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Olivia Draper spent about nine weeks living on her own in Thailand to learn Thai. Draper worked in a restaurant and lived as a Buddhist nun in a monastery. (Michael Zshornack/Assistant Photo editor)

https://dailybruin.com/2016/09/25/the-immersive-experience-of-an-independent-study-abroad-program/web-ns_-draper-mz_-jpg/

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web.ns.draper.MZ.jpg - Daily Bruin

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The immersive experience of an independent study abroad program - Daily Bruin

The immersive experience of an independent study abroad program

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When Olivia Draper stepped off the plane in Thailand this summer, she barely spoke a word of Thai. Instead of studying abroad with a university program, Draper traveled on her own to Thailand, where she spent eight weeks working in a restaurant while learning Thai, and another five days living as a nun in a Buddhist monastery near Bangkok.

https://dailybruin.com/2016/09/25/the-immersive-experience-of-an-independent-study-abroad-program/

Thursday, April 2, 2026

The immersive experience of an independent study abroad program

By Laurel Scott

Sept. 25, 2016 10:32 p.m.