Yesterday was officially our final day at the Lao-American College. A ceremony was held for our completion of the program and all that helped us with our journey here in Laos were there with full support. Thank you for our teachers, Lung Xuan, and our friends at the LAC who all enriched our experience with unforgettable smiles and giggles. Also thanks to Amy from SAIL ’09 who came to hang out with us. Noy Sengsuriya for informing of the current situation about Lao music and to the internet cafe lady whom I found out I have some family connections with. As the title reads I’m not much of a person for an eternal goodbye, but I’m more about see you later and next time we’ll meet again.

Many thanks to 2010 SAILers. By the end of today we will most likely have taken off on different paths. Good luck on your journey back to the states.

But of course the true person I should really be thanking is Dr. Vinya. If not for you I would never have had the opportunity to do the many wonderful things I have been able to do. I wish that I could just pour all the money in the world into your pocket for all your countless hours of dedication to this program and for the Center for Lao Studies. You are truly an inspiration to look up to.

But my adventure has not ended yet. Tonight I will be riding a bus back to Pakse to visit my parents home villages of Ban Yong and Ban Sapai. I will also be looking forward to seeing the waterfalls and hopefully Wat Phu Champasaak. By the end of this trip I have toured most of Laos and I am very pleased to have that opportunity. SAIL 2010.

Other than the trip to and from Xieng Khouang giving me a headache, I really appreciate the opportunity to seeing what the city had to offer.

We first set out to see the Plain of Jars which put in me in awe and also deeply mystified. There were so many of this large, stone jars just sitting out on the hills of Xieng Khouang. What were these really used for? Some say that these were jars used for rice liquor for soldiers in ancient times. Others say that these jars were used to put the remains of royal ancestry after they passed away. And then others believe that these jars were used for trading amongst merchants coming in from China. Hopefully in time mankind will come up with the indefinite answer to this enigma that has been unsolved for so long.

It was interesting to learn that XK is one of the most heavily bombed areas of Laos. I decided to go to MAG’s (Mines Advisory Group) walk-in learning center to find out more about the bombings. Before coming to Laos I didn’t know that the United States had such an involvement with Laos with all the immense amounts of bombs they dropped on the country, which now makes Laos the most heavily bombed country in the world. Laos was bombed more heavily than all the bomb dropped during WWII, which I think is heartbreaking to know since war was never really declared on Laos; at least only of my limited knowledge.

It’s also really sad to know that the leftover bombs dropped on the country put Laos in such a bad shape since farmers can’t plant crops as freely as they want to without getting killed or losing some permanent part of their body to an explosion. It makes me want to get more involved in ridding this issue of bombs.

Then after that the group went to Tham Piu to learn about the killing of an estimated 374 people hiding in a cave got killed by missile bombs shot from American planes. The majority of people were regular citizens. I’ll have to more research to understand the reason why this happened.

Other than the history of Xieng Khouang, the weather was just right compared to the hot hustle and bustle of Vientiane. Not that there’s anything wrong with Vientiane, but sometimes it does get hot!

What else that has been on my mind lately is the future of Lao music. I’ve been out to many of the clubs out here in Laos and it just surprises me that there are barely, if any, songs played that are sung by Lao singers, in Lao. It’s always a bunch of American pop songs, then here and there your Korean pop, and then your of course Thai love songs to fill in the rest. But what about Lao songs? I don’t mind the American songs since I am from the US Aafter all. But, still, ya know.

Hopefully more Lao songs get played more within society so I can come back and feel like I’m in Laos, not America.

This is the final week of my journey  with the SAIL program. I’m very, very sad to realize that I have so little time left here. I feel, that I need more time to be here and understand the country. But, I am forever grateful that I had the opportunity of coming here and learning more about my Lao roots. I am happy to say that I will be visit my parents villages of Ban Yong and Ban Sapai in Pakse next week. I can’t wait to learn more about how they grew up and what South has to offer.

