At the University Games, I saw many new sports. I think there were 4 different kinds of boxing and this awesome sport called Takraw.
It's like volleyball with 3 people but they use their feet and head instead of their hands. Also notice how they like do a flip every time they kick it over the net.
Sorry, the quality of the video isn't the best and I couldn't find any from the games this year so it's kinda old.
http://youtu.be/7L9xlSls8T0
12.28.2012
12.21.2012
Tall Asians
This past week Laos hosted the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) University Games. A big sporting event for university students. I watched more sports in this week than I have in the last 3 years of my life. But it was fun.
I saw many tall Asian men. The average height of my university boy students is probably 5'4". I think I've only ever had 2 or 3 students who have been taller than me. (5'8") I didn't think tall Lao men existed. But I was wrong!
I saw quite a few Indonesians and Thai people who were over 6 feet- some even 6'4" or 5". And coming from the Dutch heritage that I do, and knowing the many tall Dutch boys that I do, I like tall boys. I guess in NW Iowa 6'3" isn't even that tall. But here in Laos it's like a giant!
At the games, I was introduced me to a male volleyball player for Laos who was 6'4"! I'm still in awe that there are actually tall people in Laos! And it's nice to be around "normal" sized people. :)
I saw many tall Asian men. The average height of my university boy students is probably 5'4". I think I've only ever had 2 or 3 students who have been taller than me. (5'8") I didn't think tall Lao men existed. But I was wrong!
I saw quite a few Indonesians and Thai people who were over 6 feet- some even 6'4" or 5". And coming from the Dutch heritage that I do, and knowing the many tall Dutch boys that I do, I like tall boys. I guess in NW Iowa 6'3" isn't even that tall. But here in Laos it's like a giant!
At the games, I was introduced me to a male volleyball player for Laos who was 6'4"! I'm still in awe that there are actually tall people in Laos! And it's nice to be around "normal" sized people. :)
12.11.2012
Helmets III
So I paid my 250,000 kip and left the office.
Ty and Hong go to find the guy to unlock my bike. He is nowhere to be found. Some other police guys call him but he doesn't answer and doesn't come. He musta been really tired and was taking a long nap. He arrived a little after 3 but he couldn't find the key either. After a little more looking they found it and unlocked my bike.
I'm usually pretty easy going or at least good at hiding my feelings at the appropriate times. While sitting at the police station I was not so good at hiding my anger and frustration. Ty and Hong kept trying to tell me how fun it was and how lucky I was to be able to see the police station in LPB - I hadn't ever seen it in Vientiane. They tried hard to cheer me up. Even though it didn't work very well at the time, I now have a good story to tell.
Moral of the story - wear your helmet - even when it's a bad one. :P
So after losing lots of money and lots of time, we were on the road headed for the waterfall at 3:30. And it was beautiful. The road there was also gorgeous.
These are Lao swimsuits - normal clothes.
We jumped off of part of the fall into the water.
Even though it was a pretty frustrating day, it was still good and our whole trip was lots of fun!
Ty and Hong go to find the guy to unlock my bike. He is nowhere to be found. Some other police guys call him but he doesn't answer and doesn't come. He musta been really tired and was taking a long nap. He arrived a little after 3 but he couldn't find the key either. After a little more looking they found it and unlocked my bike.
I'm usually pretty easy going or at least good at hiding my feelings at the appropriate times. While sitting at the police station I was not so good at hiding my anger and frustration. Ty and Hong kept trying to tell me how fun it was and how lucky I was to be able to see the police station in LPB - I hadn't ever seen it in Vientiane. They tried hard to cheer me up. Even though it didn't work very well at the time, I now have a good story to tell.
Moral of the story - wear your helmet - even when it's a bad one. :P
So after losing lots of money and lots of time, we were on the road headed for the waterfall at 3:30. And it was beautiful. The road there was also gorgeous.
We jumped off of part of the fall into the water.
Even though it was a pretty frustrating day, it was still good and our whole trip was lots of fun!
12.05.2012
Helmets II
When we arrive at the big police office at 11:30, they lock up my bike and tell us to come back tomorrow to pick it up. Ty and Hong tell them that we're going home tomorrow so we can't. We need it back today. The police say we can come back after lunch.
After a little lunch of noodle salad we head back to the police station. The cops come back at 2:00 after a nice nap. Hong and I are going to enter the office to talk to the guy. He tells us that we can't enter the office until we have on a Lao skirt.
Lao people usually wear Lao skirts whenever they go to an office or school or such place. I think it's great for them to wear traditional Lao skirts, but we're traveling! Do they expect every Lao girl to keep a Lao skirt in her back pocket just in case something like this happens and she needs to wear a skirt to enter an office?
Thankfully I had one along because I visited Ty's school and Lao people always wear Lao skirts to school. Ty also had one along for some random reason. So we went to the guesthouse to change into our appropriate clothing. I asked Ty and Hong what we would do if we didn't have any along. They said go buy one. They were kinda kidding. . . but I don't know what our other option would have been - borrow one from the neighbor lady would probably be OK too I guess.
We returned wearing our Lao skirts and sat down at a desk with two other little Lao kids who made some driving mistake. When we sat down, I saw my lady write:
30,000 ($4) for not wearing my helmet
20,000 ($3) for not having my drivers license
200,000 ($24) for running away from the police
I almost threw a hissy fit right in the police office. How can I need to pay 200,000 for running away from the police?! I "ran away" from them 40 feet because I didn't know if I was the person who was making the mistake or not. My understanding from Ty was that if we waste time we do not waste money. If we waste money we do not waste time. Since we had already wasted over 5 hours - from 9:00 to 2:30 - I figured we wouldn't waste any money.
But then a nice old policeman came in and lectured us all about being good drivers and good people. So then I thought, maybe that's their plan - make us think we need to pay lots of money, but then make us feel bad for being bad people and breaking the rules and then tell us to be good people and obey the rules but then not pay any money.
But then he says, "Pay up." So I paid my 250,000 kip.
Lao people usually wear Lao skirts whenever they go to an office or school or such place. I think it's great for them to wear traditional Lao skirts, but we're traveling! Do they expect every Lao girl to keep a Lao skirt in her back pocket just in case something like this happens and she needs to wear a skirt to enter an office?
Thankfully I had one along because I visited Ty's school and Lao people always wear Lao skirts to school. Ty also had one along for some random reason. So we went to the guesthouse to change into our appropriate clothing. I asked Ty and Hong what we would do if we didn't have any along. They said go buy one. They were kinda kidding. . . but I don't know what our other option would have been - borrow one from the neighbor lady would probably be OK too I guess.
We returned wearing our Lao skirts and sat down at a desk with two other little Lao kids who made some driving mistake. When we sat down, I saw my lady write:
30,000 ($4) for not wearing my helmet
20,000 ($3) for not having my drivers license
200,000 ($24) for running away from the police
I almost threw a hissy fit right in the police office. How can I need to pay 200,000 for running away from the police?! I "ran away" from them 40 feet because I didn't know if I was the person who was making the mistake or not. My understanding from Ty was that if we waste time we do not waste money. If we waste money we do not waste time. Since we had already wasted over 5 hours - from 9:00 to 2:30 - I figured we wouldn't waste any money.
But then a nice old policeman came in and lectured us all about being good drivers and good people. So then I thought, maybe that's their plan - make us think we need to pay lots of money, but then make us feel bad for being bad people and breaking the rules and then tell us to be good people and obey the rules but then not pay any money.
But then he says, "Pay up." So I paid my 250,000 kip.
12.01.2012
Helmets
I wear a helmet every time I ride on my motorbike. I wear it to protect my brains but even more so to protect my lungs and eyes from the dust.
When I went to Luang Prabang with Ty and Hong, I made a big mistake. We rented motorbikes and they give you crappy helmets to wear. Sometimes Lao people wear helmets, sometimes they don't.
This is me not so happily wearing my (crappy) helmet after I learned my long and expensive lesson. :(
Two minutes after leaving the guesthouse, we drive past a police box on the side of the road. I was a little nervous, because I knew I was breaking the rules not wearing a helmet, but I looked and saw 17 other people in the same intersection not wearing a helmet, so I figured I was safe. I hear a little police whistle and slow down a little and ask Hong who is riding with me if I should stop. She doesn't say anything, so we continue. I kinda slow down again to check if I should stop or not and continue again. The policeman hops on his bike and chases us down all of 40 feet. We go back to the little police box with him. This is at 9:00.
I know I was in the wrong in not wearing my helmet - I made a mistake - but how am I supposed to know I'm the one he wants to stop just by blowing a little referee whistle at me? There were 20 other people in the same intersection also not wearing a helmet, but I was the one they went after.
Ty's friend comes and talks to the cop and says 100,000 - 12 dollars - is OK. I say super! Let's pay and go and continue on our way! This is at 10:30 or so. Ty's other friend says that since we already wasted our time we shouldn't have to pay any money. I tell her many times it's OK. Let's just pay and be done! But she listens to her friend so we wait.
This is kinda a long story so I'll stop here and continue next time. :)
11.28.2012
Food
Noui sure got her fill of Western food on our little trip. We had McDonalds and KFC and Dairy Queen and donuts and more! All of these foods taste so much better in Thailand than in the States!
She was pretty sick of them after the 2nd time.
Sone - Those bushes look so good to eat!
Me - Can you eat them?
Sone - I don't know, but they just look delicious don't they?
Me - Um. Yeah.
Sone - They just look so soft and like they would taste so good.
Me - . . .
Sone - I just wish I could try them to see how good they would taste!
This continued for a few minutes. . . :)
I prefer my ice cream and fries.
11.22.2012
Twilight
While in Bangkok we watched Twilight 4 part 2. I don't even remember the name of it. Twilight is kinda cheesy, but it's always fun to go watch a movie!
Lao people litter everywhere. Sone said something about throwing trash outside. Julia said the correct word is litter. But I think Sone had it more correct sometimes - they really do throw their house trash on the side of the road sometimes or at least that's what it looks like.
