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For seven weeks, Manon, a nursing student from France, completed her internship at Ao Luek Noi Local Dispensary in Krabi Province, Thailand. Travelling alone to a rural community on the other side of the world was a new experience for her, both professionally and personally.
Like many students arriving in a foreign country for the first time, the first week required some adjustment. A different language, unfamiliar customs, and a new healthcare system made every day a learning experience. As the weeks passed, however, she became more comfortable, built strong relationships with the dispensary team, and gradually became part of the local community.
By the end of her internship, what had started as a professional placement had become an experience filled with learning, cultural exchange, and lasting friendships.
Throughout her internship, Manon worked alongside the nurses and healthcare professionals at Ao Luek Noi Local Dispensary, gaining experience in many aspects of primary healthcare in Thailand.
Each day offered different opportunities to learn and participate in patient care. During her placement, she assisted with:
Working closely with the local team allowed her to observe how community healthcare is organised in rural Thailand while comparing it with the practices she had learned in France.
One important part of the dispensary’s work takes place outside the building itself.
The nursing team regularly visits elderly residents and patients with disabilities who are unable to travel to the dispensary. These home visits ensure that everyone in the community continues to receive medical care and regular follow-up.
For Manon, these visits became one of the most interesting parts of her internship.
Visiting patients in their own homes gave her the opportunity to meet families, learn about daily life in rural Thailand, and understand the close relationship between healthcare professionals and the local community.
Many of the conversations happened through smiles, gestures, translations from the nursing staff, and the kindness shared between everyone involved.
One of the biggest differences Manon observed was the role of families in caring for elderly patients.
In Thailand, nurses generally focus on medical treatment. Daily personal care, such as helping patients bathe, changing bed sheets, or assisting with hygiene, is usually carried out by family members rather than healthcare professionals.
As part of her nursing training in France, however, providing personal care was one of her internship requirements. During home visits, she therefore helped elderly patients with bathing and hygiene whenever appropriate.
One memorable moment came after helping an elderly patient finish a bath. Following the local custom, she carefully applied talcum powder to the patient’s skin. While this is common practice in Thailand to help keep the skin cool and comfortable in the tropical climate, it was something completely unfamiliar to her.
The experience brought smiles to everyone involved and became one of many moments where cultural differences turned into opportunities to learn from one another.
These home visits showed that while healthcare systems may operate differently from country to country, kindness, patience, and respect remain at the centre of good nursing.
Preventive healthcare is an important part of Thailand’s public health system, and during her internship Manon also joined vaccination campaigns in local schools.
Working alongside the nursing team, she helped organise and support vaccination sessions for children in the area.
For many of the students, it was their first time meeting a foreign nurse. The children were curious and excited, making the visits enjoyable for both the healthcare team and the students.
These campaigns demonstrated the importance of preventive medicine and community outreach in maintaining public health.
Outside of her internship, Manon took the opportunity to discover more of Southern Thailand.
During weekends and free time, she visited temples, explored nearby islands, enjoyed local food, and travelled through several neighbouring provinces. These experiences allowed her to better understand Thai culture beyond the workplace and appreciate the diversity of the region.
Living in a small rural community also gave her the chance to experience everyday life in Thailand in a way that many visitors never do.
After seven weeks, Manon successfully completed her nursing internship at Ao Luek Noi Local Dispensary.
During her placement, she gained practical clinical experience, discovered a different healthcare system, and learned how culture influences the way care is provided to patients. At the same time, she shared her own knowledge and experience with the local nursing team, creating a valuable exchange for everyone involved.
By the time she returned to France, she had become a familiar face at the dispensary. Her professionalism, willingness to learn, and positive attitude were appreciated by both her colleagues and the patients she met throughout her stay.
Although her internship came to an end, she left behind many good memories and is warmly remembered by the entire Ao Luek Noi dispensary team.
Healthcare internships offer much more than clinical experience. They allow students to work in different environments, understand new healthcare systems, and experience another culture while contributing to local communities.
Through partnerships with local healthcare providers, Thai Spirit Life supports international students who wish to gain practical experience while living and learning in Southern Thailand.
Every internship is an opportunity to exchange knowledge, build friendships, and better understand the people and communities that make each destination unique.
