PITT HOME |FIND PEOPLE

Osimiri Sprowal

Bio Summary
Cohort Year: 
2018
Home Institution: 
Temple University
Heinz Programming Area: 
Arts & Culture
Study Abroad Country: 
Thailand
International Experience

Osimiri was awarded the Vira Heinz Scholarship, and went to study abroad in Thailand for 7 weeks. They studied Thai Language, Thai Culture, and Public Health at Chiang Mai University. They were happy that they got to wear the boy's uniform. They met Meah, Fun, and Phurn, the Thai ambassadors at their university, and became friends with them. They went to see elephants. During their first class, the did a homestay in a rural Thai village. They rode the iron buffalo (tractor) to plow a rice field, learned traditional dance, and did a ceremony binding them with the spirits of the village. They loved their host mother P'Nong, and talked to her about how hard it is to be a woman in Thai society. They laughed with their host grandpa, Pa Soad, and helped him learn some English. They found their host sister, Nong Ping, hilarious, and named her "nok hoo", which means owl. They traveled to Krabi, and saw how beautiful Thai beaches are. They traveled to Pattaya, and went to some of the best the water parks on the planet. They ate interesting foods, like chicken blood, and even ants! They spent a week in Kohn Kaen with another class, and toured hospitals. They met traditional Thai doctors, got acupuncture, and Thai massage. They love Thailand, and hope to return someday!

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