Day 5: Banana Shakes

During class today we had one of the students come in late because he was apparently attacked by a dog earlier that morning. The dog had bitten just above his heel and one of his canines had hit the bone. Pat was pleased to inform us that he didn't need stitches, was told he'd have a swift recovery, and he was only due to receive a 6 course shot for rabies (!). I had considered myself fortunate because just the morning before I had been on a walk when a dog had come out of nowhere and nipped at my ankles then ran away. Lucky for me, he only bit the air around my feet. But its just something to keep a on look-out for, pretty much the only danger in Ban Phe are the dogs.

Today for class we did student profiling, this is where we go to a Thai school and have an interview with a Thai student that supposedly can speak conversational English. No. When we arrived at the school we each had a student come up and pick us to interview. The girl that I had been chosen by was in uniform, had short, black hair, and only to be found out later did not speak much English whatsoever. Her name was Wanisa Wongong, I called her Fon. Following the lesson plan that I had constructed earlier we went through a series of simple questions (ie. whats your name? how old are you? when is your birthday?) I am learning to be more like Mr. Bean in that the majority of the time conversing with Fon is used using hand gestures, silly facial expressions, and a pen & paper. Whatever skills I have I use towards better helping her to answer the question. It is amazing the thrill I get when she answers my question correctly or is so very close in figuring out what I am trying to convey to her. The raw exhilaration of overcoming an obstacle and succeeding in something is, more than anything, what will keep me going throughout this course and my year spent in Laos.

That night myself and two of the guys from the course went out to the night market to spec out all the goodies. From chickens feet, to the whole half of a pigs face there was an array of food selection. I went for the vegetarian choice of Dim Sum and was quite satisfied. After the market we stopped by Christies for a banana smoothie; this is my new thing now. Forever and always will I live in a place where banana shakes are accessible for my consumption. These are the most delicious things on this planet that you will ever taste. nuff said.