In the States you cannot litter somewhere outside where the wind can blow the trash away and there is no one around who will clean up after you. The opposite of this is true in Laos. As long as no one will be around to clean up your trash, you can litter.
For example, one of the most common places to leave trash in the States is in a movie theater - they pay people to come and clean up your trash. (Yes, I know it's still better to throw it in the trash on my own, but I'm not perfect.) But in Laos, that is one place where it is not acceptable to leave trash. I left my water bottle in the holder by my seat and as we were leaving the theater, Noui picked it up and gave me a little scolding.
But she sees no problem with throwing trash outside of the bus window or anywhere that's outside really.
I would be more likely (I wouldn't) to leave some trash on the floor in a mall or inside a bus or any building. Someone will come around and sweep the floor so it won't end up outside. But Lao people would be more likely to throw it outside than to leave it on a bus or in a mall. But it's OK to throw it outside.
I haven't figured out why they think this way yet.
Lao people litter everywhere. Sone said something about throwing trash outside. Julia said the correct word is litter. But I think Sone had it more correct sometimes - they really do throw their house trash on the side of the road sometimes or at least that's what it looks like.
In the States you cannot litter somewhere outside where the wind can blow the trash away and there is no one around who will clean up after you. The opposite of this is true in Laos. As long as no one will be around to clean up your trash, you can litter.
For example, one of the most common places to leave trash in the States is in a movie theater - they pay people to come and clean up your trash. (Yes, I know it's still better to throw it in the trash on my own, but I'm not perfect.) But in Laos, that is one place where it is not acceptable to leave trash. I left my water bottle in the holder by my seat and as we were leaving the theater, Noui picked it up and gave me a little scolding.
But she sees no problem with throwing trash outside of the bus window or anywhere that's outside really.
I would be more likely (I wouldn't) to leave some trash on the floor in a mall or inside a bus or any building. Someone will come around and sweep the floor so it won't end up outside. But Lao people would be more likely to throw it outside than to leave it on a bus or in a mall. But it's OK to throw it outside.
I haven't figured out why they think this way yet.
10.28.2012
Large Babies
While I was visiting my friend out in the village, a father points to his 1 1/2 year old daughter and says, "American babies are this big when they are born, right." Not quite, they're pretty much the same size as Lao babies, maybe a little bitter.
A few hours later, a cousin pointed to her 5 year old son and asked me if he was the same size as a 2 year old in the States. What?! I am not that much bigger than all of them! They make me feel like I'm twice their size! Some of the teeny old grandmas, probably yes I am, but not all of them. But they are pretty serious when they ask me if American babies are 25 pounds when they're born.
10.25.2012
Waterfall and Pictures
When I went to Hong's hometown, we did lots of fun stuff. The most fun thing was going to a waterfall. Many times when Lao people say a waterfall, what they really mean is a little river going over some rocks - more like rapids than a waterfall. So I was not surprised when we arrived at a little river and some rocks. But as we walked on and on and on, we came to an actual waterfall!
We went with Hong and her brother and his friends and Hong's cousins or neighbors or someones.
Here it is!
Fishing. We brought duck along, but I guess they wanted to eat some fish too. They only caught 3 inch long teeny fish. But we grilled them up!
Resting
Climbing up the falls. I thought it was dangerous when I saw the other guy do it first, but no one fell down the falls.
Washing our hair in the water
The drive back home through beautiful trees!
10.22.2012
Piano
Julia bought a piano/keyboard. I wasn't quite sure why she wanted to buy it when she did, but I've been playing it a lot lately!
I printed off a bunch of hymns from the internet. I searched for a bunch of songs to print off music to, but there aren't many available. But still, I have enough hymns and Christmas music to keep me busy for a while. :)
We've had a few little worship sessions with the guitar and they've been fun too! We have song books with English and Lao. Maybe soon I'll be able to play the piano while people sing. . .
My piano teacher would be proud of my using the skills she taught me 15 year later!
I printed off a bunch of hymns from the internet. I searched for a bunch of songs to print off music to, but there aren't many available. But still, I have enough hymns and Christmas music to keep me busy for a while. :)
We've had a few little worship sessions with the guitar and they've been fun too! We have song books with English and Lao. Maybe soon I'll be able to play the piano while people sing. . .
My piano teacher would be proud of my using the skills she taught me 15 year later!
10.19.2012
KoLao
My new bike is KoLao. I previously had a Honda. I'm happy to have a new bike. It just isn't quite as powerful as Wanda the Honda. :(
I do enjoy the mechanics at KoLao. I went in the first week to fix some loose somethings that were making a funny noise. They're nice and friendly, and according to my fellow KoLao bike owners, I'll be making a few more trips to the mechanics to fix my bike.
I do enjoy the mechanics at KoLao. I went in the first week to fix some loose somethings that were making a funny noise. They're nice and friendly, and according to my fellow KoLao bike owners, I'll be making a few more trips to the mechanics to fix my bike.
10.15.2012
No School!
Today is the first day of school break! We have off until the first week in January for European - Asian meetings and Association of South East Asian Nation University Games - a University mini-Olympics for SEA countries.
I'm a little worried about being lazy or bored over the break. . . most of my students and friends have gone home.
I'm going to use this time to study Lao! I'm really excited for it! I hated studying Lao when I came here two years ago -I was the stupidest kid in the class and didn't understand anything! :( But now that I can understand Lao I'm excited to learn more!
I'll still be going to the office once in a while to see the teachers.
I'm a little worried about being lazy or bored over the break. . . most of my students and friends have gone home.
I'm going to use this time to study Lao! I'm really excited for it! I hated studying Lao when I came here two years ago -I was the stupidest kid in the class and didn't understand anything! :( But now that I can understand Lao I'm excited to learn more!
I'll still be going to the office once in a while to see the teachers.
10.01.2012
More Losses
I feel like a bit of a downer writing on here about losing my motorbike. . . but it happened and it sucks and it's time I wrote another blog and this is what I'm thinking about. :P
My motorbike was stolen from school today. I always lock my bike at school but I obviously forgot today and someone came and stole it. The teachers were really helpful after checking a dozen times to make sure that I didn't forget where I had parked it. I went with Por to the Head of Security or something to inform them about the missing bike.
It really annoys me that in Lao I say - lot jak siya - motorbike lost. I did not lose my bike. A bad person STOLE it. There is a big difference between losing something and having something stolen.
Anyway, after waking the security guy up from his after lunch nap, he pulled out his little notebook and proceeded to write my name, number, motorbike color. . .I was laughing really hard inside. When Julia and I lost all of our stuff earlier, the police took out their little book to record everything and his recording of my motorbike reminded me of the police who were helping Julia and I earlier. They write the info on the paper, fold it back up and shove it in their pocket, never to be seen again. I didn't lose hope of finding my bike again, I never had any. :(
So, I'm gonna buy a new bike. I had a Honda which is $1500 for a new one. But I think I'll get a KoLao for $600.
I was also informed that my bike was stolen at 11:00. One of the other teachers saw a robber standing by the bikes at 11. I don't know how she knew he was a robber, but she knew something I don't know.
My motorbike was stolen from school today. I always lock my bike at school but I obviously forgot today and someone came and stole it. The teachers were really helpful after checking a dozen times to make sure that I didn't forget where I had parked it. I went with Por to the Head of Security or something to inform them about the missing bike.
It really annoys me that in Lao I say - lot jak siya - motorbike lost. I did not lose my bike. A bad person STOLE it. There is a big difference between losing something and having something stolen.
Anyway, after waking the security guy up from his after lunch nap, he pulled out his little notebook and proceeded to write my name, number, motorbike color. . .I was laughing really hard inside. When Julia and I lost all of our stuff earlier, the police took out their little book to record everything and his recording of my motorbike reminded me of the police who were helping Julia and I earlier. They write the info on the paper, fold it back up and shove it in their pocket, never to be seen again. I didn't lose hope of finding my bike again, I never had any. :(
So, I'm gonna buy a new bike. I had a Honda which is $1500 for a new one. But I think I'll get a KoLao for $600.
I was also informed that my bike was stolen at 11:00. One of the other teachers saw a robber standing by the bikes at 11. I don't know how she knew he was a robber, but she knew something I don't know.
9.15.2012
I'm Back!
I arrived safely back to Laos on Friday afternoon after some long, but uneventful flights.
I had a nice chat with my taxi driver on my way home and was happy to see that my Lao wasn't quite as rusty as last year.
It was really good to see my housemates again. :)
On Saturday morning I went running at the track and two of my students were there. So we sat and chatted for a while. It is so nice seeing everyone again! So nice. I also saw my little running buddy - the kid who usually runs with me and practices his English.
Then when I got back, one of my favorite Lao people told me that she was in Vientaine. She had just graduated this year and is back in her hometown about 15 hours away. But she is in Vientiane until Tuesday. What a wonderful blessing to be able to see her, when I didn't think I'd be seeing her for quite a while.
Saturday, my friend and two other girls went to visit one of my other old students. I was kinda tired in the afternoon and they kept telling me I should stop yawning or I should take a nap. I tried to stop yawning. But again it was lots of fun to see people.
I'll go to school on Monday to see teachers and students. I'm really excited to see them! :)
I had a nice chat with my taxi driver on my way home and was happy to see that my Lao wasn't quite as rusty as last year.
It was really good to see my housemates again. :)
On Saturday morning I went running at the track and two of my students were there. So we sat and chatted for a while. It is so nice seeing everyone again! So nice. I also saw my little running buddy - the kid who usually runs with me and practices his English.
Then when I got back, one of my favorite Lao people told me that she was in Vientaine. She had just graduated this year and is back in her hometown about 15 hours away. But she is in Vientiane until Tuesday. What a wonderful blessing to be able to see her, when I didn't think I'd be seeing her for quite a while.
Saturday, my friend and two other girls went to visit one of my other old students. I was kinda tired in the afternoon and they kept telling me I should stop yawning or I should take a nap. I tried to stop yawning. But again it was lots of fun to see people.
