Dok Champa, the national flower of Laos.

The SAILers participated in a Baci ceremony.

SAILers and their language partners singing to Lao tunes at a local Karaoke bar in Vientiane, Laos.

A few of our SAILers, in their school uniform, at the Lao-American College campus.

Achaan Bounmy teaching the beginning Lao to the SAILers at the Lao-American College.

Achaan Viengsavanh teaching intermediate Lao to the SAILers at the Lao-American College.

Hello blog readers and thanks for following our SAILers stories throughout their trip so far. We’re happy you’re following our words, and hope they are inspiring some of you to join us next year! As you’ll read in their recent blogs, lots has been said about some of our social activities this past week, so I won’t repeat them. They’ve been very busy with their UGrad friends because most will be departing soon and they’ve been trying to see them as much as they can before they leave. So I will concentrate more on the programmatic elements of the past week to give you an idea of how it’s developing.

I’m happy to report that the Beginning Class has learned the words to “Dok Champa!” They’ve gone from pretty much mastering reading and writing (Brandin is especially amazing in this respect) to singing! Achaan Bounmy is providing lots of different opportunities for them to learn, and I’m very happy about that. The Intermediate Class is very conversant and we’re pretty good at keeping our Achaan off-topic, so that we can learn about the culture, getting her opinions on everything from Lao-Thai relations, to Lao history, to the new Lao generation — all in Lao! Unfortunately, our reading and writing has suffered a bit, but we’ll catch up with the Beginners soon — just as they start catching up to our speaking ability. We are all learning a lot in our classes, but the challenge continues to be taking it out of the class into Lao society, since being a foreigner makes you an immediate English target.

Next week we will have our first language field trip to Ho Pra Keo — the original resting place of the famed Emerald Buddha which now resides at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Then we will head to the Morning Market, all in an effort to get a cultural lesson in Lao, and apply it in the real world. Khaophansaa, or the beginning of Buddhist Lent, also starts next week and the Intermediate class will make traditional sweets (khao tom) at the home of our Achaan, and will also learn to make Khao Soy. The next morning I’m hoping to motivate the group to wake up early, put on their sinhs, and tak bat (make merit) to the monks at the temple. If we do, they will have real exposure to the religion and the people’s involvement in it — something which they have not had a lot of up to now. Last weekend I took them to Wat Sisaket, the only temple that was not burned to the ground by the Thais back in the 1880s and we walked around, amazed at the site of the thousands of Buddha statues. Inside the sim or sima we saw original frescoes that unfortunately, with lack of attention and upkeep, are faded and crumbling. We all sat there, after bowing to the Buddha, awestruck by the beauty of it all.

In our Lao History and Culture class, we’ve been reviewing the history of the kings (I think we’re up to Chao SaySetthathirath right about now) and I’ve asked our Achaan to put particular emphasis on the history of Luang Prabang next week before our big outing there. I’m very excited for the trip up North, although I think a few of the SAILers are uneasy about the 10 hour trip up winding roads in a bus. For me, another opportunity for them to do as the Lao do which is what this trip is all about. The scenery is beautiful, and hopefully they won’t be too queasy to enjoy it. I know they’re going to love the temples and historic sites there, and since I’ve heard there aren’t many foreigners there right now, hopefully they will have more opportunities to interact with the LP Lao.  I’ve got a few plans to get the SAILers more involved in the trip, some of which involves them reading up on the sites and doing some planning in Lao!

I’m working on augmenting their education with talks from local experts. As you’ll read from Sandra, Mike Carroll gave us an incredibly informative talk on crop substitution and opium eradication in the North. He has lived in Laos for over 10 years and has vast experience on agriculture, challenges of getting crops to markets and local economics, and the ethnic minorities affected. He is also organizing a 4th of July picnic today of which we’ll be a part. CLS will have a booth there to expose expats and others to our program so they can hopefully spread the word to friends and family back home. Brandin and I will also speak about the program — following the Ambassador’s talk. The SAIL program has also gained exposure through recent interviews. Vatsana, Yaeng and I did our first interview in Lao with Radio France International (http://www.rfi.fr/actulo/articles/115/article_13990.asp) and back home, CLS Executive Dirctor, Dr. Vinya Sysamouth’s was also interviewed, and his interview could be found at http://www.rfi.fr/actulo/articles/115/article_13986.asp. Listen if you dare but don’t judge our Lao too harshly! The whole group also did an interview (in English) with a local Lao magazine, and Dr. Varisa, one of CLS advisory board members, also did an article for a Thai paper. SAILers going international!

Finally, a word about the volunteer positions. Sandra, Eileen and Amy are helping out at Donkoi Children’s Center three days a week, assisting in art projects, teaching English to the staff, and helping in the library (Eileen). I’m very excited for Yaeng and Vatsana who are also spending three days a week at Setthathirath hospital — a rare opportunity to work in a state institution. Yaeng shadows nurses and doctors doing rounds, and Vatsana has taken it upon herself to create her own project, interviewing mothers in the Mother-Child ward about their nutritional habits and raising children. They are expected to report their findings at the end, and I can’t wait to hear them! Vatsana and I also observed a newly created private center for autistic children funded entirely by their parents. They have teachers from Thailand to introduce physical, and some occupational therapy to them, and were very enthusiastic about Vatsana sharing her ideas based on her vast experience working with children with disabilities. Finally, Brandin is spending time with LAC students who need extra tutoring in English. He enjoys spending time with the students there, and I’m hoping it is also providing him the opportunity to learn a little Lao at the same time. He also recently purchased 2 pairs of fake designer shades, which will either scare them all off, or have them think he’s some sort of rockstar god.

More soon~