Boom Pow Laos

This past weekend I had four days off, as did my fellow volunteers. Since we live NE Thailand, right across the river from Laos, we decided to hop the border for the weekend and explore a new country.

We headed north to the Thai city of Nong Khai to cross the border at the "Friendship Bridge" and spend our weekend in the Laos (pronounced Lao, the "s" is silent) capital of Vientiane. Though Vientiane is a capital city it still had a very relaxed and low key feeling. Laos was once a French protectorate so there is a notable french influence to the architecture, monuments and food. (There were baguettes and good coffee everywhere!) Laos is also a communist country, the first I have ever visited, so that added a fun new twist to our travel adventure.

Glimpses of Vientiane

We had a bit of a border crossing "issue" as we used a Visa agency instead of going straight to the border and had some money and much of our precious time ripped off. Lesson learned, never use a visa agency! Once we arrived in the city we wandered around a bit looking for a guest house that could accommodate us all while still maintaining our standards of cleanliness. We ended up in a great place that had recently opened and was in a central location near the river. We settled in and then ate dinner (tex-mex that was sadly disappointing, but what did I really expect?) and then headed to a local roof top bar for great views of the city and a taste of the national beer, Beer Lao.

We met some other travelers and when the bar closed for curfew at midnight they invited us to an after hours club. Needless to say we had a great time dancing the night away and the fact that we were breaking communist law only seemed to add to the fun that was had, even if it seemed all the Laotians were out too. (I think the curfew may be more of a suggestion than a law)

The next day we spent poking around the city and eating delicious, delicious meals. I finally was able to satisfy my sandwich craving!

My delicious "sammie" and adorable latte

That evening we headed to a bowling alley and had an amazing albeit hilarious time. The bowling alley looked just like any you would find in America except we were the only while people there and instead of nachos and pizza they served Laab and sticky rice. We had a great time knocking down some pins, though it seemed they gave us the bum lane as every few turns it broke down.

The next morning we woke up and thought, "Know what would be a good idea? Renting motorbikes and driving to the Buddhist sculpture park!". We looked in our guide book for a good place to rent bikes and tried to ignore the warnings about faulty bikes...it took us longer than expected to find some "hogs" but once we did we hit the open road for our 27km ride....half way into the ride it started pouring!! It was raining so hard it hurt and we could barely see so we pulled off the road and took shelter at a gas station.

Me and my hog, soaking wet

My bike gang

After the rain passed we got back on the bikes and continued on to the park. We wondered around for an hour or so just taking pictures and enjoying the art. The sculptures depicted images of Hindu lore, Buddha, demons, animals and many other things. They were both beautiful and bizarre at the same time.

aerial view of the park

sculptures

An adorable young family that asked me to take their photo

After the finishing we hopped back on the hogs to head back to town for some food. On the way back poor Trish got a flat tire! We had to locate a mechanic shop to get it fixed. After her tire was repaired we got back on the hogs and then disaster struck for me! My throttle wire got stuck pulled out and I could not control the speed of my bike...I had to turn the bike off to get it to stop and took a little tumble. Luckily I had a helmet on so I just got a little road rash on my leg and foot and a dose of embarrassment. Next time the guidebook recommends not renting bikes I will listen!

Sadly the next day it was time to leave. We booked bus tickets to Thakek, the Laos town directly across the river from Nakhon Phanom, and planned to take the ferry across the river back into Thailand. It all went fairly well until the bus suddenly stopped on the side of the road. Bus workers got out and started banging on the engine and sponging it down with water...we were broken down!! Eventually the workers gave up on fixing the bus and called for someone to bring them a part all the way from Vientiane. They spread out a mat on the ground and opened some bags of mints filled with chocolate to try and appease the passengers. We waited on the side of the road for two and half hours...when the part finally arrived they fixed the bus and we continued on.

Our Bus...King of Bus? I think not.

Trying to fix it

Just give up and eat some candy

We had been trying to make it to Thakek before 6pm when the boarder closed but the bus break down pushed us so far behind schedule that we didn't arrive until 9pm. We gazed across the river at the lights of NKP, so close yet so far and went to find a guest house. I woke up early the next morning and headed across the river to try and make it to school for my late morning and afternoon classes. Crossing the border by boat was quick and easy and the perfect end to my trip.

