Today by order of the Thai Ministry of Education, all schools within Bangkok must close for the rest of the week. For me, it means that our instructional days at the high school are finished; for the middle and elementary schools, they will continue next week as usual. Our high school exams will begin Monday, rather than this Friday. Online lessons and reviews have been posted by high school teachers, and the International Baccalaureate seniors are still required to come take their exams. It puts such an awkward spin on the end of year routine: Graduation has had to change its venue, and the last week of instruction or reviews are left hanging with final exams upcoming. Our faculty is required to be at school to work on report comments and, if not giving a final exam, to post final grades. For me it means I might actually finish marking all of my lab reports. Kat's school, however, is not within Bangkok, so does not have to abide by the mandate.
An ultimatum deadline by the government for the demonstrators to evacuate their last stronghold came and went yesterday. Apparently, behind the scenes negotiations have been ongoing, and now both parties have agreed to talk in hopes of ending the violence. A neutral senator has agreed to mediate. It remains to be seen whether it actually happens. People are weary of the demonstrations that have turned Bangkok into the opposite of its natural atmosphere of positive, smiling interactions, and tourism has decreased by a third. Some colleagues who live downtown have not been able to go home for several days now. The red shirts are overwhelmingly seen in a negative light, and they are increasingly desperate and unorganized. In the land of "saving face," the best solution will be, if possible, one that is win-win, and one that takes no more lives.
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