Programs FAQ

Is it safe?

LAB has paused all travel to Myanmar since 2020. Our current program visits Thailand only, a country widely regarded as quite safe. We start in Bangkok, then fly to Chiang Mai, and finally end our trip in Mae Sot, near the border with Myanmar but very safely still in Thailand. Our faculty has extensive experience traveling in Thailand.

Are visas required?

For Myanmar, a Japanese citizen can enter without visa for up to 28 days; a Thai citizen can remain for up to 14 days. Taiwanese citizens can obtain an evisa online.

For Thailand, a visa is not required for Japanese citizens. Taiwanese citizens are required to obtain a visa and can do so in Taipei.

Do I need to get any inoculations or take any other health precautions?

No.

How are LAB's program fees structured?

LAB leaders serve without cost, so program fees include only direct expenses. LAB, as a non-profit organization, receives contributions from interested friends and alumni. These funds can, in some cases, allow fees to be less than a program's actual cost. We strive to keep costs as low as possible.

Tuition for this year's Thailand program covers all hotels, programming, airfare and transport within Thailand, and most meals. For our Thailand program, airfare between Tokyo to Bangkok is not included in the program tuition, and is expected to cost approximately ¥50,000 (Japanese yen).

What about additional costs?

Besides the program fee, there are the following: Visa cost, travel health insurance (several levels of coverage are available), and flights to the destination country (transportation within the country is included in the program tuition fee). The program fee for Myanmar includes almost all meals and, for the Thailand program, about half of all meals. Meals in Thailand are available at very reasonable cost.

What kind of hotels do we stay in?

In Yangon, the group stays in an older, safe, comfortable and very well located hotel in the heart of the historical area. The Bangkok hotel is relatively new and small (a "boutique" hotel) and only a three-minute walk from the Skytrain. All of these hotels have been used by past groups.

Who will be participating in the program?

Typically, most participants will be from Keio University (Japan), National Taiwan University and Chulalongkorn University (Thailand). Students from other universities are welcomed; for a program like this, diversity is a strength.

Each year, the group usually includes one or more graduate students or interested people who are now into their careers.

The program seeks a diverse group of participants as so much of the learning takes place within the group.

What level of English is required?

The entire program will be conducted in English since this will be the only common language of everyone we’ll be talking with. Thus, the program requires students who feel comfortable (or brave!) in speaking in English; perfect grammar is not important—but the willingness to communicate with others and participate in discussions is important. The program attracts students who want to improve their English ability through a total immersion in English; thus, it is not unusual to find a Japanese speaking privately with another Japanese in English.

Who provides Learning Across Borders (LAB) leadership?

Each LAB program is lead by LAB's executive director, Max Erdstein. Max began his career as one of Google's earliest members in 1999 and helped grow its advertising business over the next five years. With an interest in Buddhism and meditation, he left Google to pursue training in meditation monasteries throughout Asia, and now teaches Buddhist meditation in the Soto-Zen and Theravada Buddhist traditions. Max has been involved with LAB since 2008 and continues the work of promoting cross-cultural education and understanding originally started by LAB's founder, Dwight Clark.

LAB also calls on the advice and service of many active members, including its Core Team.