mickan in world

Funny things happen in Laos.

I had an interesting episode happen to me this morning for example. I was out jogging and as usual people stop and stare at me; I mean why shouldn't they? I am a sweaty, weird westener, who is supposebly out jogging for the fun of it. Really shouldn't I save my energy for some real work instead of running around in shorts; showing half my leg and with a face as red as a tomato. It must be the hight of luxury to them; to get exhausted for the fun in it, all the labourers whom I pass on my little jog would probably use the little freetime they have to get some much needed rest. Well that's how I reasoned about the staring.
But anywhay there I was  running down the road and at a distance I saw this woman come towards me. She stares, nothing unusual in that; then she starts smiling ( not a very nice smile) and grabs her breasts and starts to bounce them up and down. After this little display she laughs, points at me and yells something in lao which can only be interpreted as: "Get a bra!"
I guess I know why the labourers were staring. For everyone's information I was in fact wearing a very trusted sportsbra, but I guess it has seen it's days of glory; it is a tiny bit worn.

Another not so funny, but indeed very fun thing was the two tours I was taken on this weekend.
The first one was with Mr. Thi; he took me and Cameron to see the northern villages and the schools over there. It was all very nice and we got some watermelons and mandarins an Mr. Thi filled us in on the agricultural facts of this area. This time of year is watermelon and cucumber season, in the fall the farmers will grow rice and then they move on to vegetables during the winter; all in the same plot of land. As anyone can figure out this is exhausting the soil, which is already short of minerals due to the slash and burn technique the farmers use to clear the land. It is actually quite sad to see the ruining of this land; but it is hard to stop it since the poverty and lack of education prevents any sustainable farming from emerging. I mean it is easy to see things longterm when you have a nice dinner waiting for you at home; it is hard to convince a starving farmer to see further than the next meal. You have to understand them.

The other tour was with a friend I made at the farm Sankeawor; he took me on a tour of the western villages on his motorbike and we had a nice time exploring caves and sightseen. Sankeawor is a really nice guy, and he is trying to learn the trade of organinc farming from Mr. This to start up his own farm. He showed me the plot of land he bought for it and painted his visions on the sandy ground.

Also I met up with Andrea and her friends again this weekend. They passed the farm on tubes along the Nam Song River and I went with the along the river for an hour or so and the we had Indian food in town. Very nice indeed and it's cool to talk to someone who actually now you from back home, and with whom you have common friends. I enjoyed it!

Teaching is good too. This week Cameron and I will go through basic construction of questions and the use of What, Where, When, Who, Why and How. It will be interesting I hope.
My morning classes are improving aswell; Houa is starting to put letters together but often she will go wrong in the end. She will go C-o-w.. coowww.. Giraffe! A bit frustrating really; but with some time she can do it.

That's it for me,
Ihope you are all well and alive and enjoying life!