Family Social Science Professor Cathy Solheim shares her passion for the people and culture of Thailand this spring in her Learning Abroad class, Thailand: Global Change, Communities, & Families (FSOS 4158). Earlier in February, she and UMN colleagues visited several Thailand sites to review the MSID-Thailand (Minnesota Studies in International Development) program, a semester-long learning experience for students. Joining Dr. Solheim were Dr. Michael White, associate dean for academic programs and faculty affairs for the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), and from the Learning Abroad Center: Vanessa Walton, program director, Ryan McCarthy, associate program director, and Scott Daby, assistant director, advising and enrollment. Solheim also began the process for a memorandum of agreement between Chiang Rai Rajabhat University and the U of M based on years of collaboration – including many trips with students – in Thailand.
First day in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Chotana Villas was a welcome breather after the long flight from Minneapolis to Atlanta to Seoul to Chiang Mai for the team before their intensive five-day site visit of a program that partners with the U of MN to give students a semester-long learning experience. 
Mae Tha village is great internship site for MSID students. Paw Pat (first row, center) is the originator of the organic farming movement in the village. Forty years ago, he mobilized local farmers to try to influence the Thai national strategic plan related to agriculture, having the vision and knowledge to warn of the problems with mono-cropping and the health dangers with pesticide/herbicide and chemical fertilizer use. The whole village now is producing organic vegetables and fruits to send to market in Chiang Mai. 
Patara Elephant Farm and Clinic focuses on restoring the elephant population in Thailand which has seen a drastic drop over the past 45 years. Patara’s mission is to rehab young elephants so they can reproduce and prevent the Thai Elephant from extinction. We walked among several adult and baby elephants who roamed freely within this area. 
Dr. Solheim meets some of the Patara Elephant farm residents. 
Another terrific internship site for MSID students is the Mae Luang Hospital. This ‘health promotion hospital’ serves about 10,000 people. They have one doctor, four nurses and one dentist as well as a physical rehab center. But perhaps as important, they have a network of trained health volunteers who check in on older folk. Thailand still relies on family care for elders – assisted living and nursing homes are rare in urban areas and don’t exist in rural areas. The goal is to keep them in their homes as long as possible and avoid hospitalization. 
Dr. Michael White, associate dean for academic programs and faculty affairs for the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS). 
Wrapping up a great week back in Chiang Mai. The MSID site visit team each brought unique perspectives to light as we considered our students’ learning experiences.
Learn more
Attend an info session to learn more about Dr. Solheim’s 3-week course on Monday, Feb 25, noon-1 p.m., 278 McNeal Hall, St. Paul campus. (lunch provided).
Visit the Learning Abroad website for additional info about FSOS 4158 – Thailand: Global Change, Communities, & Families.
