Day 2: June 17, 2009-06-19

Apparently, to my surprise and astonishment, I do not look one bit Lao!!! I have been approached by numerous people, questioning my origin. If it was not for my name, it seems that the general consensus of the Lao people here is that I look Japanese. ??? I’m flummoxed!!! It is hilarious.

The cool thing about Laos is that when you go shopping, you need to bargain and barter your way to get things. I always call Yaeng to help me because she looks Lao and she’s a great broker. Unfortunately, because I look like a foreigner, (Japanese), they double and even triple the price on me. It’s hilarious!!!

I so much enjoy the older Lao people. I’ve picked up a few Mama Sans. I met one at the school supply store. (Of course, she also told me I look Japanese) and she’s very funny. They love to talk and chat…and make fun of my Lao.

We are invited to go to a baci this Saturday for one of the overseas graduates. It’s very exciting. I hope to buy a sinh (traditional lao skirt).

Day 4: June 17, 2009

We went to the NGO Basic Needs, an organization working with people with “mental health.” They would like for us to do more administrative work which I’m not really interested in. The cool part of the day is that we found a quaint little street shop that sold fruit. Oh my goodness, I’ve never seen so many exotic fruits and they are all so delicious, although I’m not too crazy about the Durian. I’ve tried the fruit that is red and looks like they have hairy tentacles, the hard brown mangosteens, lycees, (have eaten these before, but fresh, YUM), dragon fruit, weird mushy green fruit, and green papaya. I love the fruits and vegetables. I’m not too crazy about the meat because they don’t have refrigeration and they use all parts of the animals.

Speaking of animals, I’ve had a couple of night visitors already. My Goodness, do you know how big cockroaches are here??? And how fast???? I’ve sprayed everything in sight. The mosquitoes aren’t too bad, yet. However, I am the walking example of how to keep protected from mosquitoes. I take my daily vitamin Bs, bug spray from head to toe, and walk around with bounce fabric softeners sticking out of my pockets, shoes, shirt and pants. It’s a sight I tell you!

Day 5: June 18, 2009

We went to Talat Sao (morning market). It’s a hustle and bustle market ranging from mall like merchandise to wares from street peddlers. We ate in the food court area and I tried Khao Pun, a traditional noodle dish from Luang Prabang. It was spicy!!!! I hope I will get used to the spices here. Yaeng and Brandin are so daring, but my stomach is just not cut out for that. I bought my first sinh. It’s blue and has a lovely pattern. I have to get it made and am looking for a seamstress. I also bought a tie and school logo patch. I look like a school girl at the Lao-American College. As soon as I get my sinh made, I will get a picture of myself as a typical Lao College Student. I think that would be fun.

Day 6: June 19, 2009

The Lao language is so difficult. It’s a tonal language and we have just learned the consonants all 27, plus 28 vowels. It is beautiful because it sounds as if we’re singing, but golly!!! It’s very difficult. It’s amazing that I have learned the Lao alphabet and am learning to write in Lao. It’s very beautiful and therapeutic. Class is such a chore, but enjoyable. Our teacher (achaan is what we call her — it means teacher and it’s a great sign of respect) is amazing, only problem is that she speaks in this soft melodic way that puts me to sleep. So, of course, there I am trying to get her off topic and talk about other things. We got her to discuss with us the horoscopes and to read our palms. It was great fun.The teachers here are so revered and rightly so. The students are so shy, yet eager and I so enjoy their exuberant personalities when given the opportunity to speak English.

Today, Yaeng, Samantha and I went to the Ministry of Science and Health where we met the Vice President of the Ministry of Science and Health. It was a great honor to meet him as I know that it is very uncommon to have received such an opportunity as a foreigner. He was a soft spoken gentle man who was very official yet has quick and humorous sense of humor. It would be interesting to work at the Ministry of Science and Health and it seems as though they would like me to work in the department of children with disabilities in the hospital wing. However, it would be more of an observational, learning position. We’ll see what will become of that.

Things not to do when you get up at 7AM and go walking into town by way of the Wat: Do not take the back entrance and trespass so that you’re walking by their bedrooms and bathing place!!!