There is a month gap in my blog! Due to lack of access to good internet and business I was not able to blog consistently. So...
LET ME CATCH YOU UP IN PICTURES.
July 31, 2014
SAIL Program Graduation
LET ME CATCH YOU UP IN PICTURES.
July 31, 2014
SAIL Program Graduation
After one month of learning Lao language, the SAIL program concluded with a graduation and baci ceremony. In Laos, a baci is a special ritual that is done in times of transitions (e.g. births, marriages, graduations, moving to a new house/place, coming back from travels, etc...). A baci is like the Hmong ritual of khi ntev (tying strings on hands). These white strings that are tied onto our wrists represent good fortunte and blessings. Our baci was very lovely. I was sad to part with the SAILers though.
Being a part of the SAIL (Study Abroad in Laos) program was a part of my Fulbright orientation. I am so grateful that I was a part of it because it allowed me to ease into Lao language and culture. I also met many great people through this program (Pierre, Oth, Phensy, and Denise love you much!).
Learning Lao was so awesome! I can't believe I can read it after a month! It amazed me how much Lao I already knew because the Hmong language borrows a lot of words from Lao. I shall share my list of these words late!
Teacher Training with Mr. Jones
August 4-August 20, 2014
Being a part of the SAIL (Study Abroad in Laos) program was a part of my Fulbright orientation. I am so grateful that I was a part of it because it allowed me to ease into Lao language and culture. I also met many great people through this program (Pierre, Oth, Phensy, and Denise love you much!).
Learning Lao was so awesome! I can't believe I can read it after a month! It amazed me how much Lao I already knew because the Hmong language borrows a lot of words from Lao. I shall share my list of these words late!
Teacher Training with Mr. Jones
August 4-August 20, 2014
After completing the SAIL program, my Fulbright colleagues and I started our teacher training. We spent two weeks learning from our wise trainer, Mr. Jones about teaching English as a foriegn language. One of the biggest take-aways for me was the importance of setting up the context when teaching English. So much context is embedded in language and that is what non-native speakers of English lack. If we can set up the context and help our students to understand how to use English words with the context, their chances of retaining the meaning and using the word correctly is higher.
I had so much fun learnig from Mr. Jones. We also had a couple of opportunities to do teacher demostrations (where we teach and get feedback). I'm happy to report that everyone did well.
Welcome to SVK!
August 20- Present
I had so much fun learnig from Mr. Jones. We also had a couple of opportunities to do teacher demostrations (where we teach and get feedback). I'm happy to report that everyone did well.
Welcome to SVK!
August 20- Present
After almost two months of wating, we left for Savannakhet. We were a bit nervous about getting on Lao Airlines (because of the previous incidents of plance crashes) and were so relieved when we landed. We immediately were taken to the University where we will be teaching for an official ceremony.
We were welcomed by the deans of the University. There was a fancy banner, tables with nice table clothes, fruit, and water bottles for the guests. Mike, Jess, and I all had a plac at the table. The ceremony began right away. First the Embassy made a speech then the president of the University made a speech followed by the dean and wa-la! We were done! We got to mingle and toast with the faculty. It was a very delightful meeting and we felt so LOVED by our faculty.
We were welcomed by the deans of the University. There was a fancy banner, tables with nice table clothes, fruit, and water bottles for the guests. Mike, Jess, and I all had a plac at the table. The ceremony began right away. First the Embassy made a speech then the president of the University made a speech followed by the dean and wa-la! We were done! We got to mingle and toast with the faculty. It was a very delightful meeting and we felt so LOVED by our faculty.
After the ceremony, the faculty took us on a mini-tour of SVK. We first visited the Dinosaur Musuem, a very famous tourist attraction here. SVK is known for dinosaurs because the actual bones were found in this province. We got to touch the bones of a T-Rex! It was pretty awesome. Then we went to Pha That Ing Ham, a stupa and heritage site in SVK. Then it was to the casino! Yes. Laos has a casino called Savan Vegas. It was so nice. I was amazed. No. I did not gamble but some of my peers did and they won some money. Aterwards we returned to our hotel and relaxed for a few days.
Now I am all settled in a house and will post about this in another post.
Now I am all settled in a house and will post about this in another post.