Last Days in Laos

Paul and On left Laos on April 12 and I followed on April 13, the first day of Pi Mai (the Lao New Year). This three day holiday is all about water, the kids and teens have water fights in the streets, while the adults go to the temples to get a water blessing.

Donkoi had a wonderful Buddhist monk blessing ceremony and then water blessing ceremony, I got soaked by many of the children dumping glasses of water on me! Then I left Vientiane, bading farewell to my home for the last 3 months and flew to Hanoi!

Phon's Mud House

On Sunday April 10, Xuyen took On, Paul and me out to Phon's farm to build a mud house. We stopped at Phon's old school to see the new dream toilet that Xuyen had used funding to build and see Sinsay's after school programs. The kids performed some skits and they also gave us a tour of the school. It was nice to see Sinsay again! There was a huge group of Lao students and former students who were helping building the house out of mud bricks and then covered with more mud! I was very excited to help out and it was to fun to be at the farm again!

On Monday Xuyen took Paul, On and me to Dongsavat school and they met Mr. Phonsay. He showed us the new outdoor stage. Also, the kids performed a dance that they were going to do for their Pi Mai celebration and thanked Paul and On for their gifts (pencils, paint and chalk). I said goodbye to Mr. Phonsay and the beautiful school.