It's not a phone call you get everyday.

Kanis Glaewketgarn (junior-architectural engineering), an international student from Thailand, said he was eating lunch with a friend in downtown State College on Tuesday when his friend called and told him about the coup in his home country.

Thailand's army commander, Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, took over the country in a bloodless military coup on Tuesday.

The new regime has revoked the constitution and has banned meetings by all of the political parties.

Boonyaratkalin announced during the day on Wednesday that he would not hold elections until next year.

Gaewkatgarn and other Thai students studying at Penn State said their friends and family in Thailand were safe.

He said he was not afraid to go back to the country.

"It's my country, and I grew up there," he said. "I'm not afraid to go back at all."

Panet Serirungsun, Thailand native and intensive English communication program student at Penn State, said he was not very worried about the coup.

"I think it's not a big deal," he said.

Serirungsun said he thinks that the Thailand government that was run under Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was "controlled by money" and the coup would probably provide an opportunity to create a new democratic system.

Gaewkatgarn said the movement that led to the coup had been developing for a while.

"I'm sure a lot of people had the idea that this was going on," he said.

Negar Davis, director of international student services, said there were 63 Thai students studying at Penn State this fall.

She said when a "major event" such as a coup occurs, her department watches for developments and stays in contact with students and alumni who might be affected.

Davis said foreign students studying at Penn State have student visas that last for the duration of their studies, so they will not have to return to Thailand until after they graduate.

John Keller, director of education abroad, said Penn State has a small program focused on development in Thailand, but no students are registered for it or are studying there.

Keller said Penn State bases its travel policy on the state department's travel warning system. If the department issues a "travel warning," Penn State stops travel to the country.

The U.S. Department of State has issued an announcement Wednesday advising Americans to "exercise discretion when moving about," but no travel warning has been issued, according to the agency's Web site, http://travel.state.gov.

Keller said no Penn State students had been caught in a foreign political situation during the five years
he had been director of education abroad.

"We've never had to withdraw students from anywhere," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.