I'll go to school on Monday to see teachers and students. I'm really excited to see them! :)
7.08.2012
Going Home
I'm leaving soon! :) And am pumped to see family, friends and nephews! :) :) And have air conditioning. And be clean and drive in comfortable cars. And go to my cousin's wedding and jet skiing and going to the beach and Village West. And just having comfortable nice everything for 2 months. Drinking coffee with my parents every morning. And spending lots of time with family and friends and playing with nephews. And carpet - I can't wait to sit on the soft (although prolly not so clean) carpet!
But there are also many things I will miss here. I'll miss eating fruit and sitting and talking with friends. I'll miss my friends and students. I'll miss the teachers. I'll miss driving my motorbike. And not having to follow traffic rules. And Indian food. (I'm going to try to cook some this summer.) I'll miss some Lao food and speaking Lao with people. And being told how wonderful my Lao is even when I only say "thank you". Spending long amounts of time just sitting and doing nothing and talking with people. I feel like in the States, we always have to be doing something, we can never just sit and be. And sitting and being is kinda nice sometimes.
When I'm in the States I miss Laos. When I'm in Laos I miss the States. But am so excited to be home soon! And to watch like 5 movies on the airplane! :)
But there are also many things I will miss here. I'll miss eating fruit and sitting and talking with friends. I'll miss my friends and students. I'll miss the teachers. I'll miss driving my motorbike. And not having to follow traffic rules. And Indian food. (I'm going to try to cook some this summer.) I'll miss some Lao food and speaking Lao with people. And being told how wonderful my Lao is even when I only say "thank you". Spending long amounts of time just sitting and doing nothing and talking with people. I feel like in the States, we always have to be doing something, we can never just sit and be. And sitting and being is kinda nice sometimes.
When I'm in the States I miss Laos. When I'm in Laos I miss the States. But am so excited to be home soon! And to watch like 5 movies on the airplane! :)
7.06.2012
Babies
A couple of weeks ago I went with a friend to a brother's baby's welcome to the world party. (Kinda like a baptism for Buddhists.) My friend was holding the baby. And I asked if I could hold him. I was standing beside her. She uncertainly said, "OK" and was going to gently give the baby to me, but she said, "You should sit down first." Hello! I am 24 and have held plenty of babies! But I listened and sat and got to hold the baby. All of the mothers and grandmothers in the room didn't take their eyes off of me - they were worried that the foreigner doesn't know how to hold a baby and that I'll drop him and break him. Also after holding him for a while, he peed on me. Lao babies don't usually wear diapers. They were thin blankets wrapped around their little butts. They aren't very absorbent.
This morning I went to visit my student and her baby boy who was born two weeks ago. She was holding him for a long time and I wanted to ask to hold him but was a little worried because of last time. She didn't offer so I just thought I wouldn't. Then the other student who I went with asked me, "Can you hold babies?" "What?!" I said. "Of course I can, why do you think I can't?" She went on to explain that not very many people in the States have babies. Which is kinda true, considering a number of my students have 8 brothers and sisters. But I had to explain to them that all people come from babies and there are plenty of babies running around the States. And I have held quite a few of them in my life. After hearing that I am capable of holding babies and that I really like holding babies, she let me hold him for a while. And he was cute as ever! As far as I can tell babies are pretty much the same all over the world, but maybe there's something I don't know about Lao babies.
7.03.2012
Soccer
Tonight we went to watch a soccer game - Lao vs Cambodia. It ended in a tie - 3-3. But it was so fun! This week Laos had a tournament with 6 other Asian teams. Watching this one game has made me really excited for the Asian University Games which are in Vientiane in November (I think). It's like a little mini Olympics.
I still can't get over the fact that English is "the universal language used for medicine and government and politics and blah blah blah and it helps to develop a country through blah blah blah." This is some long rambly sentence people always tell me about what a wonderfully universal language English is. I feel like I should know this more than others since I teach English as a Foreign Language. But it is still weird when I hear Lao and Cambodians talking together in English or Lao and Vietnamese speaking together in English. Shouldn't they have some Asian language that they have in common before going all the way to English? Obviously not.
I think this every time I hear two non-native English speakers speaking to each other. Tonight at the game, the announcer said everything in English.
They're next door neighbors for goodness' sake. Shouldn't they know at least a little of their neighbor's language? Do many Americans know Spanish? Some, but not many. Maybe I think they should be more like Europe where everyone knows English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch and Finnish.
This has gotten kinda rambly, but just imagine a Lao soccer player saying something to a Cambodian on the other team. Tonight one of the Cambodians was kinda angry and a Lao guy was being nice and trying to calm him down. His English must have been impeccable. I can't imagine many Lao people I know who would be able to say something nice and comforting that's appropriate during a soccer game. Maybe he was just speaking in Lao to try and be nice to the guy. But that might be more annoying.
It would also be hard to understand others' accents. My students complain of Indians' and Vietnamese's and others' accents. It does sound kinda funny hearing two people speaking English incorrectly with weird accents. But hey, they understand each other and that's what matters.
So, maybe it is a good idea to have one international universal language.
I still can't get over the fact that English is "the universal language used for medicine and government and politics and blah blah blah and it helps to develop a country through blah blah blah." This is some long rambly sentence people always tell me about what a wonderfully universal language English is. I feel like I should know this more than others since I teach English as a Foreign Language. But it is still weird when I hear Lao and Cambodians talking together in English or Lao and Vietnamese speaking together in English. Shouldn't they have some Asian language that they have in common before going all the way to English? Obviously not.
I think this every time I hear two non-native English speakers speaking to each other. Tonight at the game, the announcer said everything in English.
They're next door neighbors for goodness' sake. Shouldn't they know at least a little of their neighbor's language? Do many Americans know Spanish? Some, but not many. Maybe I think they should be more like Europe where everyone knows English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch and Finnish.
This has gotten kinda rambly, but just imagine a Lao soccer player saying something to a Cambodian on the other team. Tonight one of the Cambodians was kinda angry and a Lao guy was being nice and trying to calm him down. His English must have been impeccable. I can't imagine many Lao people I know who would be able to say something nice and comforting that's appropriate during a soccer game. Maybe he was just speaking in Lao to try and be nice to the guy. But that might be more annoying.
It would also be hard to understand others' accents. My students complain of Indians' and Vietnamese's and others' accents. It does sound kinda funny hearing two people speaking English incorrectly with weird accents. But hey, they understand each other and that's what matters.
So, maybe it is a good idea to have one international universal language.
6.27.2012
Tong Dao
Tong Dao is a student of mine. She is also a famous singer. The other day as I was eating lunch with the teachers, one of them showed me a CD with a 7 singers on the package. I didn't know what she was doing. She pointed to one of the girls and told me it was Phonsavahn, one of my students. I did not recognize her. But when looking closely, I could see she was in fact my student. Her real name is Phonsavahn, but her stage name is Tong Dao.
It was some American Idol type thing in Laos. And she won! So now she has a CD contract. When I mentioned that I had seen the CD to her the next day, she told me she would get me a CD soon. She was out of them now, but her producer (!) would give her some soon and she will give it to me.
This student is very studious, hard working, kinda shy and kinda serious and the last of my students who I would ever expect to be a singer. I was completely surprised!
So I don't know how well known she actually is, but she has a CD! :) And I asked some other students and they said they did know who she is.
I haven't been able to listen to the CD - it doesn't work in my computer. So I'll try again or ask for a new one. But I have a famous student!
It was some American Idol type thing in Laos. And she won! So now she has a CD contract. When I mentioned that I had seen the CD to her the next day, she told me she would get me a CD soon. She was out of them now, but her producer (!) would give her some soon and she will give it to me.
This student is very studious, hard working, kinda shy and kinda serious and the last of my students who I would ever expect to be a singer. I was completely surprised!
So I don't know how well known she actually is, but she has a CD! :) And I asked some other students and they said they did know who she is.
I haven't been able to listen to the CD - it doesn't work in my computer. So I'll try again or ask for a new one. But I have a famous student!
6.20.2012
Spider Webs
I have walked into many more spider webs here than in all of my 22 years living in the States. Almost every web that I walk into gets stuck on my face. I think there may be two reasons.
1 - There are more spiders here than there are in the States. (This is probably not true, but I think most of the US would agree with this untrue statement. Although there probably are more big scary spiders here than in the States.)
2 - I am a head taller than 97% of the Lao population. In the States enough tall people walk around and clear the spider webs for me - so I only occasionally walk through them because everyone who is of my height or taller is taking their turn to clear the spider webs with their faces. But here, only 3 % of the population is available/tall enough to clear the spider webs that are more than 5'2" above the ground. And I am in that 3%. :(
The worst place where I always get spider webs in my hair is in the bathroom at school. Gross. It's a squatty potty and EVERY time that I stand up my hair is caught in a tangle of spider webs. This has happened countless times, and I have slowly learned my lesson. I try not to stand up completely because I hate the nastiness of spider webs in the hair, but it doesn't work. They always find my head.
1 - There are more spiders here than there are in the States. (This is probably not true, but I think most of the US would agree with this untrue statement. Although there probably are more big scary spiders here than in the States.)
2 - I am a head taller than 97% of the Lao population. In the States enough tall people walk around and clear the spider webs for me - so I only occasionally walk through them because everyone who is of my height or taller is taking their turn to clear the spider webs with their faces. But here, only 3 % of the population is available/tall enough to clear the spider webs that are more than 5'2" above the ground. And I am in that 3%. :(
The worst place where I always get spider webs in my hair is in the bathroom at school. Gross. It's a squatty potty and EVERY time that I stand up my hair is caught in a tangle of spider webs. This has happened countless times, and I have slowly learned my lesson. I try not to stand up completely because I hate the nastiness of spider webs in the hair, but it doesn't work. They always find my head.
