Finishing my Internship

December 22 was the last day for me at my internship program at the Ministry of Finance. At the time, I had two conflicts in my mind. First, I wanted to work there longer, and the second I wanted say goodbye.

In the morning, there was not anything special, I had just done the same tasks as I do every day, such as copying, sending e-mail, and receiving phone calls. But at 4 p.m, the head of the division where I interned gave me 50,000 kip to buy some oranges and apples for our farewell ceremony.

I went outside to buy them and returned to the office. At that time, other officers were helping to organize a table for food and drinks. After we finished managing the food table, I invited other employees to have dinner together.

Before we start eating, the deputy head of the external finance department gave us a speech and we reported our internship to them and expressed our sincere thanks to all of them. Next, we took some photos for a good memory and eventually we started to have dinner.

Though I want to continue to work there, but reality is I cannot because I don’t have any relatives who work in the Lao government. So, the best place to work for me is with NGOs.

After finishing dinner at 6 p.m., we said goodbye to each other, and I went to school. Although, the internship program is already finished, my final report to school is not finished. Moreover, the biggest thing that I have to do is to study more and more in order to pass the EIP exam or Tofel Test, which the last requirement for being a student at the Lao-American College.

The street to my destination has not stopped; there many things waiting me to do for tomorrow and in the future, good or bad. Theses are the points that I have to face and fight against. The way is long to make my dream come true.

10:53 AM ICT Permalink |

My Dream Christmas

Christmas in Vientiane this year is quite big; which means many teenagers and people in every school are waiting for the Christmas Eve’s coming.

At my office, where I do my internship program, there is also an update about Christmas. A head of my division bought two of Christmas trees and decorated them with Christmas accessories in two corners near the door. Besides that, at my school, The Lao-American College, there is a Christmas tree competition for Year Two students.

Most of Christmas trees at school were made by recycled things such as paper, Pepsi cans, and other material. And they decorate it in a colorful style with little accessories such as Santa Claus toys, small candles, and colorful gifts. What’s more, all of the people that I pass are talking about their plan for a Christmas celebration.

Everything is suitable for Christmas Eve in Laos because the temperature in this month is quite low, which is warm in the day and cold during the night.

In summary, although Christmas Eve, is not part of the Lao culture, people here now accept it and are happy to adapt to a new festival. Thus, I’m also happy and enjoy when Christmas Eve is coming again.

It seem like I stay in Santa Claus’s world, which has snow, Christmas trees, reindeer, and snow men surrounding me. I imagine that I am in America or in another part of the world that is not Laos when Christmas is coming.

07:40 PM ICT Permalink |

On the Street

In the early morning while I was driving to work on Phovihan Road, the temperature was cold and a little windy. On the way to downtown, I noticed the rice fields and saw a lot of farmers harvesting their rice. Everything seemed to be serious because everyone hurried to work. Thus, some drivers break the traffic rules and cause a lot of accidents on the street. Today, the population in Vientiane is increasing due to industrialization and economics. People from other parts of Laos migrate to Vientiane in order to find a good job.

Besides, Vientiane lacks enough highways and streets; it is not enough for all the people and cars. As soon as I reached the That Luang traffic light junction, I noticed a group of people walking together to cross the road. Surprisingly, those people were not normal like us, most of them were blind. On the other hand, they looked like normal; they were happy and smiled and talked with each other in a friendly manner. That was unlike other people who looked serious and stressed about the traffic jams.

Those pictures made me think that, although they were blind, their souls were not blind. Furthermore, they also smiles and accepted their destiny. However, if compared to normal people, most of us are not as strong as much as them. Sometimes we face big problems, but we solve them by taking drugs, suicide, or committing crimes.

Because of those blind people, it made me think that my life is valuable. Even though today I’m still worse, I hope tomorrow might shine for me because no one will fail in life all the time.

12:54 PM ICT Permalink |

New Division

For two months I interned at the external finance department of the Ministry of Finance. There many things that I had learned from my last division; Loan and Grant Management. Thus, the director wanted me to learn something new, so he changed me to new a division called the International Finance Cooperation.

At this new division I have learned many valuable things. For example, the first day I was working there, I didn’t have any time to relax or do my homework. I was always busy all day. The new director always gave me a lot of tasks and sometimes learned to use the fax machine. Then, after I understand how to use it, they gave me the list of the people in different ministries and told me to send their fax. Next, after finishing sending documents though the fax machines, I had to copy some documents regarding meeting conferences within the ministry.

