You Say Hello, And I Say Goodbye…

May 31, 2010

After a full academic year of study at Thai high schools, five young American students in the Department of State's "Youth Exchange and Study" (YES) program left Thailand on May 31.  On their final day, they group chatting with U.S. Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer (CAO) J.P. Schutte about their memorable year abroad in Thailand.  The students lived with host families scattered throughout the country allowing each to gain different perspectives and experience a variety of Thai cultural traditions.  Despite their different experiences, they all unanimously agreed  that the year was interesting, worthwhile, and most of all fun!

One week later, AFS Intercultural Programs Thailand welcomed 17 new Americans to Thailand who will spend six months as teaching assistants in Thai secondary schools.  The participants in this program, funded by U.S. Embassy Bangkok and the State Department's East Asia Pacific Public Diplomacy (EAP/PD) bureau, will be a terrific resource for their schools, bringing a little bit of the United States to even the most remote regions of Thailand.   During their orientation, Embassy Regional Security Officer Randall Bennett and CAO Schutte spoke to the group about the political situation in Thailand, personal safety, and adjusting to a new culture.