6.13.2012
Writing Lines
My students cheat relentlessly. I hate it. The other week we were playing Telephone in my pronunciation class. I tell the students a sentence, they need to tell the next student and so on and so on. The last student will tell me what they heard to see if their team speaks clearly. They were in teams of 6. I told them they could NOT talk. I Told them 7 times not to talk.
We played a few times and my students were obeying me well, they were not talking or cheating. The last one was a little more difficult. I turn around and see my first student telling the last student what I had told him. I marched over to them to ask what they were doing? Their guilty faces gave them away. I was thinking, this is a stupid little game, why do you need to cheat for a game? If you cheat on a little game that doesn't matter, of course your'e going to cheat on real things.
Their punishment for cheating: writing lines. They both had to write 30 times, "I will not cheat and tell my friend the answer in Teacher Christa's class." One student asked if he could type it. How dumb does he think I am? They did their homework/punishment. I think this might be my new favorite punishment for students who cheat.
We played a few times and my students were obeying me well, they were not talking or cheating. The last one was a little more difficult. I turn around and see my first student telling the last student what I had told him. I marched over to them to ask what they were doing? Their guilty faces gave them away. I was thinking, this is a stupid little game, why do you need to cheat for a game? If you cheat on a little game that doesn't matter, of course your'e going to cheat on real things.
Their punishment for cheating: writing lines. They both had to write 30 times, "I will not cheat and tell my friend the answer in Teacher Christa's class." One student asked if he could type it. How dumb does he think I am? They did their homework/punishment. I think this might be my new favorite punishment for students who cheat.
6.08.2012
Did you know. . . (last one!)
that you will get dark skin by sitting under normal fluorescent (I think?) light bulbs? Not the bulbs that belong in a tanning bed, but normal every day light bulbs.
Lao people are terrified of dark skin. They really use the word afraid. Every time I ride my motorbike without a jacket to protect my arms from the sun, they say, "Aren't you afraid of being dark?" I usually reply, "No, I'm afraid of being white." They hate dark skin. So they keep their jackets or sweaters on ALL the time! In my classroom all of the girls are wearing their jackets in this more than 100 degree sweat box. We do not have AC in our classrooms. They also think that the fan blowing directly on their skin will make it dark too. I haven't heard this one as often, but I've still heard it a few times. I know that Lao people's bodies are not the same as ours. They have experienced this stifling heat every year of their life. They are used to not sleeping in an ACed room. So I know the heat doesn't bother them as much, but still! Who wears a jacket inside when its 100 degrees!? People who are afraid of getting tanned from the light bulbs.
I wish this old wives' tale were true. Lately, I've been told frequently that my face is looking beautifully white. My arms see the sun when I drive on my bike. My face never sees the sun. If I drive on my bike it is hidden behind my helmet. Whenever I walk more than 10 feet outside my face is covered by an umbrella. I use an umbrella all the time now. When asked if I'm afraid of dark skin while using the umbrella, I reply, "No, I'm afraid of sweat dripping down my face and neck and back and looking like I just ran 3 miles." You'd be surprised at the smallest things that can cause me to pour sweat from my face. I always sweat a lot. :P But walking from the living room to the kitchen to get a drink of water will make me break a sweat. Disgusting huh? But rainy season is starting! I LOVE the rain! And it brings cooler temperatures. : )
Lao people are terrified of dark skin. They really use the word afraid. Every time I ride my motorbike without a jacket to protect my arms from the sun, they say, "Aren't you afraid of being dark?" I usually reply, "No, I'm afraid of being white." They hate dark skin. So they keep their jackets or sweaters on ALL the time! In my classroom all of the girls are wearing their jackets in this more than 100 degree sweat box. We do not have AC in our classrooms. They also think that the fan blowing directly on their skin will make it dark too. I haven't heard this one as often, but I've still heard it a few times. I know that Lao people's bodies are not the same as ours. They have experienced this stifling heat every year of their life. They are used to not sleeping in an ACed room. So I know the heat doesn't bother them as much, but still! Who wears a jacket inside when its 100 degrees!? People who are afraid of getting tanned from the light bulbs.
I wish this old wives' tale were true. Lately, I've been told frequently that my face is looking beautifully white. My arms see the sun when I drive on my bike. My face never sees the sun. If I drive on my bike it is hidden behind my helmet. Whenever I walk more than 10 feet outside my face is covered by an umbrella. I use an umbrella all the time now. When asked if I'm afraid of dark skin while using the umbrella, I reply, "No, I'm afraid of sweat dripping down my face and neck and back and looking like I just ran 3 miles." You'd be surprised at the smallest things that can cause me to pour sweat from my face. I always sweat a lot. :P But walking from the living room to the kitchen to get a drink of water will make me break a sweat. Disgusting huh? But rainy season is starting! I LOVE the rain! And it brings cooler temperatures. : )
6.01.2012
Did you also know. . .
that if a tree is not producing fruit it must be a boy tree, but no worries, you can change the sex of the tree by putting a skirt on it. Of course girl trees bear fruit better than boy trees.
We have a papaya tree. Our papaya tree was not producing any papayas. Sone knew how to fix our problem. Make the boy tree into a girl tree and we'll have plenty of papayas. So she took a piece of cloth and tied it around the trunk of the tree like a skirt. Wah lah (I don't know how to spell that) we now have a girl! And amazingly a week or two after the change she was growing papayas. The American that I am, with no knowledge of papaya trees or the sex of trees, I think it my have had something more to do with the season. Maybe Mr. Tree was just not quite ready to make papayas. But, maybe if we had not put the skirt on him we would not be enjoying our papayas now. I guess we'll never know.
Honest to goodness, many people believe this! Seriously! I had sometimes seen scraps of cloth tied around trees before but I didn't know what it was, but after hearing this crazy story from Sone I know now that quite a few others have performed surgery on their trees so they'll bear more fruit. That's the thing though, they do NOTHING to the tree besides tie a piece of cloth around the trunk. And magically, because the tree is now wearing a skirt, he knows he must change into a girl and start making fruit.
I feel like almost every week Julia and I look at each other and burst out laughing in disbelief at the crazy things our friends believe.
5.25.2012
Did You Know. . .
that if your friend has bad b.o. and you wear her shirt, you will catch the disease and you will also have bad b.o.?
It's true! One of my friends, Noy, who apparently has b.o. wanted to borrow Bet's shirt. Bet said no way! because she knows that you can "catch" b.o. from someone the same way you catch a cold. B.o. is little germs that hang out in your armpit making you smell bad. Some of the germs get stuck on your shirt. If you share your shirt with someone, the germs will jump from the shirt onto the new clean smelling armpit and she will be infected forever!
Did you know. . . that Lao people (and also some Americans I'm sure too) believe some weird things?
It's true! One of my friends, Noy, who apparently has b.o. wanted to borrow Bet's shirt. Bet said no way! because she knows that you can "catch" b.o. from someone the same way you catch a cold. B.o. is little germs that hang out in your armpit making you smell bad. Some of the germs get stuck on your shirt. If you share your shirt with someone, the germs will jump from the shirt onto the new clean smelling armpit and she will be infected forever!
Did you know. . . that Lao people (and also some Americans I'm sure too) believe some weird things?
5.21.2012
Braces
I had braces when I was maybe 12 years old. I was happy to get them off before I was 14. (I am sooo thankful now that I did have them to get rid of my ugly buck teeth.) I do not know anyone in the States who likes having braces - especially people over 20.
I went to some fashion show thing with one of my friend's the other night. (Some French perfume company is selling their perfume in Laos and her friend was in charge of finding models to show how beautiful the models are because they use the perfume.) Anyway, half of the models had braces. And they were sure proud of it! I know it is a status thing - if you're rich enough to afford braces, you're . . . rich . . . and beautiful. (?)
Some of my students have had braces. When they have them they only wear them for a month or so. So I am pretty sure it is only a status thing and it doesn't actually do anything to correct their teeth - although there is a great need here for teeth correction!
Just one of the many things that I do not understand about Laos - why braces are beautiful.
PS - This friend has a car. Or her dad has a nice Hilux truck or something. Riding in cars is heavenly! It wasn't suffocatingly hot. I wasn't inhaling dust. I didn't have nasty helmet hair. It was so so comfortable in the air conditioning. I'm usually a pretty impatient driver but I would have been happy to wait for hours at stoplights just to sit in the comfortably clean truck.
I went to some fashion show thing with one of my friend's the other night. (Some French perfume company is selling their perfume in Laos and her friend was in charge of finding models to show how beautiful the models are because they use the perfume.) Anyway, half of the models had braces. And they were sure proud of it! I know it is a status thing - if you're rich enough to afford braces, you're . . . rich . . . and beautiful. (?)
Some of my students have had braces. When they have them they only wear them for a month or so. So I am pretty sure it is only a status thing and it doesn't actually do anything to correct their teeth - although there is a great need here for teeth correction!
Just one of the many things that I do not understand about Laos - why braces are beautiful.
PS - This friend has a car. Or her dad has a nice Hilux truck or something. Riding in cars is heavenly! It wasn't suffocatingly hot. I wasn't inhaling dust. I didn't have nasty helmet hair. It was so so comfortable in the air conditioning. I'm usually a pretty impatient driver but I would have been happy to wait for hours at stoplights just to sit in the comfortably clean truck.
5.20.2012
Purse Snatchers
I feel like this year the Father has been protecting us from some scary and potentially harmful things.
Julia, Sone, Noui, Noui's friend, Sone's friend and I went to a friend's house for dinner tonight. We left kinda late - 9ish (anything after 8:30 is kinda late here) to go back home. On the way home I got a flat tire. All of the mechanics were closed already. Noui decided it would be best if Julia would drop of Noui's friend at home, come back to pick me up and Noui would drive my bike slowly home. Sone and Sone's friend would also go home. The plan worked well - Noui and I waited a while for Julia to return for us. Sone wanted to come back and drive my bike but Julia said she didn't want Sone driving back to Noui and I alone. Noui drove my bike because she's skinnier than me so it isn't as hard on the tire. :) I rode with Julia.