Later, I had to run up and down the stairs to take those documents and have them signed from other departments, and call the guests for the meeting. When I have free time, they told me to decorate flowers in the offices. Every time, after something was finished, there was something new for me to do and learn from them.

Therefore, during this month, I don’t have free time to do anything, except on the weekend. Thus, I can say that it is hard work, but, it is good to learn in order to be successful in the future.

12:13 PM ICT Permalink |

Lao Wedding Ceremony

Last weekend, on Saturday, it was my cousin’s wedding in southern Laos. My cousin was dressed in a Lao traditional wedding dress. Her dress was covered in gold, including necklace and rings. In the early morning of Saturday, many people were cooking and preparing tables and chairs for the guests coming in the afternoon.

Later, at the bride’s house, traditionally the bride and groom must not see each other until the wedding day. So, before the wedding, the bride and groom must be separated in two different houses, which was why I didn’t see the groom in the morning.

Then, about 11 a.m, there were more and more guests coming to the wedding. Most men and women were in the traditional dress, or in Lao silk. Most women were wearing Lao skirts in different colors together and decorated their necks and their fingers in valuable accessories.

In the yard, the fences were decorated by pink flowers, including the gate and the door. In the middle of the yard there was and a Lao country music band. Beside them, on the right and the left sides, were many set of tables and chairs together food and drinks on every table. After the guests had all come, the bride waited in the living room together with her relatives, and looked out window, watching for the groom’s parade from the other house.

Next, about 11:30, I saw the groom’s parade coming from the other house. The groom’s parade included the groom’s relatives. The groom was in the Lao traditional dress and makeup; the others carried banana trees and were singing. Then, they walked toward the bride’s house. As soon as the groom’s parade arrived at the gate of the bride’s house, my sister and I took the belt from the groom’s parade and asked them some questions until they paid us money. The reason that they must do this is to show that when they get married, they will be rich and their life will be perfect based on the Lao tradition.

Finally, after the groom and the bride had met each other, the Lao traditional ceremony got started. The head of village, including both relatives of the groom and bride, gave their best wishes to the groom and bride. After that, they walked to the yard and welcomed the guests for foods and drinks, and eventually joined the Lao traditional folk dance, call Lamvong, together after the lunch. That is all for the wedding.

11:26 AM ICT Permalink |

Final day of Festival

I got up at 5:30 A.M in the early morning of November 12 because it was the last day of the That Luang festival, held at Vientiane’s biggest stupa. This is one of the most important festivals in Laos.

The temperature was so cold, it made me shaking while taking a shower. As soon as I finished, I followed my mother who was dressed in Lao traditional style, and my sister to our living room, to prepare some oranges, money and sticky rice for giving alms at That Luang. After that, we took everything to the car and drove toward the main street.

As we sat on the car, I noticed that the season was changing quickly; almost all the rice fields and streets were foggy together with a little haze. Suddenly, the sun rose and the temperature became warm and warmer as we reached That Luang yard, which made us take off our sweaters. Then, my brother-in-law drove the car to the parking lot, and we took everything out and walked to That Luang. However, before we entered, we had to wait for 30 minutes because of many vehicles.

As soon as we walked inside, the yard was filled by thousands of people; some people were sellers and some were the people who came to give alms on the last day, and some were tourists. With all these people in the yard at that time it was so crowded.

On the right and the left sides were monks and nuns who came from different temples in Vientiane. They were waiting to give Buddhist speeches before people started to give alms. At that time, I noticed that there were some people who had come already and some were still coming on this special day of the Buddhist festival.

Me and my family took a photo for memory and eventually, about 8:00, we finished giving alms. Finally, we bought some food such chicken soup, roasted chicken, and noodle soup for our special breakfast. After that, I went to my office to work.

08:05 PM ICT Permalink |

That Luang Festival

On the night of November 9, 2008, was one of the biggest festivals of Laos after the harvest year. It was the That Luang festival, which held on the full moon night, the last night for celebration of the festival.

The That Luang festival is held every year because Lao people want to commemorate those spirits who built the big stupa of That Luang, and in order to worship the Lord Buddha. Besides, it is also one part of the Lao tradition, culture and custom, which Lao ancestors have done in the past.

I had a chance to go to the That Luang Festival. The night I went it was a little cold with a little wind blowing. The sky was so clear with millions of stars, and the moon was brightly reflected to the earth. It was so special a night for me. My family and some relatives from Savanakhet Province hurried to have dinner and finished about 7 p.m. Then, we drove an old car to the That Luang, which is about 16 km from my house.

