Koi Sia Jai

Koi Sia Jai, I am sorry, for not sending the other e-mail (titled Kop chai lai lai) last week. It was supposed to go, but the stupid internet here is unbearably slow, and I had to return to the SEDA-Laos office to get my visa extended. Just pretend like it’s been a week since you have read the last e-mail, and are now reading this one with full anticipation. (Just kidding).

It is Saturday morning, at around 7:30, and I have been awake for a while, stuffing rice and cow manure into bags and loading them onto a wood cart, watching my sister wash clothes while she refuses to accept my help (probably because she thinks I will mess it up, which is very likely), and preparing to go to my Paw’s cassava farm! I was supposed to go last Saturday, but it rained and poured, and we were not able to make the trip. This week, I have come to realize more things about the Lao culture. First, they have no sense of personal belonging. Everyone shares, which in theory is great, until a westerner like me, with his bubble gum, peanut butter, laptop computer, and fancy cell phone (which I bought in Vientiane to communicate with my director, e-mail if you want the number), arrives, thinking everyone is stealing and taking/borrowing my things without permission. In reality, they do not realize anything is even slightly impolite, and gladly share their food and beer. Speaking of beer, this week many friends o my family came over to the house on Wednesday to celebrate my father’s recovery from a fall 2 weeks ago. Incidentally, he fell because he was inebriated, and he celebrated his recovery none other than by becoming even more inebriated. Which brings me to my second epiphany about Lao culture: they will have a party for anything. For all of you Andy Griffith watchers, it reminds me of the episode where the flower ladies are only allowed to sell moonshine on holidays, and end up making up holidays every day of the week. Off to the farm...

Back from the suan(farm), and surprisingly not tired or extremely dirty. I traveled a long way by boat through river Num, and by boat, I mean a canoe with a motor. I could tell my paw is proud of his land, and works hard to make it fertile. He owns a big chunk of land filled with cassava plants, looking out onto the beautiful puu khao kuay, the Bull Mountains. As I arrived onto the plot, I thought that the land could be better used as a resort to bring in tourists, because I could see myself loving the tropical feel of a land enclosed by forest, next to a river, with a beautiful sight of a mountain range. This week I managed to break not one, but two pairs of sandals, and thankfully brought other shoes to wear in the meantime before I buy superglue in Vientiane to glue the sandals back together. Sadly, I did not go to any weddings this week, but at the moment, while I am waiting for the bus, my family is preparing to go to yet another one.