Cultural Exchange in Laos

In Laos, we had several opportunities to immerse ourselves in local culture. The first was in Luang Prabang with our home meal. G Adventures had arranged for us to be able to eat dinner at someone’s home, tasting traditional foods and observing local customs. Upon entering any home in Laos, it is important to remove your shoes first. This is because Lao people eat on the floor, so removing shoes helps to keep the floor clean. So we removed our shoes at the door, then entered the home to see three older women sitting in a circle on the floor, greeting us with smiling faces. We sat on cushions on the floor in a circle around these women. Then they conducted the blessings. They first touched a small table in the middle of their circle, and we were directed to also touch the table if we could reach, or if not, we could touch their shoulders. They gave some blessing over the food, then each of the women moved around the circle to give blessings to each person in our group. We put out our hands, palms up, and the women took pieces of cotton yarn, rubbed the yarn on our wrists, and then tied the yarn around our wrists while blessing us for good luck, safe travels, and a long life. At the end of the blessings, we each had three pieces of yarn on each wrist. It is the custom to bless guests who enter your home for the first time, or on special occasions.

Next, the women left (it was past their bedtime) and Pilar, the woman of the house, greeted us. She had spent all day preparing our delicious meal, from a trip to the market in the morning to an afternoon in the kitchen cooking the food. We formed two circles on the floor, and her sons carried out two low tables covered with all sorts of food–Luang Prabang salad, chicken curry, fried eggplant, fried seaweed, and more! She also provided us with baskets of sticky rice. It was a little tricky to get used to eating with my plate on my lap, but I managed! We ate as much as we could, and then she brought out dessert–rice pudding with mango! All of the food was very delicious, and she was very kind to welcome us into her home.

Continuing in Luang Prabang, as a group of teachers, we are always looking for ways to promote education and help children wherever we go. We had learned about an organization called Big Brother Mouse that has the goal of promoting literacy among children in Laos. They create books that use both Lao and English text, and also include engaging illustrations. We stopped by their shop to purchase books to donate to the school at our homestay village, but we also had the chance to sit and talk with some high school and college-age students who come to Big Brother Mouse to practice their conversational English with native speakers. I talked with a 22 year old who is temporarily living in Luang Prabang while he is in university. The English sessions not only benefit the students, but also the native English speakers. We had the chance to ask questions about life in Laos so we were able to hear another perspective about different customs of the various cultures in Laos.

Next came our homestay in a Hmong village outside of Vang Vieng. We all stayed in pairs in different houses with various families. Our host mom was Mama Anna. Even though she does not speak much English, we were able to communicate with her through pictures, body language, and very simple English. She has five grandchildren, and we met three of them, who enjoyed taking pictures and videos on our phones. It was interesting to see the inside of a Hmong house. It was very simple, but had everything you need. It did have a bathroom inside the house with a shower head, and the toilet was flushed by scooping water from a bucket into the toilet bowl. There were a few couches in the living room, but not a lot of excess decoration. In the front of house was a store.

For dinner, we all gathered at the first house, which was also the community center. We were served a delicious meal of chicken soup, rice, chicken laab, chicken curry, and French fries. Then after dinner, the children of the community led us to the side yard where they performed a traditional dance. When they had finished, they each approached us and bowed to us, inviting us to dance with them. One dance they performed for us was a very rhythmic dance. Several children lined up facing each other on the ground holding bamboo sticks horizontal to the ground. They started creating a rhythm with the sticks, then children took turns hopping through the sticks. It was quite impressive!

The next morning, our host mother blessed us with bracelets similar to friendship bracelets. After breakfast, we met with four teachers from the local primary school. One was an English teacher, and although she did not start to learn English until college, she spoke very well. We learned that the children go to school five days a week, from 8-5, with an hour and a half break for lunch, which they have at home. The students study English two days per week in primary school, and also study Lao, math, and cultural studies. The teachers said that the biggest challenges they face are a lack of transportation, and the fact that many parents are unable to help their children at home. We donated our books that we purchased at Big Brother Mouse, and the teachers were very appreciative.

Later, a few of us took the opportunity to cycle out to the home of our Lao guide, Seng. His house was similar to the house we had stayed in, except even more simple. He did not have couches in his home, and his bathroom was out in the back. The kitchen was also detached from the house, and his family could eat in the kitchen or in the living room, depending on the heat. He lives in the house with his wife and two children, as well as his parents and siblings. It is customary in Hmong culture that families stay together in the man’s house. So after marriage, the bride will move in with the groom’s family. His family was very hospitable. His wife made us a special snack, and his brother helped welcome us as well. It was also interesting because Seng’s father is a shaman, so he had his supplies set up in the house.

Laos is a very beautiful country, and the people are very friendly. Tourism is starting to pick up, so this is a good time to go in order to see Laos to experience the traditional cultures before it changes too much.