Laos; Week 2

The internet liked taking Labor Day Monday off so much it decided to take Tuesday and Wednesday off, too. Imagine getting up and sitting down at your computer to find: No Internet Today. So, catch up time. Fortunately, that will not be difficult.

Monday Po Vang helped me purchase a little red cellphone. I like to call it The Little Dictator. That said, with the internet sometimes iffy, it is wonderful to have a more reliable back-up (that and the hotel staff was getting tired of playing 7/24 valet for me). We also went to the village where I will be teaching at the Ed. Center and perhaps a local middle school. I will be working with local folks at the Ed. Center in English and with both a small group of students and the teachers at the school, primarily on improving their pronunciation. We'll see if they learn more English or I learn more Lao. We visited with the village chief to get permission to do this. Interesting system and chain of command.

Tuesday I went with Po Vang to visit the principal at the school to assure him of the propriety of our intentions and to ask him to let us know how and when I can be most helpful. Then we looked at apartments, guesthouses (motels) and an actual house. A visiting family is coming in January and they may have the Ed. Center secretary, Noy, and I make a home ready for them. Noy speaks some English and there is an available house close to the Ed. Center, so that would be ideal. Po Vang and I also went to his doctor's office so I could see where I might get medical care and prescriptions if I need them. The doctor is French and lovely as is his multilingual office staff. There is also a French clinic for emergencies. Knock on wood.

Yesterday, Wednesday, Noy took me for a motor scooter ride to make sure I don't freak out when the van is not available. I think I passed, but then it was not NASCAR and she's a good driver (no drag racing or playing chicken). Oh, and it was not rush hour--that's a really special time when sane people do not want to be on the road. We went to the bank for more kip so I could pay the hotel bill today and she helped me buy a helmet so I can conform to Lao regulations when I am on the scooter (she calls it a motorcycle, so I probably will, too) with her. It was fun.

Today, I am supposed to go--at least for the interim--to a guesthouse which is much closer to the Ed. Center and the school than I am now. I would be glad to walk to both if they will let me. I have to keep reminding myself that I am a decade over the Lao life expectancy; age has its perks!?! I think some keep fearing I will simply drop over dead. That is not my plan.

Did you know "Tom and Jerry" speak Lao? I know they don't speak much, but each morning one of my favorite hotel employees turns on that rascally canine and rodent and laughs uproariously at their antics. It is so reassuring to know there are things which communicate beyond language.

I will miss my morning noodles.