It’s been a wicked last 10 days, with temperatures soaring above 100 for what I was told has been an unusual stretch for Laos. In fact, this week the MOES (Ministry of Education and Sports) announced that schools without air-conditioning or fans would be allowed to close until temperatures started to dip into the 90’s. That’s expected to be next week. A majority of the country’s local schools, especially those in the countryside, are not holding classes. In the capital city, where conditions are better, schools are remaining open but most just have fans. International schools, naturally, with all the expats’ children attending, are good to go. Their outstanding facilities include swimming pools, excellent classroom equipment, fully serviced cafeterias, bus pick-ups and drop-offs, teachers’ private car parking lots, gymnasiums and all else that overseas’ folk expect, in fact demand, for their children’s education.
For the average Laos child, as well as a Laos public school teacher or principal, these luxuries are something achieved in dreams. I pass by so many of the Laos struggling little schools every day on my motorbike as I weave in and out of traffic. How grateful I am that my small Center, with all its upkeep problems and daily fix-it needs, does have working air-conditioners in every room. Sure, the machines struggle to keep going in this heat but our inside 75-degree temperature is certainly better than outside’s 108!
I heard Monday is to be rain, with a predicted 92. Maybe some relief? Let us hope so!
My Free Fridays: Teaching at the Local Primary School
Last week finished Grades 1 and 2 at the nearby primary school. Every Friday, with either staff member Santi or Khambang as my translator, I give a 1-hour English lesson to every grade. At first, this was to be for Grades 3-5 but the principal and I both felt that was rather unfair for Grades 1 and 2. Thus we scheduled them in last week before the month of May began. Here you can see the condition of the classroom but the energy and the enthusiasm of the students make up for the lack of equipment. We were really hot last Friday as very little breeze was blowing through the room and the ceiling fans had an electrical issue. Sure hope that got fixed this week!
A Challenging Time for Connie: Running the Center and Being The Only Teacher
Settling into my role as director has been such an inspiring and uplifting, yet stressful, experience. My weekly Monday meetings with staff Khamxay, Shanti, Khambang, Joan (bookkeeper, from the Philippines) and Afiju (teacher, from Sierra Leone) brings me such a feeling of accomplishment. We share our weekend happenings, our lists of get-things-done-for-the-week, address problems, reach solutions, volunteer for duties . . . When those meetings end at noon, we walk away knowing who is doing what as well as never feeling overwhelmed that our plates are too full. We feel free to turn to one another for help, which we do on a regular basis.
The new 3-month term for the Center’s fee-paying classes began last week with 7 new students. My Junior High and Elementary school children’s class picked up 4 students.
The adult classes picked up 3. While I take over the younger students, Afiju , from Sierra Leone, takes care of the adults. However, he will be completing in 3 weeks his semi-volunteer 2-year role as a Global Missions Fellow (GMF) . In June, Afiju is returning to his home country and I will be receiving another GMF to take over his position. The only problem is that person will not be arriving until August. As he will be new to Laos, and to teaching English, I don’t expect him to be able to take over duties immediately.
This leaves me being the only English teacher at the Center.
I will most likely be making some difficult choices: which classes can continue under my instruction, which ones will have to be postponed until the new term begins (September) and what ones can later be added with a young person who is not a professional teacher.
I have so many new, innovative and different kinds of classes to entice people to try us out. “Learn to write and illustrate a children’s book”, “English through Acting”, “Games and Activities: Workshops for the Laos English Teacher”, “Create and Present: A full Powerpoint Course for your Professional or Personal Needs,” “Parents and Kids: Learn English Together!”
These are courses for the future. While I might have to put them on hold for awhile, they are certainly on my top priority list. Let’s see how many I can get off the ground in a year.
Money Issues: Repairs made, Equipment purchased, Building Items Fixed but Income Waning
Then there are the issues of Center funding to keep us afloat.
At present, I have some very strong supporters in America who have graciously given to the Suntisouk Language and Vocational Center (SLVC) through what is known as Advance donations. With these donations, I’ve managed to accomplish a lot: Removal and trimming of rotted trees as well as roof cleaning ($130), rewiring and repair of all dangerous electrical wiring ($65), fixing my molded office ceiling and leak ($45), purchasing of finger-recognition check-in for staff, 2 office computers with Word licensing, a classroom projector, a whiteboard, 5 bulletin boards, office cell phone, filing cabinet and a printer (@$1,700) and necessary office supplies on a monthly basis (usually about $50). See the below slideshow of YOUR dollars at work here!
Then we have trash pick-up, drinking water delivery, and electricity and water bills to take care of.
Do I dare mention the monthly taxes which all businesses are required to pay along with yearly taxes as well? Last year, the taxes amounted to $2,100. How those were paid for with so few classes being offered last year, I have no idea.
More To Come!
As you can see, we are making great progress at the Center all due to continued monetary support and interest which so many of you have shown since I arrived. I’ve only been here since December 6 and already, there is a brighter mood, a more hopeful outlook and a whole lot of joyful laughter in the office.
Get this! The highlight for me was receiving a “nothing” USA packet which I sent myself as an experiment to see if it would get to me. Well, yesterday it arrived . . . . 5 months later.
Better late than never, right?
connie's space 