School Celebrations

The thing I have learned about blogging it I have so many thing I want to write that I get behind in posting or I have absolutely nothing of interest to say. There is no in between. Right now I am in the I have so many things to post stage which I admit is the better of the two dilemmas. So bare with  me as I backtrack to Christmas Eve. 

My school held a "Christmas" celebration. And though there was a homemade Christmas tree made out of recycled water bottles, it wasn't so much of a Christmas celebration as it was a showcase of student work. Nevertheless I had a blast hanging out with all my students and having an unexpected day off from teaching. 

The school was sectioned off by department and each section was filled with displays of student works and student activities. I work in the foreign language department which still weirds me out to think about. For one I don't feel qualified to be a professor in a foreign language department (yet here I am) and second I often find myself wondering why my department is called "foreign language" when i'm teaching English... then I remember English is a foreign language when you are living in Laos. 

I teach both year 2 and year 4 students at the school and there is currently no year 1 which means I teach 2/3 of the English majors at the school. So I have a lot of students, and it is a rare occasion that I get to spend time with them all together. But this was one of those occasions. Being a special event meant an excuse for my students to take lots of pictures with me (not that they ever need an excuse). My students piled in for pictures. I do not exaggerate when I say I think I took over 100 something pictures. My face hurt so much from smiling that I lost feeling in my right cheek and by the end I wasn't sure if I was even smiling anymore. I couldn't tell. I took group pictures and then individual pictures and then pictures with people who aren't even my students. Every time I thought I was done another student would run up with their phone in hand in hopes to snap a picture with the ajaan falang (foreign teacher). Note: I also picked a day to wear a horrible outfit where absolutely nothing matched, but it was cold and I didn't come to Laos prepared with many warm clothes.

Besides the endless picture taking there was also karaoke (it isn't a Lao party unless there is karaoke), games (that I didn't quite understand), dancing, plays, and a food contest. 

Though the event lasted all day I was only able to stay until lunch. And unlike some Lao celebrations i've been too, I was actually disappointed to have to leave this one so early.

I finished the morning off eating sticky rice and fish with my year 4 class before having to leave for Lao class. Which ended up being cancelled, just my luck. Nevertheless I really had so much fun getting to spend the morning with my students. Each one of them is so precious to me and holds a special place in my heart. I struggle with trying to not view them as little children. Not in a condescending way but in a I want the best for them when they "grow up" and graduate kind of way. I constantly have to remind myself that most of them are my age or even older.

Just Anther New Year Post

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Now I know what you’re thinking. “Dani, you’re a little early. Yes, I know you live in Asia and you’re a few hours ahead, but it’s still 2014.” And all I have to say to that is… not if you are Hmong.

Soon after I began teaching here in Luang Prabang I quickly discovered that a majority of my students aren’t actually Lao. Most of them are ethnic minorities coming from Hmong or Khmu families. And if you are either Hmong or Khmu you have already celebrated the new year. From what I have gathered between a lot of broken English and Lao is that both cultures mark the end of the year by the end of “working” season. At the end of the season everyone takes a month off for some rest and relaxation. Oh and of course a two week long celebration for the new year because one night is certainly not enough.

I have also been told that because the new year is based on working season that the official day the new year begins varies from province to province and from village to village. Here in Luang Prabang the new year was celebrated on December 20^th. There was a big festival that lasted from that Friday night before to just this past weekend. Being the ever so popular teacher that I am (but not really) I was invited to go twice.

The first time was the Sunday after the new year began, and I tagged along with a friend and her student. The festival was filled with people in a variety of traditional and colorful Hmong clothing. (Though upon interrogating some of my Hmong students this clothing is only worn for the new year, and not day to day life).

Hmong new year is also the time for securing oneself a boyfriend/girlfriend. However, instead of talking to get to know the person of interest you throw a ball back and forth. If someone drops the ball they must sing a song. Not going to lie but I think the Hmong are on to something here. You’re forced to sing a song and potentially embarrass yourself; therefore, you know if the person doesn’t run away they might just be a keeper.

Fortunately at this festival there was no pressure to find a special someone to toss the ball with and playing with just your friends was perfectly acceptable. And fortunately for everyone’s benefit I was not forced to sing a song despite dropping the ball several times. Other than ball throwing, there was dancing, singing, throwing darts at balloons for prizes games, bounce houses, dressing up in costumes and taking cheesy picture booths. I even ran into a couple of my own students who were there celebrating, and asking if I was going to come back the next weekend. Apparently the next weekend was promised to be even more fun.

I did go back the next weekend with a couple of girls from my year four class. One of the girls who was actually Hmong has made traditional clothes for me, my roommate, and my other student (who is Lao) to wear. I admit I was excited to wear the outfits but once I had them on I felt so silly. I clearly wasn’t Hmong or even Lao, but oh did everyone love it. Another student of mine who lives across the street from me and just so happens to be Hmong walked by and spotted my roommate and I in our costumes. He was beaming when he saw us. Also, somehow word must have spread fast to all of our neighbors that we were dressed up because they began poking their heads in our doorway to take a glance at us and to gush on about how beautiful we looked.

Once at the festival my roommate and I gained even more celebrity status. I’m just waiting for the moment when my picture pops up on some random Facebook page with the caption “white girl in Hmong clothing”.  Our picture was snapped so many times I lost count. Some pictures were taking discreetly while others mustered up the courage to ask. I can’t really blame them though and it didn’t really bother me. It was just fun and we were definitely a sight to see. Besides I was snapping pictures of all the locals dressed in their outfits as well. I even got to talk to Hmong family who lived in California for a couple years after I asked if I could take a picture of their adorable daughter.

Happy Hmong New Year Everyone! Cheers to 2015!

December Snapshots

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I definitely did. The day started off opening gifts my family sent, drove downtown to borrow some WiFi for skyping my parents, went to say good-bye to my Lao teacher as she is off to India for a a few weeks, and then headed over to a friends house for Christmas brunch.

Between the carol sings and endless amounts of cookies the whole month of December felt like one long Christmas celebration actually.

Santa Claus delivered presents via motorbike

There was some makeshift Christmas tree decorating

early morning futbol games

Coconut carving and eating after school 

Gingerbread house making

Hmong new year celebrating

Christmas eve lunches with students

secret Santa gift giving (my secret Santa knows me well)

Facebook messages being sent. Including pictures of my "puppy" back home. (sorry, couldn't resist)

And french toast eating, hot chocolate drinking, and White Christmas watching.

Though I was sad that I was once again missing out on all my favorite traditions by not being home, I still had a really great Christmas. And not to sound cliche but I can't believe that 2014 is almost over. I remember saying last January that this is the year I leave for Laos, and now this January will mark 6 months since I left my home in Georgia. Crazy! isn't it?! Again hope everyone had as "Laosy" of a holiday as I did. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Laos! Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday. This Christmas has been surprisingly very Christmasy and I will share more about it later. For now please enjoy this clip from A Charlie Brown Christmas one of my all time favorites,