We were driving maybe 10 mph because of my flat tire on the far right side of the road - Noui in front Julia and I following. My purse was on my left shoulder - exposed to the traffic. Suddenly, I felt someone grabbing my purse. I held on tightly for what seemed like 3 minutes. I was wondering why they wouldn't give up and go (even though it was probably only 5 seconds). So as they were trying to take my purse, Julia noticed them kicking the bike. Noui looked back because she heard Julia screaming bloody murder. Julia and I fell off of the bike and the boys continued on their way -without my purse. Thankfully no other cars were coming at the time so we didn't get run over. I helped get Julia out from under the bike and Noui came back to help. Before we got to the side of the road 4 12 year old boys came and asked if we were OK. And shortly after 2 other men stopped to help us too. Julia's leg was pretty scratched up and my knee is a little bruised and scratched but else we are OK.
Right after seeing a horrible side of people - wanting to steal someones purse and make them fall off of their bike so they can't chase them down, we saw the nicest, most helpful side of most Lao people - running over to make sure we're safe. The boys were all talking about what the bad guys looked like and where they went and if they could chase them and find them - of course they couldn't, but they were all so nice and caring towards us. One of the guys who stopped to help us said he would escort us home - so he did all the way to our front gate. So kind and caring.
When we got home the nice guy was talking to us for a while. On the drive home, he told me that I should wear a jacket when I drive over my purse (even though its 100 degrees), we should look in our rear view mirrors, we shouldn't put our phone in our purse so that we can call someone if something bad happens. When we stopped to talk at our gate he told Noui to tell me the same stuff again. When Sone came out he told her to tell me the same stuff again. I know he's only doing it to be nice, but I really did understand the first time.
We decided that the bad guys wanted to steal my purse and we were an easy target because we were driving so slowly and I wasn't wearing a jacket to protect my purse. They kicked the bike so that we would fall down and not follow them. We must have been pulling pretty hard because the straps broke. :( Part of their little scheme worked - we fell down. Sometimes though, they will kick the bike out from under you and then when you fall they will steal your bike. They were pretty gutsy trying to do it to two big foreigners like us.
I do feel so protected though - I'm so glad it was me and Julia and not some of our small Lao friends. I'm thankful no cars were coming when we fell in the middle of the road. I'm thankful they didn't steal my purse - I remembered afterwards that I had just gone to the ATM and had $250 in my purse - usually I have like $30. I'm thankful that we didn't get hurt - Julia's leg is scraped but it could have been so much worse! I'm thankful to see the hearts of most Lao people - so ready to come and help and make sure you arrive home safely.
With all of these robbers and thieves I think I have learned every Lao word for thief, robber, person who steals. . . I thought I had kinda forgotten them since it had been a while since I had used them, but I'll be using them this week again.
Every time I drive home alone at night everyone asks if I'm afraid. I always say, "No, I'm a big person." Kinda as a joke but kinda serious too - I'm not really afraid. I always thought no one would try to steal anything from a big fat foreigner twice the size of the average Lao person. I also thought no one would ever try and break into our house. So I've gotta stop thinking nothing bad will happen to me. And next time, even when it is a sweltering 100 degrees, I will wear a jacket over my purse.
Julia, Sone, Noui, Noui's friend, Sone's friend and I went to a friend's house for dinner tonight. We left kinda late - 9ish (anything after 8:30 is kinda late here) to go back home. On the way home I got a flat tire. All of the mechanics were closed already. Noui decided it would be best if Julia would drop of Noui's friend at home, come back to pick me up and Noui would drive my bike slowly home. Sone and Sone's friend would also go home. The plan worked well - Noui and I waited a while for Julia to return for us. Sone wanted to come back and drive my bike but Julia said she didn't want Sone driving back to Noui and I alone. Noui drove my bike because she's skinnier than me so it isn't as hard on the tire. :) I rode with Julia.
We were driving maybe 10 mph because of my flat tire on the far right side of the road - Noui in front Julia and I following. My purse was on my left shoulder - exposed to the traffic. Suddenly, I felt someone grabbing my purse. I held on tightly for what seemed like 3 minutes. I was wondering why they wouldn't give up and go (even though it was probably only 5 seconds). So as they were trying to take my purse, Julia noticed them kicking the bike. Noui looked back because she heard Julia screaming bloody murder. Julia and I fell off of the bike and the boys continued on their way -without my purse. Thankfully no other cars were coming at the time so we didn't get run over. I helped get Julia out from under the bike and Noui came back to help. Before we got to the side of the road 4 12 year old boys came and asked if we were OK. And shortly after 2 other men stopped to help us too. Julia's leg was pretty scratched up and my knee is a little bruised and scratched but else we are OK.
Right after seeing a horrible side of people - wanting to steal someones purse and make them fall off of their bike so they can't chase them down, we saw the nicest, most helpful side of most Lao people - running over to make sure we're safe. The boys were all talking about what the bad guys looked like and where they went and if they could chase them and find them - of course they couldn't, but they were all so nice and caring towards us. One of the guys who stopped to help us said he would escort us home - so he did all the way to our front gate. So kind and caring.
When we got home the nice guy was talking to us for a while. On the drive home, he told me that I should wear a jacket when I drive over my purse (even though its 100 degrees), we should look in our rear view mirrors, we shouldn't put our phone in our purse so that we can call someone if something bad happens. When we stopped to talk at our gate he told Noui to tell me the same stuff again. When Sone came out he told her to tell me the same stuff again. I know he's only doing it to be nice, but I really did understand the first time.
We decided that the bad guys wanted to steal my purse and we were an easy target because we were driving so slowly and I wasn't wearing a jacket to protect my purse. They kicked the bike so that we would fall down and not follow them. We must have been pulling pretty hard because the straps broke. :( Part of their little scheme worked - we fell down. Sometimes though, they will kick the bike out from under you and then when you fall they will steal your bike. They were pretty gutsy trying to do it to two big foreigners like us.
I do feel so protected though - I'm so glad it was me and Julia and not some of our small Lao friends. I'm thankful no cars were coming when we fell in the middle of the road. I'm thankful they didn't steal my purse - I remembered afterwards that I had just gone to the ATM and had $250 in my purse - usually I have like $30. I'm thankful that we didn't get hurt - Julia's leg is scraped but it could have been so much worse! I'm thankful to see the hearts of most Lao people - so ready to come and help and make sure you arrive home safely.
With all of these robbers and thieves I think I have learned every Lao word for thief, robber, person who steals. . . I thought I had kinda forgotten them since it had been a while since I had used them, but I'll be using them this week again.
Every time I drive home alone at night everyone asks if I'm afraid. I always say, "No, I'm a big person." Kinda as a joke but kinda serious too - I'm not really afraid. I always thought no one would try to steal anything from a big fat foreigner twice the size of the average Lao person. I also thought no one would ever try and break into our house. So I've gotta stop thinking nothing bad will happen to me. And next time, even when it is a sweltering 100 degrees, I will wear a jacket over my purse.
5.19.2012
Getting Dumber
I know that I am getting dumber by living here. I think it is because over half of the words I speak are words a second grader could understand. If I speak in Lao I speak at a 4 year old level. When I teach English I speak at a 6 year old level.
I frequently speak incorrectly so that my students will understand. - The book, do you know where is it?
I don't use correct past tense verbs of irregular verbs. - Yesterday I go to the market and I buy some shoes.
I only know the easiest word of all synonyms. - I am happy today. I do not say - I am ecstatic today. or I am jovial. I don't even remember these words when someone says them to me.
I never use contractions. - I do not like to eat fish. I can not go with you.
When I read for pleasure (I wrote fun but decided to try to use a big word like pleasure) I sometimes don't know what words mean. I have seen them before and used to know, but have since forgotten.
When I talk to Americans who do understand the English language well, I cannot remember words that I want to say. If she is another English teacher sometimes we will work together for a few seconds to see if we can think of the word we want. Sometimes we just give up.
I frequently speak incorrectly so that my students will understand. - The book, do you know where is it?
I don't use correct past tense verbs of irregular verbs. - Yesterday I go to the market and I buy some shoes.
I only know the easiest word of all synonyms. - I am happy today. I do not say - I am ecstatic today. or I am jovial. I don't even remember these words when someone says them to me.
I never use contractions. - I do not like to eat fish. I can not go with you.
When I read for pleasure (I wrote fun but decided to try to use a big word like pleasure) I sometimes don't know what words mean. I have seen them before and used to know, but have since forgotten.
When I talk to Americans who do understand the English language well, I cannot remember words that I want to say. If she is another English teacher sometimes we will work together for a few seconds to see if we can think of the word we want. Sometimes we just give up.
5.17.2012
Lily
After the death of our old dog, Beebee, my housemates and I voted 3 to 1 to get a new puppy. I was NOT happy about this decision. But I was told I would have no responsibility for it. So, we got a new dog, Lily. We got the dog a week before Lao New Year, which is the biggest holiday in Laos. All of my housemates were going somewhere. I was going to be home alone. Before they bought the dog I asked what the plans were for taking care of it over New Years. She would go home with Nuyie. The morning that everyone was leaving, Nuyie decided she did not want to take the dog home with her. We tried to find friends to take care of Lily, but couldn't. Me, being the wonderfully nice person that I am said I would take care of her. (There wasn't much choice.)
She is a much better dog than Beebee, probably because she had some decent disciplining the first week when she was home with her strict owner - me. Some people think I hate all animals and enjoy torturing them. I do NOT! But, if she jumps on me, she gets hit. If she tries to come in the house, she gets spanked. If she eats our shoes, she gets hit. If she is a good dog, I pet her. A lot. (Even though I think it's gross.) And by golly, she's learning. She really is a better dog than Beebee ever was. And she really has learned that she should not jump on people, come in the house or eat our shoes or laundry or she'll get hit. When she gets disciplined for doing something wrong, she learns quickly.
