S A I L » 2010 » June

I’ve been known to be very long-winded and to go off on many tangents. Although it might be fun for some I feel like if I am like that in this blog, I will confuse you so instead, I will post about FIVE things in each post. Although every day can’t be roses and sunshine, I want to look back at this adventure and see the beauty of Laos and the people shine through. I really do believe that I am the master of my fate and I am determined to make the most of this program.

For this post – FIVE FAVORITES:

1. Favorite Restaurant – Last night the whole group got together and walked to a Lao restaurant nearby. It’s actually pretty rare that we are ALL together so it was a nice change of pace. Plus, it was such a nice night since it has finally started to rain here in VTE. We have been fortunate to have been taken to many fabulous places to eat and although I have only been here for 13 days, I am confident in putting this restaurant on my list of Top Five Favorite Restaurants. The food and atmosphere is excellent and it is quite inexpensive. The nam khao and papaya salad here are the best I have tasted in Laos so far! As usual, we laughed a lot and it was a good time.

2. Favorite Fun Moment – The reason I am here in VTE (and a participant of SAIL) is so I can learn about my culture. I know I have a lot to learn and like a sponge, I am trying to soak up as much as I can. I have been introduced to some incredibly beautiful people including Noi. She runs a place that teaches the Lao way of life – custom, dance, mannerisms, etc. The second time I went to visit her place; the kids did another performance for us and invited us to dance with them. It was a lot of fun and I loved how happy they all looked when dancing. I hope they never lose that hope in their eyes.

3. Favorite Breakfast Food – Most of you know that I’m not a morning person, but amazingly I’m usually up by 6:30 (even when I want to sleep in!) so I usually get ready for the day and head across the street and go to this tiny place that has the best rice noodle soup. Although I try to mix up my morning foods, this place will always be my favorite place. We went there the first morning and I haven’t stopped going yet.

4. Favorite Teacher – Achaan Hommala, of course! She’s my Lao teacher and I enjoy her very much. I know I can’t write or read that well and she has been really good about allowing both Ake and I to do both as much as possible during class. She’s awesome about taking questions and giving examples for better comprehension.

5. Favorite Activity – This week was the first week of the new term for LAC students so it was nice to finally make some more friends. We’ve had lunch a few times with some this week and then I really enjoy going to the LAC Center to meet up with them before class.

Today marks the end of my second week in Laos. It seems that time goes by so fast, yet it feels as though I’ve been here for a longer than two weeks. With my cousins coming to visit all the way from Pakse, it has made it easier for me to converse in Lao since they don’t really speak English all too well. It’s relieving to know that they understand where I come from and are more than willing to help with my homework.

Right now I am going to be doing some volunteer work at the good old LAC (Lao American College) with helping students with their English. I am excited to be doing this because I’ll be able to have more of a connection with the students at the school I’m attending. I also get to be around Lao students my age speaking Lao which makes me want to speak even more.

I am getting more and more used to the Lao alphabet with its many different tones, vowels, and confusing to hear consonants. I hope to be writing more fluently as time passes by.

Recently I’ve been noticing as I’ve gotten to know new people from time to time, they always ask me what ethnicity I am. Confused as I already am, I tell them that I am Lao. Responding with confusion back, they tell me that I don’t really look Lao but either Chinese or Japanese. This idea that majority of people I run into say that perplexes every time it crosses my mind.

But either way, it’s a blessing to be here at this moment and to be able to look at all the wonderful marvels like the That Luang stupa and the fabulous downtown scene.