Volunteering at Vang Vieng Organic Farm

For the past two weeks, life at the Vang Vieng Organic Farm has been filled with precious simple moments. Many times I wished there could have been a video camera documenting my adventures and learning experiences, because I have been living in the travel movie I have always dreamed of.

The Vang Vieng Organic Farm is located on the banks of the Nam Song River and at the foot of the stunning limestone mountains. The farm and its crew welcomed me arms wide open. From the first day on, I began volunteering; gardening, taking care of fruit trees, milking the goats and somehow ending up being the goat cheese master (!), waitering at the farm's restaurant, and off course, teaching English. Finally, I had blisters on my hands. Finally, I felt like I was somehow giving back.

Teaching English is especially rewarding. I teach four days a week, two classes a day, from five to seven at night. I teach to kids ranging in age from 15 to 25 and ranging in English knowledge from very little to almost bilingual. I work under the wing of the Equal Education For All (EEFA) which organizes those free complimentary English classes. I learn tremendously with the kids; I learned about them, but I also learn about me. That is the beauty of teaching.

My learning experience doesn't stop there, it is only beginning! Mepa, and old Lao grandma, and I, while barely able to communicate have been learning each other's language, and this over a row of tomato plants. From the start, we spotted our common love for gardening and she has taken me under her wing. I absolutely adore her. She smiles all the time, she laughs, such a communicative laugh. Overall, the image of the two of us gardening is adorable: two women, many generations separating us, two backgrounds, two languages, but both with a love for food and life, both with our pointy Asian hats, hands in the dirt, passing a piece of paper with English and Lao word scribbled on it back and forth the garden aisle. Beautiful. Simple.

This is just one example of how I was welcomed here and just one example of how happy I am. Beyond the beautiful landscape, beyond this feeling that I am helping, my integration to the farm family is what makes me the happiest. I am no where near fully integrated. I remain a foreigner. But regardless, these Lao women and men make me feel like they accepted me in their life, as a friend, as a sister, as a daughter. They share with me their happiness, sadness, celebrations, daily activities, their food :) It is a breath taking peak into authentic Lao life. I was invited to a Lao wedding just last Saturday. The girls took a lot of pleasure at playing doll with me, bringing me to the market to get a traditional Lao dressed made, even bringing me to the hairdresser! They got me into their Women's Day plan, organizing a big picnic at a lagoon nearby. And add to this, all the spontaneous things like the excursions to the morning market, going for a wash with Mepa in the river, or eating bats for breakfast (!)

I hope my blog update finds you happy and safe wherever you are. I look forward to hearing from you.

With love,

Veronik