My boat across the river

My ride across the mighty Mekong

I have to say it was an amazing adventure but it feels good to me home and back at school. My students keep pointing at my "motorcycle battle wounds" and asking if they hurt. I have pantomimed what happened and pretty much all of them fell on the floor laughing. Many have even given me wound care tips and shown me their own scars from the similar accidents...a few even tried to pick my scabs...gotta love 'em. Can't wait to see what the next adventure holds.

Lights of My Life

I love my students. The best sound in the world is the chorus of "Good morning teacher!" and "Hello Teacher!" I hear everyday as I walk to school. My students make everyday an adventure and always give me something to smile about. I cannot express the joy I feel when I see their smiling faces and share a little moment with them. I realize that I have not shared nearly enough photos of these little lights of my life so that is what today's post is all about...my students!

students shoes lined up outside school

(they are not allowed to wear them in school)

troublemakers

Strike a Pose

Climbing a tree and cutting branches down with a machete...

Mosquito Safety! (Students Safety not so much)

Me and my "crew" (yes we have a secret handshake)

7th graders...feeling bored in assembly

When the teachers away the students will play...games on my laptop!

Some of the girls had me take this photo...these are the 8th grade heartthrobs

loving the camera

Student dancers and their make up assistants

cool kids watching the soccer game

from left to right:

Game (teachers call him my baby) and the twins Nueng and Song (One and Two!)

Scouts after the Scout March

A Thai School Bus

Laughing at English Camp

7th graders striking a pose after class

Super Stars

My family from Boston came to visit me. While we had a great time exploring together I think the highlight of their visit for me was the reception my brothers received when the came to my school.

I had been telling my students for about a month that my family would be coming and had been encouraging them to not be shy, as that is their usual behavior when they meet a new "farang". My students had been excited to meet "farang" children, especially since my brother B is the same age as many of them. They practiced how to pronounce my brother's names and grew more and more excited as the imminent date of arrival approached.

Dad, Linda and my brothers (B age 13 and Will age 8) arrived in Nakhon Phanom on the evening of June 30Th. They next afternoon we headed to my school for my classes. We arrived during lunch so students were sitting in the breeze way when we pulled up. I heard a few "ooohhh eee's" as we drove up but nothing prepared me for what would happen next....

We stepped out of the car and immediately all the girl students started hysterically screaming.

They screamed and pointed at my brothers and yelled "handsome!" and then just kept on screaming. It was like B and Will were rock stars. My assistant director, dressed in his boy scout finest, introduced himself to my family and then grabbed B by the wrist and pulled him over to the girls, laughing at how the closer he got the louder they screamed. Poor B was dumbstruck with all the attention and I had to literally pry him away.

My family helped me play bingo with each class and it was a huge hit. Will jumped right into help the lower level students to find the words on their cards and soon students we saying "Teacher Will, come here, come here!" to get him to help them. The girls we distracted by B and kept turning in their seats to look at him and to try to persuade him to come help them with their bingo cards....yet B stayed over with the boys, probably a wise decision as a cat fight may have ensued out for his attention.

Students with free periods stood in the door ways and windows of the class and to watch all the action, not wanting to miss a thing. When classes ended students begged me to shake my brothers hands. I had them line up to shake both B and Wills hands...but the order didn't last long! Students ran for B and Will and stroked the white skin of their arms, shook their hands and giggled uncontrollably. Many took pictures posing with B and I was sure some of the girls would faint dead away when B put his arm around them for a few photos. Students strove to make conversation with the boys, the look of concentration on their faces was hard to miss.

This behavior went on for a the full two days my family came to school. While Dad, Linda and I got a huge kick out of it I think it may have been a little overwhelming for the boys...I tried to explain that their visit was exciting for the students because they had NEVER seen white kids in person before, that they were the first "farang" my students had ever met who were their own age so for them meeting B and Will was as exciting as meeting Justin Bieber or Miley Cyrus would be for American teens.

Yet watching all this chaos I couldn't help but feel proud of my students. When I first started at Wangkasae they were so shy they tried to avoid me. Now they jump at the chance to try to use their new English skills to make a new farang friends. I couldn't be prouder.

This week students keep asking where my brother B and teacher Will are. They tell me that they miss them and that "teacher Nongchai (brother) my friend!" I cant help but be grateful that I was blessed with two of the best brothers in the world, who are now super stars in Northeast Thailand. Thank you so much Dad and Linda for bringing them to see me and for touching the lives of my students.

The Mast Family in Bangkok

Siblings in SE Asia striking a pose