Women's Day at the TTC

So, I was told there was going to be a woman's football game and I got excited. Especially about the idea of finally seeing Amy Cooper in action and not just snapping shots away at me as I blunder around with a soccerball (and tripping Lao people).

With eager expectation I awaited the afternoon. Then I got a text message from Amy: "We're probably not coming, but enjoy the football match." But an even better surprise met me after I arrived... It was a crowd mostly full of women and they had me sit in the middle of them all.

Here's the picture - I'm at a football stadium (soccer for all us Americans... but really, why do we call football since you only actually kick the ball maybe once every 10 mins... it should be tackleball!), I am surrounded by a crowd of women who are young and old, and they are making speeches with people lined up as such:


.... yes, it was women's day at the TTC!

Now, before you angry femmies and activists begin getting the wrong idea... I support the idea of women's rights and meetings of this kind! In fact, its great that this is happening in Laos and it is certainly bringing some good change. What is cruel punishment is certain people not showing up especially when it is their gender (whose name I will not say, but whose picture is here.)!

This is the text message I got: "I think We're not going but have a good time." And when I told them the dire situation of being stranded in a crowd of foreign women: "That's so great. Have a blast." Booo! Where's your women spirit and sporty football shorts with cleats! (Ok, so they may have had to do some shopping, but it totally could have waited till later!)

Here are several other pictures of the actual football game:


The football game was fun. I left at half-time where the TTC was beating the other local college girls team, 2-0. Woohoo! Go TTC women!

The internet and I have had relationship issues

For the past month or so... the internet and I have had communication issues. She wouldn't be available then I wasn't available. Things just weren't working out.

Let me explain:
We left Laos at the end of January for Thailand to meet up with the rest of our teaching comrades for a week of teacher meetings, team meetings, some worship, some good speakers, and a general relief from the dietary limits of Laos.

HOWEVER, while we ate beef (a rare commodity in Laos) and had some good fruit and vegetables (they just taste different in Laos)... our hotel provided the internet at the rate of $5 an hour (NOT in my budget). So, my favorite technological mistress (and I mean that in the strictly gadget spectrum of reality) was unavailable except for the sly affair at a local coffee shop down the street. My schedule and hers produced the long period of silence you have experienced for the past few weeks.

All this to say, I'm back in Pakse after some traveling in Thailand and Malaysia (I'll show a few pictures later) and we are once again in full swing. The internet and I are back on kosher street (except for the hangups with Lao infrastructure) and I hope to return to providing y'all with life from Laos.

Just to complete the post, here is a quick picture of a welcoming guest in our office:



Apparently, they aren't too concerned with moving him or getting him out of the office. He is still there as of writing this post...