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Secondary education

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Original poster

School trip to Thailand

16 replies

Starmummy · 27/04/2009 15:10

Quick question. DS year 8, is due to go the Thailand on a school trip on May 30th. Some kids have already dropped out due to the political situation. However having read the FCO website they say its OK in Chang Mai, so that seems ok to me. The school have said the airline will give a refund upto a week before the trip if the FCO say No travel. Otherwise its then an insurance job. Anyway point is, should I still send him? Or does sending him to a country that is in political turmoil make me stupid?
TIA

OP posts:
mumoverseas · 27/04/2009 17:25

very difficult call starmummy. I think the best advice I can give is to get regular updates from the FCO on the situation.
No matter what you decide, you are not stupid. If you don't let your DS go he will obviously be upset and perhaps be angry at you (I have a DD in year 8 and know what she would be like) Maybe talk to some of the other mums and see what their views are. Is the school not giving any guidance/advice?
Good luck with whatever you decide

RockinSockBunnies · 27/04/2009 17:29

I'd obviously monitor the FCO website, but think generally I'd let him go if nothing changes in the interim. Thailand can be a bit politically volatile in the capital, but I've never heard of any Westerners encountering problems in the past, even when there have been military coups.

I've been to Thailand a few times (not Chang Mai) and it's always been peaceful, welcoming and with lovely people.

Also, on a practical note, if the FCO doesn't advise against travel, then surely your insurance wouldn't pay out if you decided not to go ahead with the trip?

Original poster
Starmummy · 27/04/2009 18:21

Thanks for the very quick replies. Mumoverseas - where are you? We are in DXB. I saw your other post about Arabic so I guess ME, good luck with that!School have said all is ok, FCO say all is ok, and my heart says ok. I have travelled to some volatile places but I do just love Thailand and the Thai people.

Rockinsocksbunny - you are right I dont think the insurance would pay out but people have already dropped out. Personally if its good enough for the FCO its good enough for me. DS is a brave boy and not easily spooked or cowed but he is making comment about the others dropping out. I said to him he should be really lucky if all the woosey(sp?) ones drop out he will get a more adrelin filled experience ;-) got to look on the bright side.

OP posts:
mumoverseas · 28/04/2009 09:59

Hi Starmummy, I'm in KSA. Very jealous of you in DXB, a really good friend moved out there around the same time I moved out here and I envy her freedom
DS finally has the exam this morning (insha'allah!)
Hope all is ok for your DS's trip. I did think it was a bit exotic for a school trip but your location explains it!

Thandeka · 05/05/2009 16:36

I was in Thailand on holiday during the most recent troubles including Pattaya and Bangkok and saw NOTHING! Yes it could get worse and things could happen but then is an internal protest and I don't think non-thai's will get drawn into it. Just keep a close eye on the FCO website.

Original poster
Starmummy · 10/05/2009 15:04

Thanks. So far we havent had a meeting yet with the school since the one in Oct last year to tell us about the trip in general. Apparently we are to have a meeting on 20th, hmm that will be one week before he goes then. I do think it will be ok, glad swine flu is settling down as well.

We shall see what happens. Normally I am very laid back about all this, not really sure why I am in a tizz this time.

OP posts:
hifi · 11/05/2009 11:16

we go every year and every year there has been some sort of unrest. never been affected by it.

mangolassi · 11/05/2009 11:24

I live here, it's really fine - even in BKK things are quieter at the moment. In Chiang Mai there won't be any problems, honestly.

mangolassi · 11/05/2009 11:25

here = thailand, obviously.

ScorpiowithabigS · 11/05/2009 11:26

DH hasn't long come back from Bangkok and Pattaya; it was fine, he would take us there he said.

Original poster
Starmummy · 19/05/2009 08:00

Thanks everyone. We have a meeting at school and I am fine with it all. Personally I think a meeting on the Wednesday before the kids leave might be seen as a bit slack, considering the only other meeting was to tell us about the trip in general back in October.

Anyway, to compound the problem now, DS came home from school saying other kids have had HepA. Checked the FCO site, yep, Hep A required and loads of other stuff. Checked all the blurbb from school, no details on recomended vacinations from them. Wrote to school, they just said blah blah, I went last year and I didnt have them (head of year 8). Well I went last year and I didnt have them either but that was my choice/ignorance. I rather hoped the school would be better organised and at least offer the information, or maybe I am being unreasonable?

Anyway I took DS lst night for Hep A and Thyphoid. Doc said better some protection than none. Sigh. I wouldnt mind but the trip is costing almost as much as a family holiday. Grrrr.....

OP posts:
mumoverseas · 19/05/2009 08:21

oh dear, I know exactly how you feel Starmummy. My DS's school is crap about providing information like that and the trips are not cheap. He is going on his D of E silver trip to Cyprus next month and its costing SR8,000 which is around the same as Dirhams. Bloody silly money bearing mind they are only in a hotel one night and then the other 5 days they are camping. Don't want to buy Cyprus!
Hope your DS has a good trip and brings you back some nice tat/souvenirs!

Original poster
Starmummy · 20/05/2009 04:27

LOL mumoverseas I know what you about not wanting to buy the bloody place.

Anyway the meeting is tonight and if my mood doesnt improve they are gonna get both barrels for their sheer bloody uselessness. Is it just us or are the price of these trips rising rising and then rising some more?

DS has just come back from camping in Fujeriah (2 weeks ago, bit hot in my mind), goes to thailand with school, then Norway with scouts and then UK to stay with friends and family. All I can say is I am almost glad he ahd a broken leg and couldnt go on the rugby trip to Australia. I feel like a trael agent/cash machine.

OP posts:
mumoverseas · 20/05/2009 05:24

You are right about the cost of these trips Starmummy. But of course, its because we are rich expats isn't it! They don't seem to understand that we are being completely f*ed over by the current exchange rate and that everything is costing 25% more than last year.

was talking to one of the other mums at the school last week and apparently next years ski trip is around SR12,000!

Original poster
Starmummy · 21/05/2009 04:27

OMG at 12,000SR!!! They must be joking.

Anyway it was the meeting last night, nothing new was said, except they have an additional inclusion to the insurance policy in case of swine flu, ie. trip cancelled. All seems to be in order so Ds will be waved off a week on Saturday. Talk about spoilt though, all the kids are moaning at no seatback tv, lol. The teacher in charge of the trip is about 12 25, and was busy telling them she had never been on a plane till she was 18. LOL to see the kids yawning, I mean thats just like so old, like those flat black things that everyone over 150 says play music. So funny. Highlight of the meeting IMHO, although I am glad I dont have to site with a bunch of moaning kids deprived of every electronic gadget known to man.

OP posts:
mumoverseas · 21/05/2009 04:41

ex-pat brats starmummy

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