She is a much better dog than Beebee, probably because she had some decent disciplining the first week when she was home with her strict owner - me. Some people think I hate all animals and enjoy torturing them. I do NOT! But, if she jumps on me, she gets hit. If she tries to come in the house, she gets spanked. If she eats our shoes, she gets hit. If she is a good dog, I pet her. A lot. (Even though I think it's gross.) And by golly, she's learning. She really is a better dog than Beebee ever was. And she really has learned that she should not jump on people, come in the house or eat our shoes or laundry or she'll get hit. When she gets disciplined for doing something wrong, she learns quickly.
5.12.2012
Keys Part II
Sometime in April, after going to my office to do some work and being locked out again, I threw a bit of a hissy fit.
I called 2 teachers to open the door for me - both of whom did not answer. As I was contemplating what to do next, a teacher came and opened the door. I started grabbing my papers, books, folders and pens and moved them to the empty desk in the other office. As I was making my trips back and forth, the teacher, Por, asked me what I was doing. I told her that I cannot work in the office if I do not have a key. She told me many times, "You should ask (important/boss) Teacher Savahn first." I told her many times, "If I do not have a key, I cannot work in the office." "I think she will give you a key. I will ask her to give you a key." I said, "You will ask her now?" She said, "Yes." So, after being in the new office for a total of 2 minutes, she convinced me she would ask the boss if I could have a key and I would move back to the old office before the boss found out I had moved and got mad at me.
Anyway, long story short, I got the key 8 minutes after moving moving out of my office with no key. It was probably not the most culturally appropriate way to go about getting what I wanted. But desperate times call for desperate measures. And it worked and we are all happy. Me especially so.
I called 2 teachers to open the door for me - both of whom did not answer. As I was contemplating what to do next, a teacher came and opened the door. I started grabbing my papers, books, folders and pens and moved them to the empty desk in the other office. As I was making my trips back and forth, the teacher, Por, asked me what I was doing. I told her that I cannot work in the office if I do not have a key. She told me many times, "You should ask (important/boss) Teacher Savahn first." I told her many times, "If I do not have a key, I cannot work in the office." "I think she will give you a key. I will ask her to give you a key." I said, "You will ask her now?" She said, "Yes." So, after being in the new office for a total of 2 minutes, she convinced me she would ask the boss if I could have a key and I would move back to the old office before the boss found out I had moved and got mad at me.
Anyway, long story short, I got the key 8 minutes after moving moving out of my office with no key. It was probably not the most culturally appropriate way to go about getting what I wanted. But desperate times call for desperate measures. And it worked and we are all happy. Me especially so.
5.10.2012
Coffee
I love coffee. I love coffee shops. I love any excuse to go to a coffee shop. Lao people don't really like coffee and it just isn't in their culture to go to coffee shops. So I never go to coffee shops with Lao friends. There is a new coffee shop out by Dong Dok. The other night I was at my friends' apartment. They brought up the new coffee shop that they had seen. We started talking about coffee and I was telling them how delicious it is and how it's different than Lao coffee. They had never had a latte or a cappuccino or anything, so we decided they should try some.
Lattes are my personal favorite, but I told them they might like cappuccinos because they are sweeter. They all got cappuccinos and they liked them (honestly, I think)! The coffee shop is run by Koreans. So we also tried some Korean food - I think kimbabchi and something else. One was a sushi thing and the other was Korean Ramen noodle soup. Lao people eat Ramen noodle soup all the time. I think Korean noodle soup is better than Lao noodle soup. I think my friends liked the Korean food more than the coffee. . . but maybe we can come back again soon to drink coffee together! I was happy to go with them! :)
Lattes are my personal favorite, but I told them they might like cappuccinos because they are sweeter. They all got cappuccinos and they liked them (honestly, I think)! The coffee shop is run by Koreans. So we also tried some Korean food - I think kimbabchi and something else. One was a sushi thing and the other was Korean Ramen noodle soup. Lao people eat Ramen noodle soup all the time. I think Korean noodle soup is better than Lao noodle soup. I think my friends liked the Korean food more than the coffee. . . but maybe we can come back again soon to drink coffee together! I was happy to go with them! :)
5.08.2012
My Phone
Cell phones in Laos are different than in the States. You pay as you go. When I run out of money, I go to a little shop and ask for Beeline money. You can buy between 5,000 kip and 50,000 kip (60 cents and 6 dollars). I usually get the $6 one. You scratch off the silver stuff that's on lottery tickets and enter the number into your phone. And I have plenty of money to call and text again. Anyway, all these different companies have different promotions if you buy their phone number - free money, free internet. . . I don't really understand it.
So, when the Lao people see a good deal for Beeline, they buy a new Beeline phone number. Not the number to use for money, but a new actual phone number. Then the next week when they see ETL has a special they will buy a new ETL phone number. You can also pay $20 to buy a "beautiful" number. A beautiful number has many of the same numbers and many 0s (I think). So my number, 7806 2207, is not beautiful and was only $1. But a number like 7778 8889 is beautiful and would be $20.
Most Lao people have 3 or 4 different phone numbers that they sometimes use. If there is a deal on their ETL number, they will currently be using their ETL number, but next week when Unitel had something good, they will use their Unitel number.
As a result, this is what my phone book looks like:
Bangon
Beeklor
Bouasone
Bouasone 1
Bouasavahn
Bouathand
Boua
Boua 1
Boua New
Boua 2
Bouaphone
Bouaphone ?
Bountang
Bountang 1
Bountang New
Bounthaphone
Bounmy
Bounmy 2 ?
Bounmy New
This gets a little confusing when I have to call 3 numbers to try to get a hold of my student or friend.
So, when the Lao people see a good deal for Beeline, they buy a new Beeline phone number. Not the number to use for money, but a new actual phone number. Then the next week when they see ETL has a special they will buy a new ETL phone number. You can also pay $20 to buy a "beautiful" number. A beautiful number has many of the same numbers and many 0s (I think). So my number, 7806 2207, is not beautiful and was only $1. But a number like 7778 8889 is beautiful and would be $20.
Most Lao people have 3 or 4 different phone numbers that they sometimes use. If there is a deal on their ETL number, they will currently be using their ETL number, but next week when Unitel had something good, they will use their Unitel number.
As a result, this is what my phone book looks like:
Bangon
Beeklor
Bouasone
Bouasone 1
Bouasavahn
Bouathand
Boua
Boua 1
Boua New
Boua 2
Bouaphone
Bouaphone ?
Bountang
Bountang 1
Bountang New
Bounthaphone
Bounmy
Bounmy 2 ?
Bounmy New
This gets a little confusing when I have to call 3 numbers to try to get a hold of my student or friend.
5.07.2012
Little House on the Prairie
I feel a little like Laura Ingalls Wilder. And it isn't as fun as I thought it would be. For some odd reason, I used to think (when I was in 3rd grade reading all of her books) it would be fun to go foraging for berries out in the woods and collecting water from the river and all of the other hard stuff people had to do just to live. Sometimes, more recently, I thought it would be adventurous to live in a little hut in a little village in Africa. I have decided a while back, but especially since living in Laos that I LOVE the comforts of America! I love my air-conditioner. I love my hot showers. These are my two favorite necessities to be comfortable.
Today, I feel happy to take a shower at all - even if it's a bucket shower and it's cold. We haven't had running water for 3 days. There's something wrong with a pipe from the city. Supposedly it came 3 nights ago, but our valve from the city was shut off because we were messing with it and didn't know the right way to have it open. (They do not use righty-tighty, lefty-loosey here.) So we didn't get water. Maybe it will come tonight? Thankfully our American friends/neighbors have neighbors just a few streets over. I showered at their place Sunday afternoon and Monday night.
I really felt like Laura today because we collected rain water. It started pouring rain this afternoon, so we got some buckets and bins and put them outside under the run off to collect the water. We're using this water for flushing toilets, not for showering. When we went to our friends' to shower, we took a 5 gallon Culligan jug along to fill with water.
We haven't done wash in a week - hopefully we can go to a friend's tomorrow and do a couple of loads.
We've heard that others are having water problems. One of Julia's students who lives roads over hasn't had water AT ALL in over 2 weeks! A foreign family with 3 kids who live in another village haven't had water in 3 days.
I am realizing all of the many things I take for granted with not having water! I would have never thought I use water for as many little things as I do. :( Hopefully it will come soon! But thankfully we have friends in other parts of town so we can shower at their houses.
Today, I feel happy to take a shower at all - even if it's a bucket shower and it's cold. We haven't had running water for 3 days. There's something wrong with a pipe from the city. Supposedly it came 3 nights ago, but our valve from the city was shut off because we were messing with it and didn't know the right way to have it open. (They do not use righty-tighty, lefty-loosey here.) So we didn't get water. Maybe it will come tonight? Thankfully our American friends/neighbors have neighbors just a few streets over. I showered at their place Sunday afternoon and Monday night.
I really felt like Laura today because we collected rain water. It started pouring rain this afternoon, so we got some buckets and bins and put them outside under the run off to collect the water. We're using this water for flushing toilets, not for showering. When we went to our friends' to shower, we took a 5 gallon Culligan jug along to fill with water.
We haven't done wash in a week - hopefully we can go to a friend's tomorrow and do a couple of loads.
We've heard that others are having water problems. One of Julia's students who lives roads over hasn't had water AT ALL in over 2 weeks! A foreign family with 3 kids who live in another village haven't had water in 3 days.
I am realizing all of the many things I take for granted with not having water! I would have never thought I use water for as many little things as I do. :( Hopefully it will come soon! But thankfully we have friends in other parts of town so we can shower at their houses.
5.05.2012
Hot
It is hot here! I sometimes hear people complaining of being lazy cuz of the hot weather or not feeling well because of the oppressive heat. I always thought, oh suck it up and quit complaining, it's not that bad. Actually, it is that bad.
