Monchai Kathong took full advantage of his time at Old Dominion. He not only studied hard in his quest for a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, but he also played hard in pursuit of a cultural education.

Kathong, a captain and professor of mechanical engineering in the Royal Thai Naval Academy, had spent two years at sea as an engineering officer with the Thai navy before earning a scholarship to pursue graduate study in the United States. He first received a master's degree at the University of Wisconsin, then, on the advice of a friend at Old Dominion, came to Norfolk for his doctorate.

"My friend told me that ODU had good research projects," he said. "I was not disappointed."

Kathong was impressed by the fact that, in the U.S. system of higher education, universities were the focal point for the development of new knowledge and technology, fueled by research grants from government agencies and private companies. "This way, you can educate people and gain new knowledge at the same time," he said.

After his first semester, Kathong landed a research assistant position working on a project for NASA Langley Research Center. "It was a great experience to have the opportunity to work there," he noted.

Kathong did more than study and conduct research, however. "I had a lot of friends at ODU. Some of them were graduate students from foreign countries, and many were Americans. I also had American roommates. We played tennis and went to almost all of the men's and women's basketball home games. Occasionally, I also went to soccer and field hockey games."

He still remembers the excitement he felt when the Lady Monarch basketball team won the national title in 1985.

Kathong also found time to play. His intramural volleyball team won the championship two years in a row, he proudly recalls, and in the summer he and his friends would drive to Virginia Beach to play beach volleyball.

"I think pursuing an education in a foreign country is beneficial because you not only learn a more advanced subject, but you also get to know a different culture. The cultural knowledge is the best part. You cannot learn it by reading textbooks or listening to a lecture. I always persuade my marine engineering students to pursue additional studies abroad."

As part of his advice, though, he points out that there will be an element of culture shock.

"I had to adjust to many things at the beginning. English was one. I had studied English since kindergarten, but I had never used it. So it was difficult to communicate with people at first."

Kathong, who earned his Ph.D. in the summer of 1988, said he doesn't remember all of the adjustments he had to make, but he still recalls being pleasantly surprised by how much people on campus were willing to help international students - "no matter where they came from or how they looked."