me, reveling in the cold, anxious sweat tracing a long course down my back. Every time my parents tried to engage me in conversation, the most my body could manage was a quick nod – any attempt to reply was blocked by a throat full of tears, threatening to spill out and wash away my thin resolve.

That’s how I felt the day I left for the airport, flying halfway across the world to start my new life as an exchange student at Thammasat University in Thailand. When I finally landed in Bangkok after 72 hours of travel (long story) and set foot in my new apartment, I thought: what on earth had I gotten myself into?

The first couple of weeks in Bangkok were tough. I thought I had left behind the feeling of entering university for the first time, but starting my study abroad, I found myself eerily thrown back to this period. Living in a foreign country always seemed like one of those faraway ideas, one that people asked me about but I could never really conceptualize what it would be like, until I was alone, separated from friends and family by two oceans, 12 time zones, and 13,000 kilometres.

However, being so far removed from people and comforts I took for granted has gifted invaluable lessons that will serve me far beyond the five months I spent overseas. I’m returning to Canada a stronger, more capable, resilient, and confident person.

It has been quite difficult to write this piece, as going abroad has taught me more than I could possibly fit into an article. Nevertheless, if I had to distill my exchange experience into three key lessons, here’s what they would be.

1. Practising gratitude

I underestimated just how different life in Thailand would be from Canada. To illustrate: Canada experiences the full range of weather Mother Nature has to offer with four seasons. Thailand has three, aptly explained by a Grab driver on one of my first days in the Kingdom – hot, hotter, and hottest. Canada is widely known for its multiculturalism, whereas Thailand has a population where the vast majority identify as ethnically Thai, while Buddhism remains deeply embedded in Thai society. Living in Bangkok exposed me to an entirely new way of life, one that is shaped by a different climate, culture, and religion, leading me to reflect on elements of Canada I had failed to appreciate.

For instance, I never realized how I marked the passage of time by the changing of the seasons. The slow, oftentimes frustrating thawing of winter blooms into a period filled with fresh flowers, crisp air, and the smell of rain-soaked cement. This is followed by summer, when the sun decides to linger in the sky ever so slightly longer each passing day, casting its brilliant haze over Toronto, blanketing the city in a hug of warmth, followed by the rich fullness of trees that leisurely start to shed their skins, laying out a carpet of leaves to usher in beautiful fall.

Seemingly small, everyday moments I’ve grown up with my entire life were replaced by a brand new, electrifying place to explore and learn from. You will encounter some of the kindest and most selfless people if you’re lucky enough to visit Thailand. As much as Canada is known for its kindness, I often think that kindness comes with hesitation, a pause to assess if we really should lend a helping hand. This moment of uncertainty seems to be entirely removed among the Thai people I met – again and again, I encountered a generosity that was instinctive rather than reactive. It was common to find myself staring at Google Maps when a local would approach, emphatically helping me get to my destination. At my residence, we favoured one particular corner restaurant that came to be a community gathering spot for us exchange students, run by the most gracious family. I’d be quietly reading, finishing my meal, and a fresh plate of fruit would appear, or I’d walk past the store and Bimon, the owner, would come sprinting out the door to bestow her warm, wide smile and furious wave.

All of this to say how remarkable it was to practise gratitude, the art of appreciating, from both a Western and Eastern perspective – Canada, for letting me miss my beautiful country, and Thailand, for showing me unparalleled generosity.

Ben King with a local in Thailand

(Photo above) With a Thai friend in Taipei, Taiwan

2. The importance of adapting

I mean this one in every way – physically, culturally, emotionally, and psychologically. Adapting to Thailand’s unrelenting, scorching, and oftentimes just downright cruel heat was no small feat (this is my last quip about the weather, I promise; but words cannot express how hot it really does get!).

Learning to adapt quickly became a crucial skill to flex, particularly in Thailand, where the need to change is often a subtle endeavour. For example, even though I found Thailand to be an incredibly open and welcoming country, conservative values remain evident in everyday life – which extends to your clothing. No one ever said anything to me, but after a few rides on the subway where I would be the only person besides tourists in shorts and a tank top, I started dressing more modestly to reflect the culture I was now operating in.

There’s also a certain level of spontaneity that studying abroad forces you to accept, and even learn to welcome. Flights were often booked days in advance with people I’d only just met. Plans happened on the fly, and my calendar stayed surprisingly empty as there was little point in scheduling activities more than a few hours ahead. I’m typically an organized person, who needs a few days' notice on engaging in any sort of enterprise – but exchange infused my life with the freedom of impulsiveness, showing me how much value there is in saying yes now, and thinking about it later.

Thailand is a country of contrast. One day I was in Koh Samui, a luxury island in the Gulf of Thailand, and the next I was walking through Klong Toei, Bangkok’s biggest slum area housing more than 100,000 people. Decadent, gigantic malls filled with the world’s highest-end brands would be next to local night markets, advertising their offerings for as little as $2. Walking through Bangkok, I’d often feel whiplash, as one street would contain hundreds of different worlds, all existing side by side. Exchange – but specifically living in Bangkok – taught me how to embrace the chaos of change.

3. Keep curious and explore

I’ve always taken on lots of responsibility beyond the classroom, but my semester abroad was the first time in years I had zero commitments outside of my studies. So, before jetting off to Bangkok, I set myself one goal: explore and experience as much as I reasonably can. It also became the first time in my life that every decision only needed to satisfy one criterion: did I want this? Thailand allowed me to truly and finally listen to myself – what my head, gut, and heart were trying to tell me.

What a gift: that I allowed myself this free rein and the opportunity to exercise it. This goal, which became my mantra of sorts, pushed me to some incredible experiences: whether that was strolling through the art-lined streets of George Town in Malaysia, hiking Bukhansan Mountain in Korea, or surfing on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. I was fortunate enough to travel to many different countries in Asia, collecting memories and learning about each place I’d visited.

One of the key benefits of studying abroad is the ability to travel deeply within your host country. Exploring a handful of Thailand’s 77 provinces revealed remarkable creativity in each region. Chiang Mai, the city in the mountains, has an entire neighbourhood – Baan Kang Wat, coined the “artist village” – dedicated to supporting local creative businesses, arranged like an Alice in Wonderland movie set. In the southern province of Krabi, simple juice stands were adorned with stunning murals in brilliant colours, framed by ancient cliffsides that towered over the land, making you feel as if you’ve washed ashore on an alien world. There is so much beauty in Thailand that exploration was deeply rewarded at every turn.

Travelling and living abroad showed me how big yet small our world is. The sheer breadth and scale of these different places – whether it be Bangkok, Seoul, or Colombo – continually awe and inspire me, and yet, at the heart of each of these places, the needs are the same: community, connection, leading a fulfilling, purposeful life. It didn’t matter where I was. Everywhere I travelled, I noticed this constant throughline that extended beyond cultural or religious differences. Staying curious allowed me to see past these differences and heightened my inquisitiveness that hungered for depth and detail, each question satisfying the deep thirst I had for learning about this incredible part of the world.

These two qualities – curiosity and exploration – have been renewed during my time abroad. As sad as I am to close this chapter in my life, I’m excited to return to Canada with a fresh lens and new perspective, ready to engage with my country in a more meaningful and deliberate way. Studying abroad was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. If you’re considering going on exchange – do it! And if Thailand is one of your options, I promise you will not regret spending some time in the Land of Smiles.

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