By : Aina Hazimah Bahaman (GS60026)
KASETSART UNIVERSITY, THAILAND


Study abroad is a life-changing experience. Personally, studying abroad was a pivotal moment in both
my personal and professional life and I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without the seeds
that my study abroad program planted within me. It definitely improves my life in a myriad of ways
that I haven’t even thought about.

Living in Bangkok, Thailand gives me access to travel and
exploration like never before. One of the objectives is to master the knowledge of computational
chemistry and bioinformatics especially in analyzing the result and data of molecular dynamic
simulation. In the meantime, this attachment helps to build network, solidify, and formalize the
collaboration between University Putra Malaysia and Kasetsart University (KU) especially in research
area. Thailand and especially KU is one of leading universities in computational chemistry and
bioinformatics, having an attachment there would definitely give lot of benefits to research. Group
support in the research team back in KU was really supportive, this helps me to fully understand and
enhance my knowledge in bioinformatics field.

One of ultimate reasons to study abroad is to gain life experience such as learning on how to organize life and handle unforeseen situations, be independent
and self-sufficient in managing time for research. During four months of staying in Bangkok, I manage
to finish one of my objectives and this is good to shorten my time in preparing practical journal paper.
Most important things during the attachment, I can apply back the things that I have learned to my
group research in UPM to make sure that the knowledge will expanding and can be nurtured to everyone
else. Furthermore, it helps to broaden my mind to new perspectives and lifestyles in a way that simply
visiting for a week or two cannot. I can see that the world will likely be challenged more than once,
especially Thailand not really good in English and it pushes me to go out of my limit to learn new
language which is good for my brain balancing motor.

I also find that interacting with different cultures
has a lasting impact in its own way of life. I probably find a few things that living in Bangkok makes
me do better with my own company and I can corporate something that I thought that I cannot do.
Ultimately, these new perspectives create a strong, holistic foundation from which I can build my new
potential of life that will be beneficial for both my physical and mental health which is really crucial
during PhD. As PhD is definitely cause an emotional rollercoaster, the experience of living abroad sets
up with an unshakeable sense of confidence and new perspective of mind.

Date of Input: 27/03/2024 | Updated: 29/06/2024 | sh_najiyah