When I reached there, I noticed that many things had changed from the year before. There were no any entertainement booths, events, or modern concerts to attract people like in the past. The event was so silent and quiet.

There were a lot of people from other part of Laos at the That Luang Festival. However, there was a lack of the stores selling things. I understood that the Lao government wants to keep the atmosphere as traditional and conservative, but they still could have a lot more people coming if they had more things to see and do.

During the That Luang Festival, I did some religious activities. First, I entered the area where there they sold a variety of things such as fruits, foods, and drinks. Second, when I walked to the big yard there were some international organizations with booths; on the right and the left sides were sellers who sold flowers and candles for worshipping the King Xaysetha statue and the That Luang stupa. I bought some lotuses and candles and worshiped the King Xaysetha who built the big stupa. Then I walked around That Luang for three times in order to ask for good luck after finishing. Besides, me and my mother, other family members also gave some money to the oldest monk for building the temple’s construction. After that, we left the Stupa and went outside. We just looked around for one hour and while I was walking I bought some food such as papaya salad, eggs, and meat balls. Finally we walked toward our car and went back home.

In conclusion, the That Luang festival this year was so silent and quite, it was not as big as the year before that I expected. However, there are a lot of people come to celebrate. Maybe, the climax of this festival will be in the last day, which is November 12. for more details, I will find it soon.

05:19 PM ICT Permalink |

New Learning Skills

After I being an intern at the Ministry of Finance for two weeks, I have learned many useful skills in real ways, which is different from studying in class.

Here, I have to improve more in managing the time in order to be a punctual person. Besides, I have to learn the direction of the working process in the ministry from collecting the incoming documents from many international organizations, such as World Bank, ADB, and JICA.

Next, I have to learn how to keep data from one employee who always taught me regarding the working process. After that, I have to use a lot of psychological theories to analyze other people’s thinking in order to make a good relationship with them.

The most important thing that I have to do is be more careful here than when I was studying at school. I have to check every task which is given to me twice or three times at least, in order to prevent from mistakes when sending to the boss. Moreover, when I have free time, I also help other employees when I see them having too many tasks. Those are some useful skills that I learned from working during the past two weeks.

However, the one obstacle that comes to test me during the two weeks is the heavy rain and cold climate. In Vientiane there is heavy rain recently that has come from Vietnam. Therefore, it has made it difficult for driving a motorcycle to the office, because the distance from my house to the office is very far. Otherwise, I will not give up, and I will be more patient because I have to do this duty if I want to graduate.

04:43 PM ICT Permalink |

Fourth day of work

On the fourth day of being an internship student at my division, there were not many tasks. First of all, when I went to work in the morning, the sectary of the other division brought some documents and invitations to me. I just signed that I received them and wrote some reports to my boss about where those documents came from and which part of those organizations.

Later, I had to observe other employees doing their tasks. I asked them questions and learned from them about things such as accounting, taxes, and writing documents. Next, I had to practice typing the Lao language to be faster because I can type only English. Most of students who study at my school, the Lao-American College, are bad at typing Lao language.

Lastly, I just helped my roommate copy documents and manage documents. That was all for my duties.

12:53 PM ICT Permalink |

End of Buddhist Lent Festival

Last Tuesday and Thursday was one of the biggest festivals in Laos. This festival shows foreigners and tourists a Lao tradition and custom. In the Buddhist religion we call it “ork fan sa” --- the end of Buddhist Lent festival.

This festival is held according to the lunar calendar, during the Buddhist day on a full moon night. Besides, it is held because Buddhist people believe that a Buddha will come back to the earth; after he took meditation in heaven for three months. Therefore, on the morning of Tuesday October 14, a full moon day, the Buddhist people go to the temple for giving alms or merit making. This is called “Te Vo Ro Ga Na,” based on Sanskrit language after the Buddhist Lent, which is why Nagas who live under the Mekong River shoot fireballs to worship the Buddha in the night. Then, the next day people will commemorate the Buddha by having a boat-racing festival at Donchun Beac,” the center of Vientiane.

During the Ork Fan Sa festival, on Tuesday morning, I prepared some fruits (such as apples and bananas), candles, lotus, sticky rice, and money, and put them in a silver bowl and went to the temple close to my house. When I stood in front of the gates of temple, I noticed that there were three little boys selling flowers and many Buddhist people came to give alms. I stayed at temple from 7: 30 to 9:00 until I finished giving alms. After I finished the Buddhist activity, I went back home.

