Hands on Thailand (HoT)
Apps for HoT Winter 2025
(Dec 28, 2024 – Jan 18, 2025)
are OPEN.
Soci 180: Hands on Thailand (HoT) will be a phenomenal 3-week adventure that will broaden your horizons in the best ways! This unique study-abroad program is international, intercultural, and transformational.
Want to eat yummy pad thai and other scrumptious FOOD — in Thailand? 
Can you picture yourself with incredible ELEPHANTS at a beautiful ethical sanctuary?
Do you want to have a fun and fascinating conversation with young MONKS at a Buddhist University?
Want to go hiking in the countryside through villages and rice fields, visit a waterfall or two, and leisurely go BAMBOO RAFTING?
Want to be amazed beyond belief?
Want to find out how sanuk (to enjoy; have fun; striving to achieve pleasure from whatever one does) is such an important everyday philosophy in Thailand?
With the Hands on Thailand program, you can do all this and much, much more!
“There’s a reason people fall in love with Chiang Mai.” — Christina Liao
Thailand is an amazing country and Chiang Mai is an especially fantastic city with sooooo much to offer its lucky visitors. Chiang Mai is officially designated a UNESCO Creative City and has applied to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Thai Ministry of Culture has identified Chiang Mai as one of five provinces (out of 77) with the most iconic cultures and traditions.
In 2013, Monocle magazine declared Chiang Mai one of the world’s “most loveable cities”. Condé Nast Traveller rated Chiang Mai in 2020 as the “world’s friendliest city“. Chiang Mai was ranked by a British-based organization as the 4th most tranquil city in the world. Travel + Leisure and U.S. News also ranked Chiang Mai among the best places to visit in Asia. It has been listed as the 6th best city to “start a new life“ in 2022.
Chiang Mai is also a great foodie city (with the northern Thai specialty khao soi being ranked as the best soup in the world in 2022 and pad krapow being ranked as the best stir-fry dish in the world in 2023!), while Chiang Mai boasts an awesome live music scene and is a great place for cool cafes (with excellent coffee, tea, matcha, hot chocolate, and more).
“It’s really hard to beat Thailand as a foodie destination.” — Gilbert Ott
“Chiang Mai truly is a culinary wonderland; a dazzling blend of taste, texture, and history.” — Cita Catellya
Chiang Mai is ranked as the safest city in Southeast Asia by the Crime Index and Safety Index by City 2023. Travel Safe Abroad summarizes its findings with “Chiang Mai is perfectly safe and its dangers come down to petty crime and scams” and adds “Chiang Mai could generally be considered a safe city for women.”
“Thailand is my favorite country on Earth for a number of reasons. The stunning beauty of the place, amazing food, low cost of living, and friendly locals all make for a dream destination.” — Ryan Biddulph
“The northern city of Chiang Mai is renowned for its adventurous day trips, praised for its delicious eateries, and loved by almost all who visit. With so many things to see and do, there is no reason for tourists traveling to Thailand not to visit this historic city. Sprinkled with hints of the Lanna Kingdom and decorated with temples, the city is surely one of the most stunning in the entire country.” — Kelly Iverson
“Hands on Thailand has been an opportunity full of grand adventures and long lasting memories!” — Serena
Here are the basics to get you started with this unique opportunity at San Jose State University:
There are no prerequisites for this course; anyone is eligible* (any major, any level; any GPA; undergrad or grad; recent grads/new SJSU alumni welcome). Soci 180 is 3 units and will be graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. HoT may count for your study-abroad, service-learning, cross-cultural, or elective requirement; check with your department’s academic advisor.
The availability of service-learning opportunities at San Jose State University is one of the criteria Money Magazine used to rank SJSU in 2020 as America’s “#1 Most Transformative University“.
“[Hands on Thailand] broadened my perspective on the way I view the world and myself in general. It was definitely a life changing experience.” — anonymous
“This is perhaps the biggest cliché of them all, but I will say it anyway: my trip to Thailand totally changed my life.” — Rachel Hart
Without tests, quizzes, research papers, essays, books, or presentations, we will immerse ourselves in the beautiful 728-year-old northern city of Chiang Mai, work with local organizations, make a difference in the community, meet interesting people, tour local craft factories, visit Buddhist temples and Hill Tribe villages, shop at local indoor and outdoor markets, eat scrumptious Thai food in its homeland, visit an ethical elephant sanctuary with a big veg buffet, learn about Thai culture and ourselves, listen to live music, visit cool cafes, chat with monks, practice meditation, and who knows what else, then reflect on our experiences together while there, and return home transformed from an amazing adventure with great stories and photos, intriguing insights, new friends, a stronger resume, more confidence, and a deep sense of meaning, purpose, and accomplishment.
“Despite being a small city, it’s amazing how many different things there are to see and do in Chiang Mai!” — Bruno Andrade
“Studying abroad is viewed as an impressive and serious thing to do. It really changes the perception of somebody – it’s quite a brave step to take and is perceived as that. You will gain new academic perspectives, experience a different culture, and be viewed as more open-minded and better able to cope with change.” — Carlos Howarth
Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity!
We will have 2 pre-departure group meetings/orientations at SJSU for enrolled students, so we can all meet each other and so our cohort can discuss our upcoming exciting adventure together. 
HoT will be totally EPIC (Exciting Possibilities In Chiangmai)!
“Travel truly is worth any expense and being in Thailand has taught me more about its way of life than any book ever could.” — Ryan E.
