Hanging out with our Lao language partners and friends at the Guest House.

I think I’ve met more people from different countries here in Vientiene than in any other places in the States.  The community here is so international.  It’s hard not to bump into someone that isn’t from an interesting place in the world.  There are even a few Turkish students studying here at the Lao-American College, who went/are going thorough similar struggles learning the Lao language.  There is also a large population of Indian people here.  Just the other night Yaeng, Sandra, one of our language partners (who happens to be Indian/Lao), and I went to an Indian fushion restaurant across from the Lao Plaza Hotel.  A gentleman who lives near the restaurant came in and was complaining about the ventilation system.  The restaurant owner responded to the gentlemen in nearly perfect Lao.  It was weird seeing a “foreigner” speaking a language that was also foreign so well.  To be honest, I was a little ashamed.  I mean, I am part Lao. I should know how to speak Lao! Then, here is this guy speaking much better than myself.  Therefore I have set a goal.   My goal is to master the Lao language well enough so that I can have an argument with someone completely in Lao… and hopefully win of course.