When I stayed at home, my mind did not stay in my body. I thought only about watching the Naga’s fireballs at the Mekong River. However, I had to give up my dream because I did not have any money to go there. Therefore, I just used the money I had, about 10,000 kip, to buy some candles to decorate my house the night of the full moon. During the night, the weather changed; it was hot in the daytime but cold and a little windy in the night. When I looked at the sky, there was not full moon any more; it was crowded by the black clouds. Suddenly, it was raining a little. Other wise, I hurried to make a “Katong.” I used part of a banana tree and decorated it with gold flowers and candles. Later, my two nephews and I went together with my mother and sister and took the Katong to the ponds in order to worship the water god or Nagas. Similarly, all of my neighbors did the same as us.

When we finished “Loi Katong,” we went to the living room and watched TV. The programs reported that there were 350 naga’s fireballs floating from the Mekong to the sky that night, which made the Thai and Lao people who went to look at the extraordinary phenomenon surprised about the incredible fireballs. Moreover, the news also reported at there were a million of people going to Nong Khai Province (in Thailand) during that full moon night. Similarly, Lao people also went to “Pakgeum village” to see the naga’s fireballs. Unluckily, I did not go to see it this year. In accordance to the news, Thai and Lao people were having a big celebration by having parades about the history of Naga’s fireballs, the Buddha’s images, and other activities around Nong Khai Province.

On Wednesday we had a boat-racing festival at Donchan Beach. However, I also didn’t go to the festival because I had to take care of my mother who hurt her leg and cannot walk for a long distance. And the second reason I don’t have any money. There were just my sister and other brothers who went there, which is why I do not have any details to talk about.

Finally, I would like to persuade you to come to Nong Khai or Vientiane next year if you have a chance, because you will see with your own eyes about this festival. Besides, you will learn about a different culture and customs, and new experiences when you visit Laos during this special occasion.

10:12 AM ICT Permalink |

Being an internship student

One week after the new term began at school I had a big meeting for my internship class at the meeting hall. Galina, my Russian teacher, announced the rules, details and descriptions about what to do when we intern in the company.

After we finished meeting, I reviewed the details and information about the organization where I will start my internship. One of my classmates is named Vilayvone. She is pretty, and has dark hair. We were talking and eventually she persuaded me to go internship at the Ministry of Finance, in the external finance department. I was happy to hear that I will have a good opportunity to intern in the ministry and I took that news to my parents and my family, and all of them are happy, too.

Later, on Friday, Vilayvone called me and told me that we have to go to the ministry of finance. After I took a shower and had breakfast, I drove to school about 9 a.m. I saw Vilayvone standing in front of her yellow car. We checked our documents and then we drove to the ministry, which is located in Nongbone Village, Saysetha District, close to That Luang Stupa.

Ten minutes later we reached the ministry; it was on the fifth floor in a modern building. We asked the receptionist about the external finance department. Next, we had to go to the second floor. The first time that we opened the door, we saw four men and three women, all of them well dressed. Most of them looked seriously on their work; they did not smile to anybody, even to the guests. However, this did not affect us; we ignored this serious environment and walked professionally to the Deputy Director General’s office. Unbelievably, their boss was friendly, nice and very kind to us.

We enjoyed talking to him because he presented himself like our teacher. We introduced about ourselves and told about our purpose. He introduced himself and told us about every section of his department. We got a lot detail and information about working. Finally, he told us to come again after he accepted us to intern at his department. He gave us his name card and said good bye. After I walked out from the ministry, I felt happy about his welcoming, and kindness, and friendly relations, which is a good personal skill for everyone.

This new story is not ending, but it is just the beginning of a new adventurous journey.

12:17 PM ICT Permalink |

New Term in College

After two weeks of holiday, a new term of studying began again for me; but, this term is different from the other terms because I don’t have to study hard. I only have two subjects that I have to complete (both of them are English for international purposes (EIP) and internship) before I graduate.

When I walked to school yesterday I noticed that many things seemed different. I saw many students who are younger than me. All of them are good looking and well-dressed, and some of them are curious about their studying. All of those pictures bring my memories back to when I first entered the college.

I remember the first time that I stood at the Lao-American College (LAC), I felt nervous and a little scared about a new environment and new friends, the American teachers, and difficult subjects. The most serious feeling that I had was: I have to complete 35 subjects in order to graduate with a Bachelor Degree. However, I thought that I must be able to complete all of them. Therefore, I thought that I must change some of my personalities. For example, I must be more professional and international in order to deal with American teachers, which means my thinking must be global.

