Cover/Motivation Letter for exchange program

Hi everyone.

I'm currently planning my exchange to Thailand and therefore I need to write an Motivation Letter. I always was kind of bad in writing and so this is a real challenge for me.

I hope you can review my letter and give me some improvement tips and maybe some advice where a comma or the capitalization would be useful or necessary.

Thank you in advance.

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To whom it may concern,

I write this letter in order to apply for a exchange to the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. My name is ******** *******, and I am a student of Business Administration and Materials Engineering at the ******************, currently in the third semester.

Since I started my studies I planed to participate in an exchange program. The opportunity to experience an equally instructive and also challenging time within a complete different culture is something that is really fascinating to me. I think to handle the difficulties that occur living in a country where I am not fluent in the language and initially do not know anybody is something that will make me a more independent person and will help me to face future problems with more confidence. I also like the idea of meeting people with whom I can share these unique experience and hopefully find lifelong friends from all over the world.

Two main reasons caused my decision to apply for an Asian university. First of all the huge difference in culture, religion, lifestyle and social values based on a complete different history produces a huge interest and fascination to me. I like to explore these differences and learn about them, making me a better and more tolerant person. I think it is really interesting to dive into a new culture and learn about their habits, language and script first hand.
The second reason I apply for an Asian university is the rising importance of Asia within the world economy. Asia is already far away from being a market which can be ignored but still the majority of students think of the biggest continent as a tourist and travel area. Living and studying and not just making holiday in an asian country would give me the opportunity to learn about the local economies and how the life beyond the tourist sites really is.
I think both reasons would give me an advantage as well on a personal as on a professional level. Cultural competence and experience with asian cultures is something that is becoming increasingly important on the labor market.

In all the diversity that Asia offers Thailand caught rapidly my attention. It’s flora is characterized by rainforests and an almost uncountable diversity of exoctic plants which form the habitat for an unique fauna with some of the world most impressive animals. The combination of the natural conditions and the old historic temples and monuments creates remarkable landscapes which for sure can be called breathtaking.
But besides the general appearance Thailand also is one of the uprising economies in Asia and part of the group of twenty (G20). Since the late 90’s the country was able to obtain a steady economic growth, except of the crisis year 2009 which also affected their economy. As a trading and export orientated nation Thailand participate in the free trade and tries to expand it which is noticeable in their participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) and their efforts to obtain a free trade area with the European Union. A free trade area with the European Union would make Thailand highly interesting for european companies and therefore a exchange and at least the basic of the language and script I hope to master would benefits my career opportunities.

The Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok is the oldest and one of Thailand's most prestigious universities, was ranked 48th in Asia by QS World University Rankings 2014 and also aims for international recognition with over 60 international programs, about 80 collaborate research projects and approximately 100 staff and student exchange programs. Considering my field of study the programs for International Business Administration and Applied Chemistry are especially interesting for me and offer me the opportunity to continue my studies in an international context.
The reputation and the rising international recognition of the university combined with my general interest in Thailand is the reason why I choose to apply for an exchange to the Chulalongkorn University.