On 22 August 2024, Ms. Siriporn Tantipanyathep, Consul-General of Thailand in Kolkata, along with Phrakrupalad Bodhivongworrarat, Chief Abbot of the Thai temple in Darjeeling – Wat Thairachaduta 609 – visited Thai students at 3 boarding schools in Darjeeling; namely, (1) Mount Hermon (2) St. Joseph, North Point and (3) St. Paul, where a total of approximately 60 students from grade 3 – grade 11 are studying.

The Consul-General called on Mr. Parthan Protim Dey, Principal of Mount Hermon School; Father Stanley Varghese SJ, Rector of St. Joseph’s School, North Point; and Mr. Peter Lepcha, Rector of St. Paul’s School. Each Principal/Rector happily reported that all the Thai students are adjusting well and behaving admirably in their new environment. They also mentioned that some of these Thai students are excelling in sports and have even joined their school’s teams to compete with other schools.

The Consul-General warmly met with the Thai students and asked about their experiences at their respective schools. The Thai students expressed a strong sense of attachment to their schools and reported that their teachers and fellow Thai students have been very supportive. However, some students are experiencing homesickness and missing Thai food. To address this, the Consul-General suggested that each school continue to provide excellent care for the Thai students and proposed offering Thai dishes once or twice a week. She also offered to arrange for the school’s chefs to learn how to prepare authentic Thai food at Wat Thairachadaduta 609, located at 27 Hookers Road, North Point, Darjeeling. Additionally, she mentioned that the Chief Abbot of the Thai temple acts as a ‘Volunteer Consul’ and helps support the Consulate-General’s efforts to make the students feel more at home in Darjeeling.