Be kind . . .

Ophelia · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:26 am Post subject:

Hello Ralph,

What you write is very interesting, I would have thought there would have been little interest about foreign books in rural Laos but it's nice to be given a broader picture.

What about teaching English then?
Do you teach in schools, and who employs you?
Would adults in the context that you describe be interested in learning English?

ralphinlaos · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:24 am Post subject:

Hi Ophelia - nices to hear from you again.

I've taught all over Laos - North to South. It's very easy to get a job teaching English - everyone wants to learn. I'm always getting offers to go some place else (and maybe even make some money!), but I stay here in this small town where I know everyone and can teach when and where I want. You'll never make a lot of money here but, fortunately, that is not a problem for me.

And all ages show up - from the very young to the old. Most of my classes consist of young people - teens to mid twenties - but I get lots of older folks, too - they're my favorites. I remember, while teaching in Vientiane, I had one old man who bicycled miles from outside Vientiane every night - five nights a week - to my class. He had a family and very little money, but he always showed up and participated in the class - that's my kid of student!

Someday I'm going to build my own school way out in the country; they'll come from far and wide (that's my ego kicking in, but it's true - I'm a good teacher).

And modest, too!

Ralph

Ophelia · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:21 pm Post subject:

ralphinlaos · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:47 am Post subject:

Hi Ophelia -

Teachers are scarce here - and good teachers are really a rarity (but I think that applies most everywhere, doesn't it)?

But an even bigger problem here are the schools and school supplies - desks, chairs, blackboards, paper - and especially books - the state invests very little in education, consequently, neither does most families.

I believe that most people who study English do it out of curiosity or just to have something to do. Some (few) study because they know that English is the language to learn if they really want to succeed. I was on a bus recently when a young man sat down next to me; he said that he works in a bank and that the government has decreed that all people working in banks must speak English - this to be achieved within a two year period.

One of my friends (a Lao native) is an English teacher and I cannot understand a thing he says - he simply teaches from a book, cannot speak the language at all.

When I teach, I teach reading, speaking and writing, as well as spelling, geography and history (Asian history mixed with a little European). It's disheartening to see how few students know who their president is or what Buddha's name was or how many provinces in Laos - and I am constantly getting "Is London in California or Texas?" or "What is the capital of Europe?" or (pointing to the map on the wall) "I can't find Ceylon."

Well, that's why we teach, isn't it?

Ralph

Ophelia · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:05 am Post subject:

When I started my teaching year in California I saw that the curriculum said I should teach where French was spoken outside Europe. I knew very little about this, but I told them what there was to know.

From my point of view I thought it was more important to get them to look at a map of Europe and explain what had been happening-- this was a few months before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
I talked about Eastern European Countries, about East and West Germany, and the EU, and I had put a line on the map between East and West.

At the end of my presentation a thirteen-year-old said: "So, right of the line, everything belongs to Russia, and left of the line, everything belongs to the United States!"

The other students must have seen the dismay on my face, and they laughed at him and at the situation.
I explained things to him again, all the while thinking-- he's ignorant, but who knows, he may be right, perhaps "belongs to the US" sums it up!

Penelope · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:10 am Post subject:

Ralph, I used to send crayons and pens, pencils and books to my people in Laos. They used to call me Aunty Penny.

Unfortunately, one time I was told about some of the children suffering from Malaria and not being allowed any medication. Along with some of the older ones with aches and pains and no medicine. So I went around my office where I worked then and everyone donated some pills or medication, like Neurofen etc.....I put them in with the crayons and books but the authorities took all the medication out, must have X-rayed the parcel. My kids got the books and crayons though...but they could tell that the parcel had been tampered with. Anyway, our local post office thought it was very funny......labelled me the local drug-dealer!!!! Our post master had sent me back once because to alter the certificate of posting on the parcel because I had stated that it contained medication. I had changed that to just stationery........I often wondered what would have happened if I had left the original 'honest' declaration.

Keep writing your posts, it is amazing to hear from you.

ralphinlaos · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:44 am Post subject:

Hi everyone -

I loved your map story, Ophelia. I am a great believer in maps and always have some stuck on the walls of my classrooms (the world, asia, Laos). I want for everyone to see just exactly where they are in relation to everyone else in the world. Many of my students have parents or relatives who have emigrated to America or Europe (especially France - the Laos/French connection goes back a long way - the older people here do not speak English but many speak French). And we in Laos will be forever indebted to the French for croissants and the wonderful French bread (I have some in the freezer right now, from a recent trip to Vientiane). So it's great to be able to show them where their parents are in California or Texas, or where their brother and sister are living in Paris. Fortunaterly. the National Geographic Society has a nice little map store in Vientiane - not too expensive either. When I get my own school, I'm going to invest in one of those big globes like they have in some libraries - on a wooden stand!

In the 70's, I taught English to Chinese Naval officers in Taipei, Taiwan. These were officers - young and old - who were on their way to study in the US but had to have a basic English language skill before they left. Anyway, one day we had a pretty dry discussion about the formation of the League of Nations/United Nations and when our time was nearly up, I asked if their were any questions. An officer raised his hand and I said, "Yes?" His question: "How much money does Elizabeth Taylor make for a movie?" That's what they really wanted to know!

Penelope - nice to hear from you again.

I've had similar experiences with post-offices here in Laos. In Vientiane, they opened all packages from anywhere - and charged me a small amount of kip (local currency) to receive them. Here in Thakhek, they just give them to me without opening - but still charge a small "receiving" fee.