Last year our hot season was unreasonably cool. I think this year our hot season is unreasonably hot. This week it is supposed to be 40 C. Which is the same as 104 F. I heard that earlier it was 116 F with the heat index. And it sure feels like it. :P
One of the worst things is walking ten minutes to my classroom and arriving with sweat dripping down my face. I try to walk as slowly as the Lao people do, but somehow I keep ending up passing them left and right. I also use an umbrella when I walk anywhere outside now. They always think it's because I'm afraid of dark skin. Actually I'm afraid of sweating. But the umbrella only helps so much.
I have AC in my bedroom, which is on now as I'm typing this and doing lesson planning at 2:00 in the afternoon.
And it makes me sad how wonderful cold showers feel. They are so refreshing. But it should not be that hot in the house that cold showers feel that good.
Rainy season is beginning. I love the rain! It takes the humidity out of the air. Keep coming rain!
Last year our hot season was unreasonably cool. I think this year our hot season is unreasonably hot. This week it is supposed to be 40 C. Which is the same as 104 F. I heard that earlier it was 116 F with the heat index. And it sure feels like it. :P
One of the worst things is walking ten minutes to my classroom and arriving with sweat dripping down my face. I try to walk as slowly as the Lao people do, but somehow I keep ending up passing them left and right. I also use an umbrella when I walk anywhere outside now. They always think it's because I'm afraid of dark skin. Actually I'm afraid of sweating. But the umbrella only helps so much.
I have AC in my bedroom, which is on now as I'm typing this and doing lesson planning at 2:00 in the afternoon.
And it makes me sad how wonderful cold showers feel. They are so refreshing. But it should not be that hot in the house that cold showers feel that good.
Rainy season is beginning. I love the rain! It takes the humidity out of the air. Keep coming rain!
5.03.2012
Bi Mai from my Students
Each week my students have to write something in a notebook to practice writing. I give them topics that they can write about. They can use my topics or write about anything they want. They each must write 6 sentences. They can write more. Here is what one of my best students wrote this week. I told them to write about what they did for Bi Mai - Lao New Years - April 13-15.
I know it's kinda long, but it gives a good idea of what Lao people do for Lao New Year. There are some mistakes - I just copied what she wrote.
Now, I'd like to tell you about many things that I did for Lao New Year.
For Lao New Year ago, I had many things that I had to do as the day before Lao New Year my aunt took me to her house and then we cleaned house all day. On the first day of The Lao New Year, my aunt and I had to get up very early. Because our cousins who lived in Bangkok of Thailand - came to visit us with their friends (11 people) and also other our cousins were from different provice, too. So we had to prepair many kinds of food for them as grilled about twenty chickens and ducks, made Lao noodles with its sauce, tata meat (mince - meat dish) that we all called as "larp" in Laos, soup. . . for them. In the afternoon, we made Baci (Lao ceremony) for our grand-mother. On the second day, I got up quite late around 6:00 a.m. Because that day I didn't have to many works. But in the afternoon, my younger sister and I made the special water and then we went to watering Buddha image (Pour water to Buddha). Every year we went to watering Buddha image for nine temples. I go to temple to give arm (alms). We went to nine temples because we believed that number 9 is the lucky number for Lao people. If you watering the Buddh 9 temples in my custumn believed you will have good luck and got many good things came in to your own and I believed that. After that, we brought the special water to pour water at our parents and elderly peopeo around our village. We did like this every year and after pour special water for them already - They will wish us to be a rich person in the future, to get a good luck good husband, good health. . . Finally, we came back home to took a bath and took a nap. On the third day or last day of Lao New Year, I got up very early at The same time as the first day. Because of that day, there were alt of our friends that came to visit us. So we made many kinds of food for them. Our friends came from different villages, some of them were from province and Some of Them were fom ThaiLand. But after 2:30 P.M, all of my aunt's family and their friends (all guests) went to see rockets at the festival that near the market of the village. Especially my aunt's husband - he made a rocket for this festival (Sometime he made ohly one or two rockets per year). He did like this every year because he believed that if he made the rocket for heaven or angels. He'll be a good luck person of the year (rich and rich). For me, but after, they went to see the rocket. I had to wash a lot of dishes, cleaned on the floor untill every were clean. Fortunately, my younger sister came to help me. At 7:30 p.m, we came back home for taking a bath and then I had dinner and went bed. And I slept until 7:00 am the next morning. I knew, I got up late - but it's because of I was so tired. However I was so tired, but I very happy, too.
5.01.2012
Spelling Bee
Last week Friday the US Embassy put on a Spelling Bee for 40 students in Vientiane. Some of my students and Julia's students participated. None of our students won, but it was fun to watch. Some of the words on the list for them to study included loquacious, tempestuous and curmudgeon. While helping my students study I learned a few new vocab words. And tried to learn how to spell some new words, unfortunately I can't remember the correct spelling or some of them -including loquacious. Thankfully for me there's spell check.
4.29.2012
Water from Students
Every class period I receive a bottle of water from my students. It's nice but not that big of a deal. Many times I don't drink it. (Water is 25 cents here.) But I was informed that it is a rule - students must give their teacher water.
This week, the hottest time of the year, my students have decided to stop giving Teacher water. On Monday I was going to buy a bottle of water but I thought, I get 3 bottles of water today so I should just wait since I get it from my students every day. I got to class - no water. That's OK, my next class will surely give me some. Again, no water.
It's totally fine if they don't give me water, but I guess I've come to depend on it too much. I can buy my own water. But the day that I do decide to buy my own water, they will also buy it for me.
On Tuesday they still didn't have water for me.
On Wednesday they were back into the swing of things and had water for Teacher. I drank the whole bottle. I appreciate it more during hot season.
This week, the hottest time of the year, my students have decided to stop giving Teacher water. On Monday I was going to buy a bottle of water but I thought, I get 3 bottles of water today so I should just wait since I get it from my students every day. I got to class - no water. That's OK, my next class will surely give me some. Again, no water.
It's totally fine if they don't give me water, but I guess I've come to depend on it too much. I can buy my own water. But the day that I do decide to buy my own water, they will also buy it for me.
On Tuesday they still didn't have water for me.
On Wednesday they were back into the swing of things and had water for Teacher. I drank the whole bottle. I appreciate it more during hot season.
4.27.2012
Water
This morning I woke up to go on a run. Before going, I realized that we had no water. The idea of running and sweating like a pig and not being able to shower was not too appealing so I decided against running. It was a good decision! I went out and checked on the two big water holders that we have - they were empty. I asked Grandma next door - they also don't have water. She informed me that a pipe burst in Xangkhou Village 3 days ago so no one has water. They will fix the pipe on Monday.
In our bathroom we have a big 30 (or maybe 20 or maybe 50) gallon tub that we usually keep filled with water in case something like this should happen. We never have problems with water, so it had 6 inches of water in the bottom. :(
We drink water from the big blue 5 gallon jugs. The water guys come on Tueday and Friday. On Friday we set all 6 of our empty jugs outside to be changed with 6 full jugs of water. They didn't come on Friday. They will come this afternoon. Or so they say.
This morning the 4 of us (my 3 roommates and I) went to my roommate's fiend's apartment thing to shower. It takes a long time to wash my hair with the bucket shower and the water is cold and I just don't like doing it, so we went to a beauty shop to have our hair washed. So after showering, we went to have our hair washed. It was wonderful! One dollar to have my hair washed 3 times and have my head and neck massaged for 30 minutes.
Maybe for once in Laos something will happen before they say it will. It would be wonderful to have water before Monday. And wonderful if our drinking water people would come this afternoon. Maybe?
In our bathroom we have a big 30 (or maybe 20 or maybe 50) gallon tub that we usually keep filled with water in case something like this should happen. We never have problems with water, so it had 6 inches of water in the bottom. :(
We drink water from the big blue 5 gallon jugs. The water guys come on Tueday and Friday. On Friday we set all 6 of our empty jugs outside to be changed with 6 full jugs of water. They didn't come on Friday. They will come this afternoon. Or so they say.
This morning the 4 of us (my 3 roommates and I) went to my roommate's fiend's apartment thing to shower. It takes a long time to wash my hair with the bucket shower and the water is cold and I just don't like doing it, so we went to a beauty shop to have our hair washed. So after showering, we went to have our hair washed. It was wonderful! One dollar to have my hair washed 3 times and have my head and neck massaged for 30 minutes.
Maybe for once in Laos something will happen before they say it will. It would be wonderful to have water before Monday. And wonderful if our drinking water people would come this afternoon. Maybe?
2.23.2012
Happy Birthday to Me!
I had a wonderful 24th birthday! :) Yesterday, the day before my birthday, I had two classes. In my first class I was sitting at a desk helping a group of my students with the activity we were working on. I heard the song Happy Birthday and I thought, oh, it's someone else's birthday today too! :) And in walked a few of my students holding a cake and then everyone joined in the song. Looking back, I should have realized that something was up since 3 of my best students asked to go to the bathroom and they usually don't - they had to get the cake. I was surprised. And then many of the students will say a birthday blessing something like this: "Teacher, I wish you a happy birthday and that you have good healthy and happy in the world. I hope you find a handsome boyfriend soon and will have lots of money. I wish you have all the blessings and any wish you want." (with a few more grammatical errors)
My next class also had a cake and song for me at the beginning of class.
On Thursdays I don't have class until 3:00 in the afternoon, so it's always nice to have a relaxing morning and a little extra time to spend with Him. This morning I got up, ran at the track, showered and then my housemates made mango sticky rice for me. It's sticky rice with coconut milk and mangoes - delicious!!!
I skyped my adorable nephew Brayden, and Brent and Becky. Unfortunately Noah was in bed already. Brayden just cracks me up with so many of the things he says and does, I love talking to him and his parents too!
After lunch I went to one of my friends' houses, and they decided to go do karaoke. So we did karaoke for a while. I had to leave early to go teach at 2:30.
