ALMOST The beginning - Wish me luck!

The last few weeks have left me feeling a bit unhinged. For those who have not read the preceding posts, this is a VERY brief summary.

I enrolled in a One Year Thai Language course, at the Language Institute at Chiang Mai University, in May 2010 and have spent the last several months, along with my husband (he'll be doing a TEFL course), packing up our lives.

My course and the Cultural Exchange program were cancelled. Time will tell if I receive a refund for the 15,000 ฿ I paid as a deposit. There are various explanations as to why the two programs were wiped, some of which you can read in the earlier posts.

About four weeks prior to travelling I received the email breaking the bad news and didn't want to rush into parting with any more money while still in Australia, organising another course. So, I'm arriving on a 60 tourist visa and will take it from there. I've made a short list of language schools who offer visa support and will investigate their cirriculums, then make a decision while in Chiang Mai. Because I am arranging this in Thailand, I'll have to fly to Laos or similar and apply for my Non Immigration ED visa.

I was tempted to delete the old posts and start from here, but that wouldn't tell the whole story and they'll remain here for prosperity.

I'll be arriving in Chiang Mai fairly late on the 21st October 2010 and probably won't be posting on this blog until after then...unless something goes terribly wrong on Monday when Stray and I visit the Thai Consulate in Brisbane to apply for our visas.

Wish me luck!

I'm going to??????????????

I received an email from the 'PATT', director of IUS. It's long and arduous, but basically says that my One Year Thai Language course, along with the Language Exchange program has been CANCELLED.

The 'PATT' stated CMU's stance on the whole situation is:

1. LICMU will still not sign visas.
2. LICMU has said there are to be absolutely no classes for foreigners at LICMU after 30 September 2010.
3. IUS has exhausted all its funds in the refunding of courses fees and other expenses due to students because of lack of either a visa or classes.
4. LICMU is refusing to refund any money to students.

The 'PATT' did however say:

In this type of situation, where one partner (LICMU) refuses to meet their obligations to students, it was wrong of me to think that that excuses IUS (or myself) from its continuing responsibilities to our students. It was wrong of me to allow affected students to get handed around like a "hot potato" from IUS to LICMU and back again, with no one taking responsibility for the situation that students - by absolutely no fault of their own - had found themselves in.  I am very sorry and I will do everything in my power to rectify my mistake.

Therefore, IUS (and myself) from this point forward takes full (and personal) responsibility for the further refunding of any fair claim from students either in the Cultural Exchange Program or the 1 Year Thai Language Program.

IUS (and myself) will need some time to refund all monies owed to all students (there are currently close to 300 affected students). However, I believe that IUS can clear ALL monies owing within 180 days.

The TEFL course seems to be intact...for now.

So...it looks like I'm going to my Thai Language course via Laos!