New web sites and progress

Thanks to a comment on my previous post, I did a bit of digging around.

The Language Institue now has new web sites, which are largely copy and pastes of the old (still existing) sites. A TEFL site at http://tefl-feu.com/ and Thai One Year Course site at http://www.studythai-feu.com/. The address still remains as is and has not been updated to FEU's location...perhaps just an over sight in the early reconstruction of the website?

I received a request for information so my visa document could be organised, late last night and am waiting for my copy.

And here we go again...

14th September

By this evening, I couldn't stand the suspense any longer. I phoned my 'person at the top' and got straight through. Although giving me a completely different explanation to what I have been told or read, said he thought that my visa docs had been sent and that I had been contacted by CMULI. No!!!!

He called me straight back saying that he had spoken to the over worked girls at the office and asked them to fax the Thai Consulate in Brisbane, ASAP, and that I would be forwarded a copy.

He also offered me a discount and a bit of a deal on our accommodation. A very nice bloke and fellow Aussie...but, I have worked with salesmen before. I do empathise with his situation... somewhere between a rock and a hard place, but I have five weeks to secure an ED visa or make alternate plans and have to be selfish at this stage.

Speaking of alternate plans, I had emailed the Walen school an enquiry asking:

I understand that I have to organize my ED visa from outside of Thailand and would be prepared to do so. But, If I arrive on a 30 day tourist (exempt) visa from Australia, the Thai Consulate states I must have an outbound flight booked. If I were (really) planning on staying for one year, how would I explain no outbound flight?

Also, the banner on your site says 'free ED visa', does Walen pay for my visa?

This was there response...two days later:

Normally, if you have non-immigrant visa such as ED, you will be able to travel abroad with a one-way ticket. If you are afraid that the immigration officer will reject that, I would recommend you to buy a promotion return-ticket (short-period ticket) to save your cost.


If you enroll for a 180-lesson Thai Group Course with our school, we will provide the authorized paperwork (official letters) for you @ free of charge. For any other government fees, you would need to pay by yourself.

No disrespect to the Walen school (I may end up there) but I wish ALL language schools would stop this false advertising...none of them pay for your ED Visa.

At about 2.00 am (I couldn't sleep!) I emailed the girl at the CMULI office, requesting confirmation of the above.

15th September

It's 5.30 pm here and still not a peep. I have just sent a polite (จ่ายเย็นเย็น ) text to the person at the top. Within a few seconds I recieved a reply asking for my date of birth...promising?

Now two hours later, I'm publishing this post...oh, and learning how to say Far Eastern University in Thai, because the Language Institute is definitely moving there, from the CMU campus.

The view from the highest point in Thailand

Still in the dark

11th September

My 'friend' (refer earlier post) emailed me saying that they had been advised that CMU LI was moving to Far Eastern University (FEU) and was issuing ED visas to students under that name. Apparently the migration happens on the 13th. I have been told by some, not involved, that it is not unusual for schools to move around.

Neither I or my friend have heard of Far Eastern and I have been reading about Thai Language courses for about 9 months now. In all fairness, if they don't currently offer a Thai Language course, perhaps that's feasible.

So, I sit and wait again for a reply to my email (advising that I am waiting for my police check to be returned) to CMU LI sent on the 8th. The police check is due to be returned in a week or so, and at that time I will post my visa application, leaving only four and a half weeks until our departure!

If the Thai course is moving house, is Stray's TEFL course also? One would think so and I hope that's the case. It's comforting to me that we will be in the same area, in the early days of our stay. I really don't mind if the institute is relocating, I'm still happy to proceed as planned.

12th September

I came across this CMULI promotional video (complete with spelling mistake), uploaded to YouTube only four days ago. Since this member also joined the same day and has uploaded this video only, I ask myself...why? Is it an attempt to resurrect the institute's reputation or is it redefining its purpose?

All very odd considering what 'friend' has just told me.

'We are one of the leading educators in Northern Thailand, we offer: language training courses, preparation courses, editing and translation services, community development programs, enrichment camps and team building programs, international exchange programs as well as educational tour programs."

One year Thai course? TEFL course? Perhaps they fall under 'language training courses'? No sight of any middle aged foreigners, like myself, sitting at those desks or strolling through the grounds.

I continue to practice my mai bpen rais, jai yen yens and smiling.