I was walking up to my Freshman class and 3 of my best students met me and said that the classroom had changed because of the new semester. Room E9 was free, so we headed towards the room. They said that many of the boys from our class were playing football and some of the girls had gone to cheer for them so maybe today in class we won't have very many students. But we can go to the classroom and wait and see. I was a little disappointed that many students were absent but it happens here and I've had students miss class for a soccer game before, so I wasn't too surprised.
As I was talking to the three students in the classroom I thought, this won't be so bad, I'll have a good chance to really talk to these kids and they all speak English well! Then one of the girls said that sometimes the students think that pronunciation is too hard to study because I don't speak the same as the Lao teachers. I thought - of course we speak different! But was also sad that they thought class was too hard. As I was asking them what they thought I should change so class is easier for all the students the boy asked his friend to turn off the fan because he was cold. I asked him three times - you're cold?! (Today was rather warm and sticky :P) He said yes. His friend turned off the fan. I tried to ask them again what we should change so everyone likes class a little more and in walk the rest of my students holding a cake and singing Happy Birthday. I was so surprised! They were all pretty proud of their little plan they had for tricking teacher. But I was pretty proud of their little plan too because it totally worked. I believed everything they had told me. I thought all of my students were playing or watching a soccer game and that they thought class was too hard. I thought my boy was getting sick since he was cold. We had a good laugh and enjoyed our cake and pop. (Of course they gave me the nasty orange Mirinda pop. :P They always like it the most so they give it to the teacher, but it's not my fave! I prefer Pepsi.)
Also here, they like to feed the cake to you if it's your special day. I had a few students call me over to their desk to feed me a bite of their cake and wish me a happy birthday. :)
Tonight some teachers and a few Lao friends went to another foreign teacher's house for tacos and a movie. The tacos were delicious! (The teacher who provided the tacos is not with my organization - she works for the US gov so she gets paid. So she went all out - buying sour cream, guacamole, chips, salsa, chicken fajitas. . . Usually when a teacher makes tacos we don't buy all the extra expensive stuff.)
We then watched Tomb Raider. I do not recommend it. When Angie and I went to Angkor Wat in Cambodia we learned that part of the movie is filmed at the temple. We decided we needed to watch the movie to see the temple. It wasn't worth it. Angkor Wat is only seen in the movie for 5 minutes or less. And the movie was just pretty stupid. But it was fun to get together with friends and enjoy tasty food and good company!
For dessert Julia made cheese cake! Yummy!
My next class also had a cake and song for me at the beginning of class.
On Thursdays I don't have class until 3:00 in the afternoon, so it's always nice to have a relaxing morning and a little extra time to spend with Him. This morning I got up, ran at the track, showered and then my housemates made mango sticky rice for me. It's sticky rice with coconut milk and mangoes - delicious!!!
I skyped my adorable nephew Brayden, and Brent and Becky. Unfortunately Noah was in bed already. Brayden just cracks me up with so many of the things he says and does, I love talking to him and his parents too!
After lunch I went to one of my friends' houses, and they decided to go do karaoke. So we did karaoke for a while. I had to leave early to go teach at 2:30.
I was walking up to my Freshman class and 3 of my best students met me and said that the classroom had changed because of the new semester. Room E9 was free, so we headed towards the room. They said that many of the boys from our class were playing football and some of the girls had gone to cheer for them so maybe today in class we won't have very many students. But we can go to the classroom and wait and see. I was a little disappointed that many students were absent but it happens here and I've had students miss class for a soccer game before, so I wasn't too surprised.
As I was talking to the three students in the classroom I thought, this won't be so bad, I'll have a good chance to really talk to these kids and they all speak English well! Then one of the girls said that sometimes the students think that pronunciation is too hard to study because I don't speak the same as the Lao teachers. I thought - of course we speak different! But was also sad that they thought class was too hard. As I was asking them what they thought I should change so class is easier for all the students the boy asked his friend to turn off the fan because he was cold. I asked him three times - you're cold?! (Today was rather warm and sticky :P) He said yes. His friend turned off the fan. I tried to ask them again what we should change so everyone likes class a little more and in walk the rest of my students holding a cake and singing Happy Birthday. I was so surprised! They were all pretty proud of their little plan they had for tricking teacher. But I was pretty proud of their little plan too because it totally worked. I believed everything they had told me. I thought all of my students were playing or watching a soccer game and that they thought class was too hard. I thought my boy was getting sick since he was cold. We had a good laugh and enjoyed our cake and pop. (Of course they gave me the nasty orange Mirinda pop. :P They always like it the most so they give it to the teacher, but it's not my fave! I prefer Pepsi.)
Also here, they like to feed the cake to you if it's your special day. I had a few students call me over to their desk to feed me a bite of their cake and wish me a happy birthday. :)
Tonight some teachers and a few Lao friends went to another foreign teacher's house for tacos and a movie. The tacos were delicious! (The teacher who provided the tacos is not with my organization - she works for the US gov so she gets paid. So she went all out - buying sour cream, guacamole, chips, salsa, chicken fajitas. . . Usually when a teacher makes tacos we don't buy all the extra expensive stuff.)
We then watched Tomb Raider. I do not recommend it. When Angie and I went to Angkor Wat in Cambodia we learned that part of the movie is filmed at the temple. We decided we needed to watch the movie to see the temple. It wasn't worth it. Angkor Wat is only seen in the movie for 5 minutes or less. And the movie was just pretty stupid. But it was fun to get together with friends and enjoy tasty food and good company!
For dessert Julia made cheese cake! Yummy!
2.19.2012
Elephant Festival
This past week I went to Sayabouly province with one of my friends and her sister-in-law. Although the van and bus rides to get there and home were not very fun, we did have lots of fun at her house. Her province is the province that is known for having the most elephants and this weekend was the Elephant Festival.
1.06.2012
Keys
I share an office at school with 6 other Lao teachers. I teach at 8:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.
One Tuesday morning I came to school at 7:40ish to get some of my things together before heading to my class at 8:00. My classroom is about a ten minute walk away. But there was a new padlock on the door and I couldn't get in. So I waited around for a while for another teacher to come and open the door. Another teacher came a few minutes before 8:00. I went in, got my stuff and was only a few minutes late for class. Not a huge deal.
It happened again on Wednesday morning. This time, the teacher didn't come until 8:10, so I was 15 minutes late for class. They told me that last week some money from our office was stolen at night, so they decided to start padlocking the door over night.
I asked a teacher for a copy of the key. She said she would ask the boss. Which I knew meant I would not get a key. It wasn't a big deal, I could take my stuff home Monday and Tuesday afternoons for my morning classes on Tuesday and Wednesday and get into the office after class. (They only padlocked the door overnight, I had a key for the normal lock.) I also had a key for our office from last year, so I would usually put my helmet in that office right away in the morning and then go to class.
So I did that for the next two weeks. It was a bit annoying but oh well.
One morning I went to put my helmet in the other office before class, but realized they had changed that lock so I couldn't get in. I had other junk with me from grading and such the night before at home, but now had nowhere to put it. After class I decided it was pretty annoying not being able to get into my office and I asked the teacher again if I could copy her key. She said she had to ask the boss. I asked again, can I just copy the key that you have? She repeated that she needed to ask the boss.
The next day I asked the boss if I could copy the key. She said they would need to have a meeting to see if I could have a key to get into my own office. She said I could call teacher Phonesavahn when I come in the morning. Since Phonesavahn teaches at 8:00 everyday also, she can let me into the office. I usually go to the office before quarter to 8 because I like to get my stuff together. And I like to start class at 8:00 or soon after. Lao teachers start class between 8:15 and 8:30.
The next Tuesday I went to the office to see if it was open. It wasn't, but I decided to see where Phonesavahn was. So I gave her a call a bit before 8:00. She said she was at the classroom already (which is a ten minute walk away) and she wasn't coming to the office before class. She said maybe another teacher will come soon.
I am still without a way to get into my own office. My boss is going to talk to the boss to see if he can get me a set. We'll see what happens. : )
One Tuesday morning I came to school at 7:40ish to get some of my things together before heading to my class at 8:00. My classroom is about a ten minute walk away. But there was a new padlock on the door and I couldn't get in. So I waited around for a while for another teacher to come and open the door. Another teacher came a few minutes before 8:00. I went in, got my stuff and was only a few minutes late for class. Not a huge deal.
It happened again on Wednesday morning. This time, the teacher didn't come until 8:10, so I was 15 minutes late for class. They told me that last week some money from our office was stolen at night, so they decided to start padlocking the door over night.
I asked a teacher for a copy of the key. She said she would ask the boss. Which I knew meant I would not get a key. It wasn't a big deal, I could take my stuff home Monday and Tuesday afternoons for my morning classes on Tuesday and Wednesday and get into the office after class. (They only padlocked the door overnight, I had a key for the normal lock.) I also had a key for our office from last year, so I would usually put my helmet in that office right away in the morning and then go to class.
So I did that for the next two weeks. It was a bit annoying but oh well.
One morning I went to put my helmet in the other office before class, but realized they had changed that lock so I couldn't get in. I had other junk with me from grading and such the night before at home, but now had nowhere to put it. After class I decided it was pretty annoying not being able to get into my office and I asked the teacher again if I could copy her key. She said she had to ask the boss. I asked again, can I just copy the key that you have? She repeated that she needed to ask the boss.
The next day I asked the boss if I could copy the key. She said they would need to have a meeting to see if I could have a key to get into my own office. She said I could call teacher Phonesavahn when I come in the morning. Since Phonesavahn teaches at 8:00 everyday also, she can let me into the office. I usually go to the office before quarter to 8 because I like to get my stuff together. And I like to start class at 8:00 or soon after. Lao teachers start class between 8:15 and 8:30.
The next Tuesday I went to the office to see if it was open. It wasn't, but I decided to see where Phonesavahn was. So I gave her a call a bit before 8:00. She said she was at the classroom already (which is a ten minute walk away) and she wasn't coming to the office before class. She said maybe another teacher will come soon.
I am still without a way to get into my own office. My boss is going to talk to the boss to see if he can get me a set. We'll see what happens. : )
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