Stranded Lodi students see history up close in Thailand

By Megan Corbett, Capital Newspapers

Students from Lodi High School are taking an extended stay in Thailand this week. Whether they are enjoying it is another question.

Nine students and three teachers are delayed in Phuket, Thailand, after anti-government protesters took over the major airports there. The protesters have stopped all flights leaving the country, forcing the school group and thousands of other tourists to extend their stay.

The Lodi students were in Thailand as part of an exchange program with Lodi's "sister school" Sa-Nguan Ying, a high school in Suphan Buri, about 90 minutes outside Bangkok, according to Lodi High School Principal Laura Love. For the past year, Lodi High School and its Thai counterpart have given their students the chance to travel to another country and experience a different culture. The exchange was supposed to end with the students flying home Thursday, but occupation of the airports led to a change in plans.

"They will be flying home Saturday, December 6 now, from Phuket, to Singapore, to Tokyo and then arriving in Chicago," Love said. "The students are excited to be witnessing the living history in Thailand but are anxious to return home." Love added the students were in no danger and were far from the most aggressive protesting.

The protesting that has put Thailand's air travel at a standstill was organized by the People's Alliance for Democracy. The anti-government group is calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat. The Lodi students saw the protests escalating during the course of their trip and took the situation into account when attempting to schedule a return trip home, but they and thousands of others saw their plans canceled.

So far the students have made the best of what most would consider a bad situation. Max Love, a senior at Lodi, is the son of Laura Love and is one of the students in Phuket. He has been writing a blog about the trip and how the group and his younger sister Shea Love, who is in Thailand with him, have responded to the delay in their return home.

"First of all I'd like to just let everyone know that these events are no representation of how this trip has been at all!" Love writes. "Thailand is a beautiful and wonderful place and each and every one of the students on this trip have experienced something awesome ... . It just turns out that we have to deal with this situation and we will be home as soon as possible."

In the meantime, friends and family in Lodi have been reassured that the students are safe. They have been able to communicate with the students "quite a bit," according to Principal Love.

The school will continue communicating with the students and staff abroad and a meeting is planned for Tuesday night to inform parents about what will unfold over the next week.

Links:

Click here to read the students' blog from Thailand