Until Next Time,

Phouthasack

To learn more about the unexploded bomb situation in Laos visit MAG’s website at:

http://www.maginternational.org/

On top of Mount Puu Sii overlooking all of Luang Prabang from above.

Releasing my feelings through the setting free of animals.

What can I say? I’ve been enjoying my time here in Muong Lao. Last weekend Ryan, Natalie, Toby and I went to visit the famous city of Luang Prabang. I said to myself that I had to make sure to visit this city because I had heard so much about it! In the peaceful town we visited the royal palace, Mount Puu Sii, and sailed a boat down the Mekong to take a look at the ancient caves. Luang Prabang is a place worth your time and money to visit. It’s so peaceful and the scenery of the mountains make you feel at one with the world.

What was funny was that our return journey back to Vientiane a huge mudslide occurred causing a huge traffic jam lasting for almost four hours! I’ve heard that mudslides are common around the rainy season. The mountains and scenery that you see while riding the bus up North will take your breath away. Simply put, it’s the grand canyon of Laos. What else was also interesting was the bus passed a lot of Hmong villages. It was surprising to see that the village way of life. It reminded me a lot of the stories my parents told me about their childhood experiences.

I am happy to announce that this weekend the SAILers are currently in Xieng Khouang at the time being. I can’t wait to see the mysteries of the plain of jars. I am also excited to talk to survivors of the unexploded bombs in this area of Lao. It disheartens me so to know that so many people lose their lives or become handicapped because of these unexploded bombs. It makes me wish I could do more for them.

That’s all for this blog. I promise to come back with more news of beautiful Muong Lao!

Until Next Time!

Phouthasack =)

It’s alright guys! I’m with the Khon Kaen University Band

2010 Sailers, Phensy, and Amy with the daughter of the composer who wrote Douang Champa

7/20/2010

A lot has happened in the past week that I almost forgot to write my blog! Last week was the Third International Conference on Lao Studies in Khon Kaen, Thailand and I must say that it was an experience I’ll never forget. It was so interesting to see so many people from different countries whose sole purpose was focused on the topic of Lao studies! Before even the first one was even held, I honestly thought that nobody really cared about Lao Studies; but now I can rest assured. After attending the conference I almost am thinking of maybe getting some sort of degree in Southeast Asian studies – specifically about Lao.

Other than that I am very glad to be in Laos right now and I am learning so much about the language. I am also glad to see that my reading has improved better than I had expected! I am missing all of my cousins from the Vieng and Pakse very much on account of I don’t get to see them as often as before. I love how I can converse in Lao with them and they are more than willing to help me out with any grammatical mistakes that I make. I am excited to say that this week I will be leaving for Luang Prabang. Then the following week I’ll be going to see the Plain of Jars in Xieng Khouang and maybe Vang Vieng on the side if I can.

When marking down the remaining days I have left in Laos I realized that I only have three weeks left here! I wish I could stay here longer… I really don’t want to go back because I’ll really miss my cousins and also I need to learn so much more about this country and the way of life here.

With a parting note I will say bring an umbrella! When it rains in Laos, boy, does it rain hard.

Until Next Time!

Phouthasack =D

SAILers on their weekend excursion, having lunch on a raft on the Nam Ngum River.

Week four is almost coming to a close and it feels like it’s gone by so quickly! Last night my cousins and I went to a place in the city called Lao ITECC where this huge concert is supposed to take place. But, unfortunately, it rained and because the artists didn’t feel like becoming electrified, it was delayed until tonight. Otherwise the whole group of us explored around the convention inside and checked out all the products that different companies where offering. It was a lot of fun!

Next week the group is going to head out to Khon Kaen to attend the Lao studies conference and I’m pretty psyched to see what’s going to happen soon.  We have to work on a presentation and so we are all pretty busy at work with that.

