March 2, 2010

Dear Parents,

We are aware of the travel advisory for Thailand and are monitoring the situation very carefully. The travel advisory cautions about the potential for political protests. The advisory cautions travelers to avoid areas where protests are occurring. At this stage, no protests have been organized. Since September 2009, there have been 5 similar travel advisories issued regarding political protests.

We have many contacts in Bangkok who are able to provide us with accurate information. The Director of the Prem Centre in Chiang Mai will be traveling to Bangkok this week to monitor the situation.

The Prem Center in Chiang Mai is very remote and is considered a nonpolitical area. If any protests develop they will likely be centered in Bangkok. As such, we are carefully monitoring the Bangkok situation. The students will not be traveling around Bangkok. Their only time in Bangkok is at the airport within the secure areas.

For now, we will continue to monitor the situation. There are numerous emergency actions that we could initiate if necessary. The appropriate action will depend on the nature of the situation. If necessary, we will cancel the trip, but we hope (and anticipate) that this will not be required. We are fully committed to providing students with a safe and rewarding experience.