Yes, folks, it’s been my birthday all day today!

I’m not one to mope about as a newcomer who doesn’t know many people. If you want to make your birthday special, you have to be proactive in doing so.

This past week has been my first teaching stint at the Center. I have taken over the elementary school children’s class, the fee-paying one, from Angie, the former director. She is moving into working with the women of Laos and had requested someone to take over the Center. That is me but I am not fully yet in this position as I’m still adjusting. 

Little by little, I’ll be doing more and more each week. I’m still waiting for my work visa to be fully processed (sure takes a long time!), I’m starting language classes next week and I really hope to go motorbike shopping soon. I enjoy walking to the Center every day, which is only 25 minutes, but journeys to church and across town are still not possible without assistance. (That would be Modester, riding me about on one of the Center’s motorbikes.)

My Evening Class: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Every night

My 4 elementary students have been so much fun! I have my brother and sister pair (Yoasakone, 13, and Lucky, 9), Inthonon (11) and Phou(9). Phou is at the highest level, having finished up to Book 4 but the others are still on Book 1. 

Needless to say, this makes Phou somewhat antsy and a handful. I have been keeping him busy by being the teacher’s helper or throwing in some new activities not in the book to challenge all 4. I think I’ve got it now. It’s been quite a few years since I taught the kids but I’m finding it’s like motorbike riding: It all comes back to you fairly quickly.

Serendipity!

It’s hard to believe but today’s lesson was entitled ” Happy Birthday!”

In order to make it special, for both myself and my four young learners, I had us first go through the basic birthday conversation in the workbook and then I invited the students make me birthday cards. After all, it really was my birthday. What’s a birthday without cards?

Next was to line up outside the door and greet me using their newly learned birthday dialogue, including handing me their birthday card.

Not only are cards a must, but what about birthday presents?

We had a finale of circle singing to me in English, “Happy Birthday to you”, before my gift to each student: a small gift bag with candy, pencil, pencil sharpener, eraser, chocolate wafer bar and an individually wrapped cake, a Laos Little Debbie is what I call them. There are so many varieties and flavors to choose from in the local mom-and-pop shops but I chose the custard one. 

As you can see, we really had a very unique and special class together.  When everyone goes home overly happy , including the teacher, you know the lesson was a successful one.  This was one of my best!

Other Birthday Greetings

Modester, the Center’s Global Mission Fellow (GMF) and my amazing colleague, was the first to wish me a happy birthday with an early morning text.  The Center’s staff sang “Happy Birthday” to me in English and Laos.  I also made sure to share numerous Little Debbie Laos snack cakes with them and that also included the apartment attendants here.  Their pay is so low, as I mentioned before.  They needed something to make them feel special.

 In this country, I’m finding snacks and small treats given to everyone for special occasions, or even not for special occasions, are greatly appreciated and often times somewhat expected.   It brought me great joy knowing that my 59th  birthday was the cause of such appreciation as I learn to live in this beautiful country among such lovely people.

I still have 4 more hours to go before midnight, the official end of January 12.  Thus let me close off for now and savor the rest of  this treasured day, my first birthday celebration in Laos.