Buying groceries in Muong Lao is a dream come true! I can’t believe I bought enough groceries to make a meal for less than $3.00. I also happened to do a little bargaining, although I always feel bad but that’s just one of the ways of life here. I’m also intending to take a Lao cooking class too because I love eating and I feel that by eating and making the foods of Lao cuisine I can still have a deep connection with this place post SAIL.

Currently, I’m trying to master singing two Lao songs before the end of this summer and its really hard to remember all of these different words and also that in written Lao there is no such thing as spacing so it’s still difficult but I’m still in the game to keep trying.

I apologize for not putting up pictures but the internet here is so slow that I could take a nap and the computer would still be trying to upload a photo.

As of now unfortunately it is raining at the wrong moment which means I won’t be able to go to the concert tonight. But I am looking forward to going to prepare dinner for my cousins and I. Tonight’s special: Red Curry Chicken! Mhmmm!

Me, Uncle Seng, with his children, granddaughter, and niece on the far right

Me and My Uncle Seng

Listening to: Carnival – The Cardigans

Well this week has been pretty busy I must say! It caught me by surprise when I received a phone call from one of my aunts from Pakse and she ended up calling my Dad’s older brother who lives on the outskirts of Vientiane. Then his kids (my cousins) and I ended meeting up with each other at the guesthouse and it was truly a sight for sore eyes. I couldn’t believe that the people standing in front of me were the same people whom I spent time with that long ago first trip I took to Laos with my Dad eight years ago. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long since I’ve talked to them and later that night I followed them to their house to prepare and eat another delicious Lao meal together.

When I walked in the door and saw my uncle he was nearly about to break out in tears and that made me feel special – a feeling I haven’t felt in a very long time. He asked if he could see some pictures of my Dad and I went along and pulled out my Mac book and showed him. He would look in awe and say “Oh! Yep, that is definitely your Father! I still remember his face…” As I looked at his face I saw a little bit of my old man and inside that made me smile.

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.

Johnny, Me, Thao, and Dan. My Mother’s side of the family.

Now starts the second week of my adventure in Laos. This summer marks my second time visiting Laos since I was 13 years old. It was such a blessing for my cousins, Thao and Johnny to come all the way from Pakse to visit me. I would say that Thao, although only 26,  is like an Aunt to me the way she always makes sure I do my homework, brush my teeth, etc. I have not seen these two sine my last visit. They have been helping me to figure out the alphabet with its many tone rules and pronunciations. I must say, that learning the alphabet is a little difficult for me to pick up quickly since the Lao language is a tonal language, but that’s not stopping me from trying my absolute best to perfect my speaking skills!

6/15/2010

A couple days ago I started my first day of classes and I am happy to say I learned so much. It began with all of us meeting Ginny, the founder of Lao-American College. She started out by filling us in on the education system of people here in Laos. I don’t remember the exact numbers, but from what she was telling me the illiteracy rate is very, very low. It shocked me to learn how much students struggle here to get their education. After seeing what obstacles and challenges they face is inspiration in its finest moment.

Then I started my first day of class. I am so eager to study in order to become more proficient in Lao and learn about the country. After school was dismissed I walked around town to get more of the feel for Vientiane. Everywhere I walk I am always greeted with sincere interest and heartfelt smiles. It warms my heart every time I step out my door and the first thing that brightens my day is not the sun, but the peoples faces.

Bangkok, Thailand

your experience is not what it is, but what you make of it

1:55 am

With extreme jetlag, my body is adjusting to the different time patterns and I can’t quite get to sleep yet.

Here I am in the city of angels as promised! Wooh, Krung Tep!

We’re in Thailand (finally). After the seemingly eternal 17 hours of flying from Taipei, I’m glad we finally made it next door to Laos.

According to the schedule, Vinya had someone set up to drop us off to the Silver Gardens hotel.

So little did we know that as the van drove up into the driveway, there seemed to be a farmers market happening literally right next door to the hotel. It was packed with vendors busy selling their items, the chitter chatter of people, and the roaring of car horns and Thai music.

