Blugold student returns to her roots through study abroad

Members of the Karen Hill Tribe guide study abroad students on rafts in a shallow stream during a three-day tour of the villages of Thailand. (UW-Eau Claire photos)

By UW-Eau Claire News Bureau

Like many students at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Sumya Paung had her heart set on studying abroad from the minute she stepped on campus. She also knew her parents wouldn’t be able to help her because of financial constraints, so she worked hard at extra jobs to save money and applied for a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship during her senior year.

What makes Paung’s story so different from the stories of many other students who study abroad is that she was determined to return to a place where she once lived in constant fear of being exposed as a political refugee. For that reason, Paung’s story is of a circular journey marked by hardship, perseverance and success.

“I was doubtful that I would receive the prestigious Gilman Scholarship since it is so competitive,” Paung said. “But I was hopeful that my experiences and goals for wanting to study abroad would provide me the chance.”

For her study abroad experience Paung has traveled to Thailand, where she spent four years as a Burmese refugee.

Paung, a senior art-graphic design major, is one of two UW-Eau Claire students awarded the Gilman Scholarship to study abroad for the spring term. She is studying abroad on the USAC Thailand Program at Chiang Mai University, taking classes to fulfill her Asian studies minor. Along with her studies at the university, she will be participating in an internship as a graphic designer at City Life Magazine.

Paung was raised by her aunt and uncle in Burma until she was 8. Eventually, she and her sister were able to join their parents who were living in a small apartment in a suburb of Bangkok, Thailand.

Living as political refugees was difficult for Paung and her family as Thai police barely tolerated refugees. The Paung family lived in constant fear of being detained and deported at any time. Luckily, the family evaded detection and local residents welcomed the Paungs into the community.

Paung and her sister were able attend school, learn Thai, and become a part of the community where they lived for three years before coming to the United States and settling in St. Paul, MN.
Work at orphanage a real eye-opener

Along with her studies and internship, Paung is volunteering at a local orphanage by helping care for children between the ages of 3 and 5. She also is applying to volunteer at the Thai Freedom House, a non-governmental, nonprofit language and arts community center that is dedicated to assisting refugees from Burma and other minority groups in Thailand.

“I was in shocked when I found out about the Freedom House through my study abroad website, because it is something on the other side of the world with which I can personally empathize,” Paung said. “I will get to do art while working with children and refugees from my original country.”

During her study abroad, Paung is taking a Thai language course to enhance her speaking skills. She also will take a field study course on the people of the Thai Hill Tribes to get the chance to interact and engage with the villagers and their culture first hand.

Throughout her stay Paung plans to put her photography skills to work.

“Photography allows me to express myself and my beliefs. It also helps me to notice the details and the beauty of my everyday surroundings,” she said. “That is how I want to approach my experiences abroad; I want to capture the beauty of Thailand and the essence of its people through photographs.”

One of the requirements of the Gilman Scholarship is to have a follow-up service project proposal. It is a chance for students to explain how they will give back by inspiring others to pursue their own experiences abroad. Using her skills in graphic design, Paung plans to capture her own view of Thailand and create visual stories to share. She will present her photos at UW-Eau Claire’s study abroad fair and at orientation, and she plans to use her graphic design skills to create brochures and posters for the study abroad program.

“When people look at the photos, I want them to be able to hear, smell, feel Thailand’s culture from looking at the photo and imagine themselves there,” she said. “I want my photos to be the reason people want to visit Thailand.”

Paung plans to become a study abroad ambassador for UW-Eau Claire and give presentations to classrooms to raise awareness of the study abroad program and the Gilman Scholarship that made her trip to Thailand a reality.

Gilman Scholarship

The Gilman International Scholarship Program offers grants to students of limited financial means for the opportunity to study abroad. The program offers study abroad grants to Pell Grant financial aid recipients to help make study abroad more affordable.

The scholarship is awarded by term; three to five UW-Eau Claire students receive the scholarship each year.

“I think what makes UWEC students successful is that we offer a variety of resources to help the students write their essays,” said Jenna Krosch, the university’s study abroad coordinator. “The Center for Writing Excellence just recently started offering a workshop that focuses just on writing a Gilman essay. Those workshops, combined with the study abroad coordinators working with applicants and reviewing essays, help our students craft exceptional essays.”