HoT is specifically organized to provide unique and fascinating structured opportunities for students to immerse, participate, and learn, while also being purposely organized to allow for unstructured time for personal exploration, growth, and development in Chiang Mai. HoT will include enough time and a safe space for serving, exploring, reflecting, learning, laughing, growing, eating, and relaxing. Not all classrooms have walls.
Hands on Thailand is one of the most fascinating, most exciting, most meaningful, best value, yet least expensive study abroad opportunities at SJSU — with the best food! And elephants.
The U.S. Department of State affirms that “International travel can be educational, uplifting, and empowering.” Studies have shown that community-based learning and study abroad experiences have various personal, social, educational, and professional benefits. The Harvard Business Review, for example, reports that “social science studies have shown that international experiences can enhance creativity, reduce intergroup bias, and promote career success.”
HoT Winter 2025 will be $2980, which includes: 3 units of SJSU credit ($1081.50, based on $360.50/credit); SJSU mandatory administrative program fee ($300); SJSU mandatory health insurance fee ($75); 22 days/21 nights in a nice hotel (double occupancy rooms with mini-fridge and with breakfast buffet included, free wi-fi, air-con, pool, and an open-air lobby with koi pond, couches, etc.) in a cool neighborhood; fun, location-specific field trips to: several craft factories with veg lunch; overnight at a beautiful ethical elephant sanctuary with buffet veg food; and a day of hiking in the countryside and to a waterfall with bamboo rafting and veg lunch in a small village; an introduction to mindfulness meditation; a conversation with young monks at a local temple/Buddhist university; delicious group veg meals; all required course materials; a TA (mandatory); a carbon offset; a contingency fund (just in case); and possibly some surprises! All details are subject to availability and change.
All group excursions, group events, group activities, group transportation, and group meals are included at no additional cost.
Additionally, airfare may cost about $800-$1800, or more, depending on the purchase date, dates of travel, departure city, airline, itinerary, oil prices, corporate greed, etc. Students should arrange their own flights from any city to Chiang Mai (CNX), though some of us may wind up on the same plane in and out of SFO and CNX, making sure to be in Chiang Mai by the first day of the program through the last morning of the program. Students should NOT purchase air tickets until after they are officially accepted into HoT and after we get the official administrative OK, unless the tickets are 100% refundable. HoT alumni have spent between $400-$1000 on personal expenses while in Thailand (e.g., food, drinks, taxis, souvenirs, tours, museums, etc.).
Next steps:
- Complete the SJSU application online (click the “Apply Now” button on the page)
- Submit the supplemental questionnaire (SQ) to Dr. Dan Brook (optional)
Please submit your online application as soon as you’re able to (you don’t need a passport to apply), so we can demonstrate support for this program and have a better sense of the enrollment numbers.
Your application cannot be considered unless it is fully filled out and properly submitted. After the class is full, accepted applicants will be placed in a wait pool.
Feel free to contact me with any questions, thoughts, or concerns and I’ll be happy to address them.
Go Global while earning SJSU credit, exploring a beautiful city, meeting cool people, making new friends, eating scrumptious food, having ridiculous amounts of fun, seeing wondrous sights, experiencing Thai massage, interacting with rescued elephants and other animals at a sanctuary, making new discoveries, smiling and laughing a lot, putting your hands on Thailand through experiential service learning and doing good in the community, overcoming challenges, finding new opportunities, visiting temples, bamboo rafting down a river, chatting with young monks, visiting local craft factories, getting invaluable experience, boosting your resume, making connections, gaining spiritual insight, enjoying Chiang Mai and Thai culture, while e x p a n d i n g your consciousness!
“I went to Chiang Mai, Thailand this summer and fell in love with Thailand. … I believe international travel is one of the most important aspects of becoming a well-rounded person.” — Cristina M.
“Volunteering is the most authentic way to experience a place and meet locals.” — Anmol Arora
“While volunteering, I thought I would be the one giving back, however what I was given was more than I could’ve ever imagined.” — Kalli D.
“My heart is forever altered, elevated, and purified by volunteering. My mind is strengthened and enhanced with wisdom, ultimately improving my mental health and leading to improved physical health. There are many benefits derived by giving. To give is a form of receiving.” — Cassidy P.
“[Professor Brook is a] great motivational speaker. Puts things into perspective, not his perspective but our own. He frames questions and ideas regarding the smallest/insignificant things in a way that makes them relevant, personal, and mind-blowing. He makes me think in new ways provoking new ways of thinking to form in my mind. Perfect professor to travel to Thailand with, or any other country!” — anonymous
{For many more student reviews, check here.}
Get lost in Chiang Mai,
so that you can find yourself anywhere.
You’ll experience (and enjoy!) more in 3 weeks
than many people do in 3 or more years.
A “unique mix of travel experiences, where there’s something for everyone, is what makes Chiang Mai — which translates to ‘new city’ — a great getaway.” —Ashwin Rajagopalan
Invest in yourself, make your school break count, make a difference,
make good friends, and make it memorable.
For lots more info, check the FAQs About HoT, HoT Info Guide, and Syllabus, as well as the pages for HoT Media and Student Reviews.
And, you can always contact me.
Check out the SJSU Study Abroad HoT page.
Course, program, syllabus, schedule, website, text, & photos
© DB 2024 Common Era (2567 Buddhist Era).
Hands on Thailand (HoT) 