My niece in Upper Michigan was ill, so I decided to send her some herbal remedies from Laos. Well, the herbs (barks and twigs and leaves) cost me only US$3; it cost me US$40 to send the box. And I mistakenly put "medicines" on the contents listing, so the package was opened by customs in the US and it took weeks for my niece to receive it. Another box labeled "clothing" reached her in five days (but it still cost far too much to mail). And their is no such thing as a special "book fee" here as there is in many parts of the world.

I've given many of my friends vitamins or simple medicines such as Tylenol or cough medicine. They always appreciate it, but I think they just take it home, put it on a shelf for display purposes, and go back to their weeds and herbs (which are probably more effective, anyway). And try and explain the difference between aspirin and vitamins - difficult!

Aunty Penny - that's lovely. How and through whom did you get a "Laos connection?" Did you send things to individuals, schools, embassies = how?

Malaria, as you probably know, is still a problem here. All too often, I ask of a sick little boy or girl, "What's the matter with him/her?" "Mosquito bit him." I always warn the kids to stay away from open pools of water or any places where mosquitos are plentiful - but you know kids, the very thing that harms them also attracts them. We have a malaria control center near my house here in Thakhek. I don't think the malaria problem is as huge as the drug problem, but malaria affects the innocents; not so with the drugs.

Well, that's enough of my long-windedness for today. Stay happy and healthy everyone.

Ralph

Penelope · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:08 pm Post subject:

Ralph - I was a member of our local branch of Amnesty International and we were allocated our prisoner in Laos. He was in a jungle prison in Laos with his wife and six children. He sent me their photograph once. He was member of the Hmong tribe from the mountains. I think it was Hmong. Anyway they used to celebrate their New Year by killing a piglet and roasting it. I was made an honorary member of the Hmong tribe, from whence Gengis Khan came, so I was informed.

In that prison was Patrick, who spoke fluently, seven languages, so when we wrote to Tong (our prisoner) Patrick would translate and write the letters back to me on behalf of Tong. Patrick, was Governor of Vientien Province when the Communists took power and sent him to prison. His family were in Paris....but he had lost touch with them completely.

Tong was a taciturn man but lovely. Patrick was a real character and used to write poetry and make up Jokes!!! He wrote a poem for my daughter's wedding in 1992. It was read out at the reception and everyone was quite bemused.

Anyway, they set up a school between them for the children in the prison and that as how I came to send them pencils and exercise books etc. I just used to post them and they always got there. I used to send warm clothing for the children because it used to get very cold in the winter. Tong, being from the mountains was used to the cold but found it hard to cope with the Jungle temperatures.

I would be happy to send pencils and stuff for your school if you think it would help. If I just send a box or two of pencils and some books at once, I don't find the postage too expensive. I could send a parcel every few weeks - and put a John Grisham or two in for you if you like.

ralphinlaos · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:57 am Post subject:

Penelope, you are very generous; thank you so much for offering to help. Right now, we are o.k. with everything. In Laos, as in many places in the world, if something is free it is thought to be inferior to something which costs actual money. So, I have to charge each of my students a pittance or they won't attend regularly and their parents will send them somewhere else where they do pay a fee. So, my students all (I have about 45 right now) pay 30,000 kip per month (that's about US$3). Then I have enought to buy pencils and tablets and chalk and an occasional book or map - so the only additional expense to the student is for his study book, which he can go and purchase in the local market. Occasionally, I get someonw who can't pay the $3, so I let them come and study anyway - and I can always use someone to clean the toilets or the classroom. So, right now we have what we need

But, when I get my own school, I'll sure let you know. I'm pretty careful about what I teach here and try to keep my "everyone should be free to pursue his or her dreams" to myself as much as possible. So we can talk all we want about reading and spelling and writing and geography and some history - but I seldom venture into politics or religion unless it's on a one-to-one basis with someone I know. And math; they teach it much differently than we in the west, so I don't get into math at all.

The medicine I bought and sent my niece was from the Hmong tribe - they are the medicine-men of Laos; lots of them here and around Thakhek. I went to a new restaurant lately and the young waiter said that his name was Jahng (phonetically!) and one of my Laos friends said he was Hmong - that his was an Hmong name. I asked the waiter and he said that he was, indeed, Hmong - how did I know that?

That's the first time I've heard of a Hmong/Genghis Khan connection; I'll have to check that out.

I forget - are you now working in a bookstore? I think you said you had access to lots of books, didn't you?

Someone said that there is a place on the internet where they have free books. Wouldn't that be wonderful? I can always afford postage; it's really a question of finding the books themselves.

Thanks again, Penelope.

Have you ever seen "Chinese School" on BBC World? It's a terrific series - I don't know how old it is - and if you get a chance, take a look. One look and you'll be hooked.

Ralph

Penelope · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:43 am Post subject:

I can understand your students wishing to pay something for their education. Many Oriental people have this aversion to feeling obligated don't they? In fact, it is an admirable trait in some ways.

I used to have my own antiquarian book business....not terribly successful financially, but a lovely way of life. A couple of years ago, I sold all my stock to a fellow-bookdealer and he employs me two days a week at his great big barn of a store. It is wonderful and we have a stock of over 100,000 titles. You can find us and most other bookdealers in the world on abebooks.com. Our store is called Cheshire Book Centre.

Chris will be telling me off for advertising if I'm not careful! Laughing

I also describe books (on my home computer), onto a database for uploading onto the Internet for my boss, which is why I often take a coffee-break, and look in here on Booktalk. It is the best water-cooler conversation ever!!!!

Looking forward to your next post.....it is so interesting to hear from you.


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