Khawp Jai Lai Lai

Our time here in Laung Prabang has been amazing!! We've met incredible people who have been so generous and encouraging.  Over the weeked Megan and I joined seven locals and Ryan who's been hosting us for the last week.  We were invited to come along with Lanoy the Lao country representative for Pencils of Promise a NGO based out of the United States which focuses its work on helping local communities build schools in Laos. They do an incerdible job working with the community and creating more than just the four walls. Lanoy is one of the most selfless people you would ever meet.  When she was asked to be the country representative, she said that she couldn't do it unless she could still give her grandmother a bath every day.  She loves hip hop, is extremely passionate about her work and might be the most adorable woman ever!!

We met on Friday afternoon got some sticky rice and chicken on a stick and piled into a van. Ryan played some hip hop and got everyone dancing in the car all the way to Na Mai, a three hour drive. We made several stops and Lanoy organized everything, purchasing snacks to hand out to the kids as her friends got an ample amount of Beer Lao for the trip (Lao people love their beer).  Megan and I bought a bunch of tooth brushes and Ryan got several boxes of colored pencils to hand out to the kids as well.  The drive was spectacular.  Northen Laos is an amazing landscape made up of limestone cliffs rising out of the rice fields.

Our first destination was a new building site for a school.  We got there a bit early and waited to meet the Naibon (Chief) and for the truck which was full of sand, rebar and cement for the project.  After that we  headed for Nong Khiaw a town cradled between massive cliffs.  We ate dinner then moved to a fire to sing and drink. We could only scrounge up three glasses between the 10 of us, but it didn't matter.  We drank the beer "Lao style" pouring the warm beer over ice, never for yourself always passing it to someone else. They passed the glass our way again and again saying "Ai Tohn" or "Euay Niim" our Lao given names meaning brother tree and sister smile.  We accepted each time with the phrase khawp jai lai lai (thank you very much) even as the watered down beer overfilled our stomachs.  This was our night, sitting under the stars seranaided by Lao folk songs and eating grilled fish over a cozy fire.  These are the momements that we look at each other and say "what the heck".

The next morning we woke to a misty fog which blanketed the surrounding mountains.  We gathered together and started our journey to Paiyoung another 2 hours into the mountains.  We crossed through a river and over 20 sketchy log bridges, but it was worth every jaring bump to arrive at the beautiful village greeted by smiling people.

The kids started to run out from the small houses to say hello and gathered around the van to see their reflection on the side of the car.  They laughed and pointed at each others reflections as we ate a late breakfast prepared by some of the villagers.  Afterwards Lanoy gathered the kids together and we handed out the colored pencils, clothes, snacks and toothbrushes.  The pictures speak louder then our words could possibly describe...

We spent the afternoon playing with some of the kids and just as we were about to leave one of the elders pulled out a big bottle of homemade Lao Lao (spiced whiskey). We knew there was no way to avoid the offer respectfully so we just smiled and once again said khawp jai lai lai.  It tasted surprisingly good, but not so much that we were excited to find out the custom is to always have two shots.

Our last stop was at the Educational Administrative office for the county, where Lanoy did some final paper work.  After the business was taken care of the director invited us to the school for a game of Lao bocce ball with some food and drinks (more warm Beer Lao over ice). There was a basketball court at the school so Ryan and Tad played a quick match with Lanoy and Sanoy. Oh by the way, Lanoy is the Laos MVP for womens basketball so they were ahead most of the game, until Ryan and Tad took full advantage of their height at the board.  After a few hours we all jumped back into the van for the final drive back home.  We've started to feel like we can call Luang Prabang a "home" which has been such an amazing feeling.

We felt incredibly honored to be able to join such a great group and witness the work they do. It has inspired us in many ways and pulled our hearts towards this place. Here are a few more photos that we can't resist but to share with you...

Primary school built by Pencils of Promise