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28/5/06 Settling in to Laos |
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 Adjusting to a new country and culture is always quite a challenge, but I think I must be getting used to it, because so far I think I’ve made a fairly smooth transition. Maybe I’m about to be rudely awakened, or perhaps my intense focus on finishing off my thesis before leaving Australia left no time to build false preconceptions and hopes.
As an aside, I write this from Krabi, where I’m attending an ADRA workshop. I also knew little about Krabi or the region before coming here, and didn’t have the time to do any homework about the place before coming. While I wouldn’t recommend unplanned travelling, my lack of preconceived expectations has been beneficial in that I’ve been much more relaxed about what to do in my free time, because I don’t have a list of places that I must see etc (which would be my normal approach – those of you who know me well will know what I mean!). Anything I do get to see or do is a bonus compared to my zero expectations; and this place really is quite beautiful and fascinating.
Anyway, the lack of preparation for shifting country to Laos didn’t prevent me from finding a new place to live within just a few hours of arriving in the country. (Others have taken weeks or months.) I have to say, though, that I benefited from the homework that others did in that they knew what was available and knew what was a good deal. And with no preconceived idea of what I wanted, it was easy for me to objectively agree that the house (apartment) I got was indeed a good deal, and good for me specifically. It’s a newish place, with modern furnishings throughout, except the kitchen is fairly basic. But basic kitchens are the norm in Laos, even in expatriate homes. Photos of my place show that my living conditions have probably, if anything, improved since leaving Sydney. It’s a two bedroom place, fully furnished. It’s big enough to take multiple visitors!
The language here is similar to Thai, and ideally I’ll learn enough to get myself around. I’ve already learnt a few basic words and phrases. Lao is a tonal language and that makes for quite frustrating yet amusing foibles in communication, as slight tonal variations of the ‘same word’ (at least to my ears) mean quite different things! Anyway, I’ve learnt how to order vegetarian fried rice – and even managed to order vegetarian noodles instead from a small local Lao restaurant that couldn’t serve rice on that night. A group of Lao men were eating and drinking together with the chef/owner, and quite happily had me join them and try to talk with them. At the end they refused to let me pay for my meal! I think they might have regretted that when I showed them where I lived: right next door!
The culture is also quite similar to Thai – and I’m slowly learning about appropriate sitting positions, greeting procedures, how not to cross/place feet/legs, etc, etc. But the staff at the office are quite patient and understanding, so I don’t think I’ve made any drastic mistakes yet!
I’m yet to decide what I’ll do for transport here. Vientiane is quite small as far as Asian cities go, and it’s possible to get many places on foot. Although I do have a few other options: buy a car, motorbike and/or bicycle; take tuk tuks or other public/local transport; or pay per km to use the office van and/or motorcycles. I’ve already tried riding one of the little office scooters around town, but didn’t fare so well! I started out a little shakily, but then became a little over-confident and had the front wheel slide out from under me going around a corner in the wet!
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