Laos
Houaphanh Province
June 2010 • Visited Houaphanh back in March and promised Make that I'd return to volunteer at his ESL school in Vieng Xai for a month. Enrollment doubled and the students often showed up 2 hours early for class, but unfortunately some of the town's old-timers weren't as enthusiastic about an extended stay. Midway through, the police decided I hadn't been properly authorized, even though I'd registered with them and made a "donation" to the village chief when I first arrived. Stuck around for a student certificate ceremony and was toasted by the village chief, district vice-governor, and the same police official who cut my teaching gig short. I love Houaphanh, but it'll take longer than a month to really understand it.
