You probably have been reading about the political unrest in Thailand. Protesters, called the Red Shirts, supporters of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, say the government is illegitimate because it came to power through a parliamentary deal rather than an election.
The Red Shirts began a protest on March 14, demanding a new election. On April 10, 2010, 25 people - including five soldiers - were killed in a failed attempt to disperse protesters. The Red Shirts are getting larger and uniting throughout Thailand.
How is the unrest affecting your Thai au pair? Read the latest news here from the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8676630.stm
What can you do for your Thai au pair during this difficult time? It will be important to talk to her about it. Ask her how she feels about it and how her family is doing at home. Show concern and also try to calm her by telling her that she is safe with your family and that you will do what you can to make sure that she can continue to communicate back home with loved ones.
Does she have a cell phone that makes international calls? If not, you may want to add one to your family plan so she can touch base with her family at least once a week. If her family lives in Bangkok, the seat of most of the unrest and demonstrations, she may want to check in more frequently.
Keeping communication open between you and your Thai au pair during this difficult time may not only calm her nerves but keep her with you for the duration of your present contract. Au pairs have been known to skip out on the cultural exchange program during times of terrorism, natural disasters and unrest in the world.
At the time of 9/11, many au pairs placed here in the States immediately asked to return home. Their parents called the agencies and requested their daughters return on the next available flight! There was a lot of confusion and worry during those first few days and weeks, but most agencies rose to the challenge by taking proactive steps: setting up emergency cluster meetings to address concerns and questions and sending emails and making phone calls to host parents and parents of au pairs to keep them updated and informed of the situation here in America.
I don't know what steps the agencies are taking in reaction to the political unrest in Thailand, but if you have a Thai, it may be a good idea to call your counselor and see if there is anything she can do or should be doing at this point. If there are several Thais in your cluster, perhaps she could arrange a cluster meeting to talk about the situation and address questions and concerns that you or your Thai au pair may have. It would be a nice way to come together and provide group support for the Thai au pairs in your area and make them feel better about their stay away from their homeland at this time.
If anyone has information about what agencies are doing, or not doing, please send it in to the clearinghouse.
