I certainly do enjoy my Fridays here in Laos but today has been somewhat challenging.

First was my early 5:30 a.m. rise to get in my pool swim. This is my meditation time and think-through-the-day planning. It’s also a preparation reminder to “leave it to God” when it comes to unexpected surprises.

My days can be full of off-kilter events: The classroom ceiling panels suddenly coming down due to our incessant rain (it’s the rainy season now); a new student suddenly arriving and needing hand-outs, books, name card, instructions about the class; signing requests for staff absences, giving signatures for bank deposits, withdrawals, petty cash; misplacing my keys or cell phone or textbook or numerous other items as my head is full of too many things;

Today’s water musings were going over my lesson plan for Grades 4 and 3 at the primary school, also hurrying up my strokes so as not to be late. I still had shower, hair drying, make-up and motoring to the Center to figure into my morning schedule.

Then we have my open house for the staff, which I’ve planned for over two months. I fretted and fussed over having enough snacks, making sure the hot water dispenser was on before I left, and carefully surveying the outside patio and inside sitting room for any messes.

I had already prepped the night before, as you can see below.

The highlight of our time together would be writing blessings and housewarming wishes to post. I wrote my own to welcome all. When I did this in China, I invited all students by class during a 2-week period and had them write “good wishes” cards for my new apartment home. Would you believe I kept them?! Or rather, the best ones. That was 15 years ago, when my campus moved locations. (I hope they are safely tucked away in one of those boxes soon to arrive with the shipping company).

Well-planned, Well-prepared . . . Until Not

Remember I mentioned those unexpected “leave it to God” meditation moments?

After quickly exiting the pool, I managed to get myself ready for teaching with that last overview of my home before . . . the electricity went out. Not only that, but the water as well.

At 8 a.m., that is a tell-tale sign that this might be an all-day occurrence. I’ve been reading about the city having districts shut down utilities with either repairs or rationing.

On Wednesday, my party shopping in the D-Mart was interrupted by an outage. The staff followed around the few of us that were there with cellphone flashlights. After about 15 minutes, with no hope of lights coming back on, we were hustled to check-out. Fortunately, I could get my open house items as the store’s generator kept the registers on.

Maybe that should have been a warning that Friday might have some difficulties.

Primary School Teaching: Grade 4, great! Grade 3, a choatic mess

I was expecting Grades 4 and 3 to be as well-behaved as our past sessions together. Grade 4 was very impressive, mostly due to their teacher. Would you believe she and I are the same age? Not only that, but we have been teaching the same number of years, since we graduated from college in 1988.

Such a well-behaved class.  

Grade 3, however, was a different story.

They were left on their own with no teacher for the day, it seemed.

This is currently the 2-month summer school holiday but I was told those parents that wish to keep their children in school can pay a certain amount of money to do so.  Teachers are required to teach, then, not just during the school year but during vacation as well.   Summer sessions are not quite as structured as the school year ones but the kids do have to behave themselves, which they do until no one is supervising them.

Suher, my translator, and I had quite  a time keeping the boys from racing around the room and making obscene gestures to one another while I was leading them in the new song.  In the end, those last 15 minutes were pretty much a useless venture except for the girls.  They were sweet and followed instructions perfectly.

Do you want to know the kid that caused us the most grief? He’s that little one in the green T-shirt, in the front row. Smallest kid in the class but with the BIGGEST behavioral problem. He was also speaking English like a pro, obviously having studied at someone’s language center in the city.

His stunning English ability certainly matched his smart-ass spirit, I will say that.

Repairs Taking Place at the Center

As always, the Center continues to give me more unexpected headaches.

The newest one has been the ceiling coming down in the one classroom which I use on a regular basis. At first, it was a slight crack but then the paneling started slipping more and more. A huge gap began and it was just a matter of time before it would come crashing down.

Khamxay’s brother-in-law is my fix-it man. He dealt with my office ceiling and promised he’d come to take care of the classroom but it had been over a week.

I booked him for today, having given money for materials and labor. What a relief to find that, upon my return from teaching at 11:15, Khamxay’s brother-in-law (along with Khamxay’s brother as assistant) was working diligently in taking care of this.

Not only that but the leaking roof had created a molding circular spot which I knew would only get worse. The two next got busy on roof patching and mold repair.

The total for labor and materials came to $80 USD.

Grateful to Have Money for Upkeep and Center Needs

For any of you who have donated to the Center for my funding asks, thank you for your generous help in getting all these unexpected happenings taken care of.

As you know, Suher is now the caretaker of the Center and is receiving a monthly salary, with your help, of $70 a month. He is also accompanying me as translator for my primary school visits.

Your gifts continue to be such a relief for all these unexpected Laos events.

Closing Off

As I close off, it is almost 3 p.m., time for me to lead the staff to my home. We’ll have a parade of motorcycles along the streets and entering into the apartment complex.

Will the electricity be back on? Will the water?

I’ve already warned everyone that we might be sitting in the dark, sweating away with no air-conditioner, or roasting on the outside patio. Also, as for the restroom, best to go at the Center before leaving for my place.

Despite the “best laid plans of mice and men,” I have no doubt we’ll have a great time together, with stories to share. Pictures will follow!!

Connie in Laos