Walking home yesterday I was thinking of the sense of community I have where i live.
When I go out there are all these people to say hello to.
The family who own my guesthouse.
The lovely family next door. Their little boy was less than a year old when I moved here. He will be 2 in November. so watching him grow. Watching the pregnancy of his Mum. She has just had another baby. We have't met yet
The lady who looks after her granddaughter. As well as seeing her on the street often, we met at the childrens hospital when I was volunteering there and her little one needed some treatment.. Since then she always has a warm welcome - she in Lao and me in my halting Lao. She has even taught the little girl to put her hands together in Sabaidee.
Vanh the young man who works in the guesthouse down the road. He's learning English and we have conversations about what we are up to. At Lao New Year he and a young friend spontaneously took me to show me the celebrations.
Emi around the corner. Occasional dinner companion and Australian owner of Ma Te Sai (comes from where) who is a source of information on all things Lao and the bits and pieces that us expats need to know from time to time...
Little Peyo who is about 18 months.. The first Lao child who didn't cry when I spoke to her.
The man around the corner who does my photocopying who is always so helpful.
Teaching at my local temple a 3 minute walk away. The respect I have for the young monks and novices.
The places where I eat. The 15.000 kip places with such good food and friendly smiles. At IQ inn they know my order without me having to ask.. And the young men who run our favourite restaurant. They work so hard and want to do such good for their communities and the future of this country.
Young people at my library.
People who you smile at and say sabaidee because you often walk past their shop or house.
There are always people to smile at and say hello to.
And I often run into "the Smiths" on the street. My family who are not family but related to my cousin's husband. Strange coincidence.
That's just the people I meet in my neighbourhood
And of course, our new friends the newlyweds, the boys down the road .
When I go out there are all these people to say hello to.
The family who own my guesthouse.
The lovely family next door. Their little boy was less than a year old when I moved here. He will be 2 in November. so watching him grow. Watching the pregnancy of his Mum. She has just had another baby. We have't met yet
The lady who looks after her granddaughter. As well as seeing her on the street often, we met at the childrens hospital when I was volunteering there and her little one needed some treatment.. Since then she always has a warm welcome - she in Lao and me in my halting Lao. She has even taught the little girl to put her hands together in Sabaidee.
Vanh the young man who works in the guesthouse down the road. He's learning English and we have conversations about what we are up to. At Lao New Year he and a young friend spontaneously took me to show me the celebrations.
Emi around the corner. Occasional dinner companion and Australian owner of Ma Te Sai (comes from where) who is a source of information on all things Lao and the bits and pieces that us expats need to know from time to time...
Little Peyo who is about 18 months.. The first Lao child who didn't cry when I spoke to her.
The man around the corner who does my photocopying who is always so helpful.
Teaching at my local temple a 3 minute walk away. The respect I have for the young monks and novices.
The places where I eat. The 15.000 kip places with such good food and friendly smiles. At IQ inn they know my order without me having to ask.. And the young men who run our favourite restaurant. They work so hard and want to do such good for their communities and the future of this country.
Young people at my library.
People who you smile at and say sabaidee because you often walk past their shop or house.
There are always people to smile at and say hello to.
And I often run into "the Smiths" on the street. My family who are not family but related to my cousin's husband. Strange coincidence.
That's just the people I meet in my neighbourhood
And of course, our new friends the newlyweds, the boys down the road .
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