One bowl of Kao Bun – 10 baht = $0.30

Four sticks of barbeque steak – 20 baht = $0.60

One Bowl of rice w/ fried chicken, cucumbers, and soup – 25 baht = $0.75

Ten fried French bread sticks = 20 baht =$0.60

So far for only two days, I have eaten, with a full stomach for less than $3.00.

To get a regular meal back home, it costs almost five dollars, per meal! And there’s no guarantee you’ll get full either.

Paying for food never tasted so good until now.

Even though we weren’t in Laos yet, it indeed felt we were very close to getting there.

As Toby and I checked in, a hotel worker handed her a sign-in sheet. Again with the different time frames, Toby and I were both off about what the actual date was here in Southeast Asia. Nervously, I tried to ask the person behind the counter, in Thai, what the date was. But, the response given back was a look of confusion because of my very rusty and poorly spoken Lao and Thai grammar – right after I would shy away in embarrassment.

This and other similar experiences while trying to buy things in the market lead me back to what my ultimate fear was: my inability of speaking the language and feeling outcast from the rest. Also, it didn’t help that I was carrying around a camera video taping all the items up for display.

I can’t describe it exactly in words… but whenever I can’t understand when someone is speaking Lao or Thai or if I’m not understand when I speak to them, I just feel instantly ashamed of myself. I look Lao, I feel Lao, but when it comes out of my mouth, things start to look ugly.

I know this is me being negative, but it’s just that in my mind I feel like I should understand every single word regardless whether I was raised in America or not. I grew up with the language for 18 years and still I can’t fluently speak or understand it. Back home in the states, people treat as if I’m too Asian. There’s an empty margin between the two worlds and I’m trapped in between them.

However… my ultimate fear also has turned into my ultimate goal, which is what the SAIL program is providing: to learn more about my parents’ culture, language, and way of life. In the next day I’ll be in Laos and I’ll be given the rare opportunity to experience all of these amazing things the SAIL is offering! Years ago I never imagined a program like this ever had the slightest chance of existing. But today, I am grateful and want to take as in as much as I can in the next several weeks.

Turning the clock back to when Vinya was dropping us off at the airport in San Francisco. He reminded Toby and I that during the trip you have two options: you can either choose to learn as much as you can; or you can choose to learn as little as you can. Bottom line, your experience is not what it is, but what you make of it.

And I hope to make something that will be unforgettable.

Wat in Thailand. Fun stuff! Can’t wait to see all the ones in Laos!

A  lot has happened in the past two days. Last night, I decided to spend the few remaining hours to get as much of the San Francisco scene as possible by taking my first ever visit to Chinatown.

Chinatown – one of those places I always see and hear about on the media, yet one of the places I’ve never been too……..until now!

It was great seeing all the different boutiques and gift stores in Chinatown. While venturing further into the neighborhood, I spotted these two Chinese models posing in the middle of the street in front of an entourage of flashing cameramen. I couldn’t help but take some pictures as well. Hahaha.

After getting done exploring all of Chinatown, I headed back to the hotel to get ready to head to the airport with Vinya for my 13 hr flight to Taiwan.

And now… here I am – waiting at my gate to depart to Bangkok! Also, I’m sitting on the floor here laughing at Toby because her laptop can’t connect to the internet  ;)

So, here I am in San Francisco. I’m happy I finally got my passport and now I am for sure able to go to Laos.

Victory Screech! Anyways… I really don’t have a whole lot to say except I’m waiting for this adventure to start already.

The lucky thing for Toby and I are spending a day in Bangkok, more formerly known over there as the city of angels.

I like Bangkok. Maybe that’s just because I always listen to Thai music all the time.

As of right now, I’m just trying not to set my expectations too high, but also doubt anything good is going to happen. I’m just going to take it all in one day at a time.

But for certain, this trip will be unforgettable in a way that will make you smile – like me and Vinya.

Huh? Huh?