Back in Vientiane, Term 1 has been chugging along like a refurbished tuk-tuk; it’s moving faster than usual, more smoothly than before, but is still not immune to the occasional pothole that rattles its newly painted frame. While I don’t plan to recap this term’s entire professional development experience, one focus of our recent workshop was questioning our assumptions. We thought about our assumptions in the classroom–the things that seem obvious and self-evident–and how we could examine them, try to see them from the opposite perspective, and think more critically about why we do the things that we take for granted and whether or not they have the effect we intend. As a teacher, especially one communicating across language and culture barriers, I find myself constantly wondering how others see me and asking: how does what is lost–in translation, in cultural context, in the simple complexity of communicating between two people–change what I am trying to say? While grappling with this idea in the classroom, I’ve found my thoughts comparing this to what I do day to day. Now that I am comfortable and well-established here it’s the perfect time for me to question my assumptions in daily life. What do I think I know about living here…and how can I examine it from an entirely different perspective? I’ve been trying to approach this familiar place with fresh eyes. Though I may not have any revelations as a result, it’s keeping life interesting.
An unusual weekend sunset, as seen from my porch.
Often I don’t need to try to make things interesting though. Last week, for example, we had our first fire drill at school to test a new alarm system. The alarm rang–this was familiar from all of my years of schooling. Students and staff filed outside. Again, business as usual. As it was our first test, police/fire “experts” were at hand to monitor and provide a “fire safety demonstration.” This is where things got interesting. The police took out a compressed gas canister and opened the valve, to create a fiery plume. Then another officer poured out a line of gasoline and lit it on fire as well. Holding up an extinguisher, the officers asked from student and staff volunteers from the audience to attempt to put out the now blazing parking lot. Applause broke out when the flames subsided, and the officers promptly lit another fire and looked for another volunteer. This continued for 30 minutes, until the entire gas can had been used up and the parking lot was filled with the haze of low-hanging gases.
An intense moment during the Vientiane 10s tournament.
When not contemplating the efficacy of my teaching or learning which of my coworkers is most efficient with a fire extinguisher, I’ve gotten increasingly involved with the Lao Rugby team lately. I’ve been volunteering intermittently for the team, mostly doing photography, but dabbling in facepainting, all year. Since January, I have rarely missed a big team event. It’s a win-win–I love any excuse to take photos, and if I get to do it while also practicing Lao, spending time with some of my favorite people in VTE, helping out an organization that’s doing great work in the community, and watching some awesome rugby…well it’s been a great time. The guys are training and fundraising to go to the Hong Kong Sevens in March (if anyone wants to sponsor a player, check it out…I took the headshots), and I’ve done a few promotional photoshoots for the team. More fun, though have been the games: Laos hosted the Vientiane International Tens at the beginning of the month, and a few weekends ago I joined the team in Bangkok, where they competed (and placed) in the Bangkok Sevens Tournament.
Lao Nagas–men’s national team traveling to Hong Kong.
The slow descent into the end of term has already begun, with only three weeks left, and there are numerous adventures to look forward to in the month ahead, including some more travel on the horizon, and visits from some dear friends from abroad.