Dear Eric and Kathy parents and family,

   Just a note to let you know that we all returned safe and sound from our four-day break from Term in ASia. I"m writing mostly to reassure parents, since the crisis in Thailand is much in the news. Three of our students, Adrienne, Paku, and Violet, visited Laos, where they connected with Paku's and Violet's family members. Chris and Marcia traveled to northeast Thailand. Kari returned from her grandmother's funeral in Minnesota. And Emma, Kathryn, and Amy all did interesting things in the Chiang Mai area, such as harvesting rice.I'm looking forward to hearing their tales. Meanwhile, Meg and I went to Krabi for some beachside rest and rehabilitation. Returning through Bangkok yesterday, we just made it through the new airport a few hours before it was shut down by protesters who stormed the terminal. We had no idea things were so bad until we read the news this morning. Parents should be assured that there is no violence in Chaing Mai, and our local hosts are very attentive about being sure we are safe.

    Tomorrow after the afternoon class we will go for a boat ride on the Ping River, and then have Thanksgiving with all the traditional fixings at a restaurant downtown, and then the whole group will sleep on the floor at Meg's and my apartment. Kathryn's brother is here and will be with us. On Friday we will take the red pickup truck taxi to another day of classes, with a class on Thai literature and another on the hill tribes.

    We have much to be thankful for, and will be thinking of loved ones at home even as we enjoy being together again. Time for me to run, because we are taking our Thai language instructors to lunch, and we have to catch our ride!

   Happy Thanksgiving to you all,

John