This is Mr. Bouleun, an English teacher at Nonesaath Secondary School who lives and works about 25 minutes outside of Vientiane by car, in front of his house. It is a small village and still quite rural. I stayed with Mr. Bouleun. He built his house and works part time at a private language school and regularly sings at parties and ceremonies-apparently he has a golden voice, I didn't get to witness it this time. The homestay-volunteer program was organized by Teachers Helping Teachers (an organization in which I volunteered previously for in Dhaka, Bangladesh and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The house has running water and electricity-he even has satellite TV.
Mr. Bouleuns neighbors are adding rooms to one of the thier houses. Two brothers and their extended famillies live on the plot next to Mr. Bouleun.
This neighbor is making a traditional skirt with a loom.
The families also grow rice (and raise cattle, chickens, etc.) and this is where they store it.
Here's the table set up for the feast they prepared for me with fish larb, morning glory, fish soup, papaya salad (not pictured but brought out later), and leafy vegetables.
Here are some of the neighbors, one, Som (not pictured) was from the neighborhood as well and was a third year student at college studying English. They gave me some lao whisky-it was like drinking low grad moonshine-it must have been more than 100 proof-rocket fuel luckily I only had to take three shots. After all, I had to do my seminar the next day.
This is the water pump that Mr. Bouleun uses. Also note neighbor's cattle grazing in the yard and sometimes his yard as well.
Hi Pat,thanks for the pictures.They're great.
Posted by: Kevin | February 24, 2011 at 02:17 PM