Home » Laos » In Laos. In Love.

Hi guys - lack of updates: have been travelling through rural southern villages where electricity, water and telephones are a luxury, let alone internet. For now, feast on this:

"Sawadee". "Sawadee". We responded to the huge friendly smile characteristic of this region. It turns out that he is Laotian, and an epitomy of everything that is rumoured about Laotian people. Warm, friendly, highly-loveable and so laid back he'd almost fall over. Traversing and experiencing such beautiful people, one is a far cry from the familiarity of fear and unrest of the West, that it is difficult to believe the world is in certain parts, in turmoil. Ironically, the Democratic Republic of Laos is considered to be one of those countries. And for sure, it has its share of political instability, under-development and economic struggles, but, a certain flame of happiness dances in the eyes of the locals with whom I have interacted - a flame whose light is often missed in the West.

In Laos. In Love.

Asha Patel
2006-08-23 10:48:48

Displayed times (last time: )

Western classrooms, and it is easy to see why teaching can be such a pleasure here, for the students unreservedly display respect and gratitude towards their teachers. Of course, teachers always try not to have favourties but human nature is such that this is sometimes inevitable. Mine was Iya; a bright, gorgeous young girl whose eyes shone with intelligence and eagerness. She was reserved and I was keen to pull her out of her shell. Once comfortable enough, she flew through all the classroom exercises with ease. It was astonishing and impressive to see. After class one had ended, I took the group of intermediates and worked with eight of them; eight teenage boys who, whilst keen to learn, had an adolescent reservedness that inhibited them from participating in all the game plans I had arranged. Thinking quickly, I thought of some other things to engage their interest and they seemed to be happy for the next hour. Then came the final hour of thirty patient students, all waiting to be taught. I had insisted that I wouldn't be teaching til 8pm tonight, though no other teachers had arrived. Hm. I hadn't the heart to send them all home for lack of a teacher and I knew it. So, without a clue as to what I would do, I jumped into the moment and let Life play out the rest. Fortunately within ten minutes, another couple had arrived and I gratefully let them take over. I excused myself and departed, much to the dismay of some students who have grown accustomed to my distinctive brown skin and Asian mannerisms that often match their own.

Day Four: Awoke...feeling weak. And with a sore throat. I had pushed my body too hard and it was telling me so. The message was clear: slow down Asha before you make yourself ill. A day-off was definitely called for and the weather made an exceptional performance just for the occasion: it was raining heavily. Went into town with Marianna, Rich and Finola to seek supplies and some en route to English class food. Checked some ...