The American Center at the Lao-American College.
Being fluent in English is great. I could probably manage to go anywhere in the world never knowing a second language. I’ll never get lost in an airport with all the directions in English. I can always get a taste of home by turning on the TV to watch a movie or listen to songs I can actually comprehend. I am honored to know that so many students around the world are studying my native tongue, hence my willingness to help them learn. Although I am very grateful that I don’t have to question my knowledge of English, I have found that it makes learning Lao that much more difficult.
For some time I have wanted to study in a country where I would not know the language spoken to see what it feels like to be in that position. Being here with a group of six other English speakers, and studying at a college where classes are actually taught in English, I have come no where close to feeling this way. Of course, this is nice, since I don’t think it would be so much fun not being able to communicate, but at the same time I feel a lot like I cheated.
Whenever I go for a walk or run on the street, I am never surprised to hear “Hello” or other English greetings directed my way. When I am with a friend who only understands Lao and another person begins speaking English to me I actually feel guilty! And I love spending time with you SAILers, but sometimes I am quiet since I don’t really want to speak English, but I don’t know how to respond in Lao either! Anyone who knows me well will know about my high expectations for myself studying in another country. For me, the entire point of going abroad is to learn another language and experience living there. There are very few places in the world that I would like to travel to see actual things. Even here in Laos, I am not so interested in tours or site seeing. Despite my recent camera purchase, I haven’t even been taking that many photographs. All I want to do is meet people who speak Lao and talk with them. So that is what I have been doing here in Vientiane. 
I am so thankful for all the patient people I have met here who encourage me to speak Lao! Thank you so much for enjoying my company and inviting me to chat even though I may very well say ‘wao ik’ or ‘wao saa saa’ after every sentence.
Dear housemates of mine, I want to let you know of course I understand why it is easier for you to speak Chinese, but now that I am in a similar position as you, I hope you can believe me. You know, though, I will still tease you to speak in English since I would be thankful to have someone pushing me to speak Lao all the time! I miss you guys and hope you are having a wonderful summer! Mom, Dad, Samantha, Theresa and Som, miss you tons and hope you don’t miss me too much!
2 Responses to “Don’t Speak English to me!”
Glad you are really trying to speak Lao Amy. Keep it up, pretty soon you’ll be discussing about the chaos theory in Lao in no time.
Hi Amy! I am Brandin’s aunt. I can fully relate to what you wrote in your blog, and my heart goes out to you. I feel the same way. I spent a year studying abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which was a dream come true for me. I also went with two other American students. I did NOT want to speak English with them or the Thai’s in order to better my Thai skills. I think by me doing that, it also helped me to become very fluent in Thai with not much of an American accent. It is difficult to try to avoid speaking English especially when you have the white skin and blonde hair (me too)!! But I would advise you to, indeed, avoid it as much as you can and seek out Khon Lao that you can talk to. My biggest advice to you would be for you to take a trip out of “Wiengjun” and get out to the either the outskirts of the city or into the countryside. See if there is anyone that you have met thus far that have relatives in the countryside that you could go visit (safely, of course). But, once you get outside of the city, people do not know as much English and are VERY willing to try to speak Lao with you. You will also experience a different aspect of Lao too. I wish you the best and will be pulling for all of you! I am there in spirit with you. Take care! Soak dee der!