It was 2 a.m. last Saturday, early morning.

The downpour was horrendous! I waited anxiously for the knock at the door, the one from my neighbors telling me it was time to move from our ground floor homes to the empty apartments on the upstairs.

I’d never in my life experienced such a deafening torment of water, nor growing fear that perhaps my place of work, the Santisouk Language and Vocational Center, was flooding.

Warning had been Given

A week ago last Friday, all of Laos (including Vientiane) were fearful of the Mekong River overflowing its banks and flooding the entire city. And for good reason! Just look at the below picture of the Mekong River, to the very brink of overflowing its banks and inundating the city with water.

As advised by our book keeper Joan, before leaving our offices for the weekend, we began placing items of importance high up on cabinets: Printer, classroom projectors, computers, floor fans, extension cords all were shoved onto higher ground.

The preparation work took place on a very sunny Friday, not a cloud in the sky. How strange to know that heavy rains were coming along along with reports of the broken Chinese dam upriver. The dam waters were expected to reach us sometime that afternoon.

At 5 p.m., I hustled on my midnight blue Honda motorbike to the D-mart, my favorite shopping market downtown. I needed to stock up on food items in preparation of our perhaps future disaster. The check-out line was not quite as long as I had anticipated but people’s carts certainly were not a surprise: Overflowing.

While the Laos and most people, such as myself, were concerned mostly with feeding ourselves or our families, one foreigner was purchasing 5 sturdy shovels. One wonders if he was living in a low-lying area. I can understand maybe 1 or 2 but 5?!

My purchases I was able to balance in bags on my handbars and shove into my backpack on the way home. Zipping along, I came across numerous flood-prep sights.

My favorite street shop owner had hauled out empty bags, ready for sand-filling.

Laos soldiers had set up a sand-bag distribution center, located in a corner block where residents could come to receive free materials.

While an excellent gesture, the problem was that citizens had to bring their own trucks or transportation for such supplies. It was a thoughtful gesture but not sure how many came due to the difficulty in acquiring a truck or car. So many here have motorbikes. Taking one or two might be an option but not sure how much good it would do someone whose entire house was threatened.

Some businesses had already set up their barriers but I did wonder how much use it would be. Once the river overflowed its banks, there would be little hope of holding it back.

Arriving back home, I took a picture of the roadway leading to my apartment complex and wondered if this might be the last time I’d be able to drive on it.

The Sleepless Night

Once the 2 a.m. rain began, it just wouldn’t stop.

I quickly grabbed my phone and texted our Center’s caretaker, Suher. He lives at the Center, in one of the small classrooms which he has set up as a bedroom.

“Is everything OK?! I’m so worried!” I messaged.

I honestly didn’t expect a reply so early in the morning but I did get one, surprisingly enough.

“All is fine. Don’t worry,” Suher replied. “I will let you know if there is a problem.”

I next wondered if I’d find the road leading up to my apartment completely underwater. My apartment complex was closer to the river than the Center, and a tad lower in elevation as well. A brief lull, after over an hour, had me tentatively walking out to see what I might find.

The alley roadway was up to my ankles in water, which was quite disturbing.

Thank goodness my bike was safe, under the shelter with other two-wheeled vehicles. I’d have taken it inside at that moment but there was no way to get it up the entrance steps. It was too heavy for me so I just prayed it would be safe.

Yet another rain began close to 4 a.m. but not quite as brutal as the one that came before it.
Relief came when most of us woke up to a no-flood environment, our beloved vehicles still with us and ready to transport us around the city once again.

A Week Later

Here we are a week later, with most nights full of rain but days of sunshine and the Vientiane city flooding fear in the past, at least for now.

Classes, by the way,  have been outstanding as Shaloom and I settle into our second week.  Our primary school and junior high students had such fun with all the activities we planned.  After a full day of their own tedious school work, one would think they wouldn’t be too enthusiastic about more learning after school finishes. However, we try to make it a joyful experience, one that brings encouragement and laughter. I can’t all our classes are going to be as uplifting as those this past week but we’ll definitely do our best to make sure at least a majority of them hold their interest.

Another Class to Begin for October!

On a very exciting high note, I have another class to be added to my schedule beginning September 30.

The primary school beginner level opened for registration 3 days ago and I already have 5 enrolled. I will be teaching these youngsters while Shaloom takes over the older ones, mostly due to his entry into this position as a novice teacher. Teaching beginners takes skill and while I’m not as adept at elementary education as I am with older students, I’m getting there.

My 7 – 10 year olds will be starting with the alphabet in the Let’s Go Book 1 and continue onward at a fast clip, or so I hope.

The weekend is now upon us and I am so grateful today’s Friday is not full of the anxiety and concern of last Friday. While we’ve had constant rain all day today, the waters are not rising, thank goodness.

Now my only concern is praying the roof holds. We have 3 ceiling repairs of water damage which will take place tomorrow. I’ve already had numerous spots taken care of. Now more to go before classes begin on Monday. Ugh!

Here’s hoping your weekend is a joyful one. From Laos, this is Connie signing off.