Back to the present, I am nearly ready to graduate. I know that now I am close to reaching my goal. Otherwise, the learning is not ending yet; I have to use my long existing experiences, skills and knowledge that I get from LAC, using as an internship student at Ministry of Finance, international communication department. So, this term will test me if I am ready to stay in reality or not, because it is not like studying in the classroom anymore.

Finally, I think that my new challenge and journey is not ending. There are many things that I do not know, and are waiting for me. So, although I may face difficult problems, I will not be scared because I am a survivor.

11:23 AM ICT Permalink |

Final Scores

Last term was the hardest term for me studying at the Lao-American college; most of subjects were too difficult because it is the last term before my graduation next year.

The subjects I took were Basic Translation, Strategic Management, Lao Studies, and Teaching Techniques. This was a first obstacle. The rainy season was the second obstacle that I had face; driving to school because the street from my house to the main street is too bad, which is getting flooded when the rainy season comes. However, I fight against all problems and obstacles, which means I was not absent studying whenever it rained, or if I had no money, and even when I was sick. What is more, I used my skills to do my best in studying. For example, I joined every activities that teacher gave us, listened and shared my ideas as much as I can; eventually I finished a final test on September 15.

On Tuesday I come to school to check my scores; Luckily, I get grade A for all subjects. It makes me happy to get a good result. Therefore, for the coming term, I will be an internship student; but I do not know the company yet. However, it time for me to use my long existing skills, ideas and experience, to let other people see how intelligent I am.

12:00 PM ICT Permalink |

The Shocking Sound

On Thursday at about 7 p.m. the moonlight reflected on my face when I sat outside of my house. Suddenly, I heard screaming from my sister who lives on the right side of the pond. The sound was so shocking. But, I didn’t do anything, just listened carefully about her conversation.

I knew immediately that my sister was angry about her son, the one who got a scholarship to study in Paske province with the Lao Army. I walked toward my sister’s house and talked on the phone with my niece and I asked, “What is the matter?” Her son said to me that he was so sad to go. He would miss his family. Besides, he cannot adapt to a new environment. Some of his friends tricked and gossiped about him because he was short and just 14 years old, which made him stay alone without friends. After he finished explaining about his new life and his studying there, I told him to be more patient and to stick with his goal. I tried to cheer him up with my psychology theory that I learned from school to teach him how to behave in that situation.

I encouraged him and told him that when we born, we are born alone. We don’t take anyone with us. So, it is o.k. if there are not any people talking with us. Moreover, I also told him to keep silent; do not fight back with people if they criticize, and to pay attention in studying. Everything that comes to us is to test us if we are strong or not.

After he finished listening to my encouragement, he felt better and thanked me for the good suggestions. Finally, he promised me that he will be stronger in order to complete his duty as a soldier.

However, unluckily, his mother doesn’t learn about life’s problem like I do. So, she is only angry and yells at her son because she thought that her son is lazy and wants to give up studying. She is angry with him without using reason to judge the problem.

12:49 PM ICT Permalink |

Great Asian Movie Maker

“Hero” and “Curse of the Golden Flower” are two great movies that I love to watch all the time. They are produced by a great Asian movie maker named Zhang Yimou, a Chinese producer who is accepted by Holly wood as creative film producer.

Both movies talk about the Chinese kings in different periods and different dynasties. However, problems happen in the same palace and in most of them the director uses new ideas to test people’s intelligence by using different colors though the story.

“Hero” talks about the King of the Qin Dynasty who tries to unite China as one country. But there are five brave warriors who try to stop the king’s planning, and eventually they give up their duties and sacrifice their life for people and the nation. Zhang Yimou using five colors such as red, green, yellow, blue and white, telling story. Marvelous scenes and Asian superstars such as Jelt Li, Zhang Ziyi, and Tonny Leung are the highlights of this movie.

Next, “Curse of the Golden Flower” is the eye-wondering movie that Zhang Yimou made in 2007, starring three Asian super stars: Chow Yun Fat, Gong Li, and Jay Chou. This movie talks about the Tang dynasty during the 10th century. In this movie, you will see how Chinese people live in the palace and how they serve their emperor and empress. What is more, beautiful costumes, marvelous scenes and dark emotionsl will help open the unspeakable secrets that are hidden within the Forbidden City, and eventually, you will get an answer; why China is called “the forbidden kingdom.”

I will not write more details and information about those movies because I want you to watch them by yourself. I’m sure that you will not be disappointed with them because I watched them 15 times.

09:49 AM ICT Permalink |