Nearly all regions through the western world want its students to journey on a gap year for some purposes. Some others go to gap year travel because they desired to seek peace and several taught themselves to be off from the place where they are accustomed to. Several might even go for a journey since they are fascinated to learn the traditions of various other places. Considering that gap year vacation or backpacking is among the common activities in your life, it must be expended on a location in which you do not have any remorse and you can realize your objective in spending the gap year package.
Should you want to discover the significance of your life's existence by way of stretching out your help to other individuals and touching their lives by knowing their culture and tradition, then the country of Indonesia will be the ideal place you possibly can check out. You will find so many things which you can do here in order to be useful to other people. Because Indonesian children are usually willing to learn English language so they can get a fantastic work in this competing world. Even though community teachers are well-educated in teaching English language like sentence structure and grammar, most of them don't have the confidence and the talent to get a correct diction, accentuation and pronunciation. Although you do not have the license to teach for so long as you can teach, you may get together with them. It would be more helpful for the volunteer's part since he/she can study Indonesian language and it is very simple vocabulary to teach English with them. Because there are nearly two million street children who have not gone to school due to low income and insufficient sources, volunteering to educate such kids can be a real fulfilling and rewarding work. Instead of directly training the kids, you can also train the teachers and also the training staffs. Besides teaching of English language, you can even aid in training drama, arts, music and sports.
Other beneficial activities that can be carried out while in your gap year in Indonesia are the following: community extension programs for helpless kids, helping out in some orphanage and disabled projects, sport coaching, environmental development, animal conservation and care as well as helping orangutans as well as other endangered creatures like Sumatran tigers, elephants and Komodo dragon lizards.
In case you want to unwind and relax right after your intense work, you can pay a visit to the heavy jungle as well as the paradise seashores. With the locations which you can go are Komodo, Borneo and Bali - the place that Indonesia is actually proud of. If you wish to go to parties right after work, then you can find numerous areas which you can go. Each one has the ability satisfy your wants. Such include the Yogakarta and Ubad as well as the monuments of Borobudur. If you need to have a lot more enjoyment, then surfing in Bali could be perfect for you.
About the Author
Routinely goes on a journey and can be observed creating content articles for periodicals and website pages laos gap year
religion in laos_2="religion in laos" thesis statement help!!?
im writing a research paper on the cultures of souteast asia; cambodia, vietnam, and laos. i have a thesis statement - the culture of vietnam, camobodia, and laos have changed over the years; with language, religion, education, marriage, and food changing as the countries become more modern.
i dont like this because i have to explain how it changes and i dont want to talk about the past culture, i want to talk about the culture now..
the things im talking about in my paper. -language -religion -education -marriage -food. if you can think of a good thesis for me that just talks about the culture today it would really help! thanks.
State that they have amazing and unique culture
Party - Lao/Thai New Year and New Tripitaka Library Celebration 3/26/2011
laos money_2="laos money" a little help on Laos economics...?
i'm doing a report of Laos, and i need a little help on the economics...i mean i already know this, just want to make sure it's correct information.
i need to know: currency-type of money how the people make a living- what jobs do they hold average salary for working families what types of industries are in the country and why they are important.
thanks guys! :D
Hi,
Lao currency is LAK. Most people in Laos work for government and the average monthly pay will be $60-$120/monthly. More info about Laos visit http://www.laos411.com and for Lao currency visit http://www.laos411.com/forum/yaf_postst9_Lao-Kip-Exchange-Rates.aspx
laos government website="laos government website" Left for dead?
I am looking to join my local Rolling Thunder chapter and I saw something on their website that I hoping is not true (or that they are mistaken).
The website says:
"600 Americans were lost in Laos (The Black Hole), NOT A SINGLE MAN WAS EVER RELEASED. The Pathet Laos government stated on several occasions that they held prisoners, yet our government NEVER NEGOTIATED FOR THEIR FREEDOM."
The following article is intended to act as a sort of primer for those researching the K1 visa process for the first time. This article is written specifically to enlighten those with a Lao fiance(e).
For Americans with a fiance or fiancee of any nationality the K1 visa process almost invariably begins at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). This office operates under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security and is responsible for making adjudications of United States Immigration petitions and applications. Officers of USCIS adjudicate petitions through application of rules and regulations as set forth under US law in the form of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and later statutory revisions. US immigration law is a complicated and narrow area of American jurisprudence. This area of law can, at times, be difficult to understand. Some belabor under the incorrect assumption that USCIS approval is a foregone conclusion. This is simply not the case as USCIS can deny one's petition depending upon one's circumstances. If approved, then the approved petition will be sent to the American State Department's National Visa Center (NVC) for processing.
The National Visa Center acts as a sort of clearinghouse for visa applications as this agency is responsible for routing visa applications to American Embassies and Consulates abroad. Supervising such a broad and elaborate operation is a substantial undertaking that currently results in comparatively efficient movement of evidence and documentation regarding pending visa applications.
After a visa applicant's case file arrives at the American Consulate or American Embassy abroad, the Consular Processing portion of the K1 visa process can be initiated. Pursuant to the doctrine of Consular Absolutism American Consular Officers are permitted a wide degree of latitude to make factual findings in visa application proceedings. That said, American laws and regulations constrain legal findings pursuant to the language of the INA. Although, if a Consular Officer finds that a legal grounds of inadmissibility in a given case, then such a finding may only be overcome through use of an I-212 or I-601 waiver. Some individuals find that assistance of an American Immigration law firm can be highly beneficial during the K1 visa process as an American attorney can provide advice and counsel about US Immigration law and also provide services to streamline the processing of an individual's case. Legal translation can be critically important in a K1 visa case as identity documentation can be a necessity and sometimes difficult to get translated. In matters pertaining to Laos this can be of acute importance as government documentation can sometimes be difficult to retrieve.
Consular Officers adjudicating cases at any American Mission abroad make adjudications based upon the facts and the law. Those who claim any "special relationship" with Post personnel should neither be believed nor trusted as adjudications are conducted in a truly unbiased and professional manner. Those seeking professional assistance in matters pertaining to US Immigration are well advised to check the credentials of anyone claiming to provide US Immigration services as only a licensed American attorney is entitled to practice US Immigration law.
About the Author
Benjamin Hart is a lawyer from the USA and the Managing & International Director of Integrity Legal (Thailand) Co. Ltd. and White & Hart Ltd., respectively. Contact: 1-877-231-7533, +66 (0)2-266-3698, or info@integrity-legal.com. On the Web:
Because a standardized system of romanisation for spoken Burmese does not exist, pronunciations of the following dishes in modern standard Burmese approximated using IPA are provided.
Jin thohk ( [din ou]), ginger salad with sesame seeds
Khao sw thohk ( [kausw ou]), wheat noodle salad with dried shrimps, shredded cabbage and carrots, dressed with fried peanut oil, fish sauce and lime
Htamin thohk ( [tamin ou]), rice salad with tomato puree, potato,glass noodle, toasted chickpea flour, crushed toasted dried fermented beancake,crushed dried shrimp, crushed dried chilli, garlic and dressed with cooked peanut oil, fish sauce, lime or tamarind and coriander
Hto-mohnt ( [toumoun]), glutinous rice cake with raisins, cashews and coconut shavings
Katkyi-hnyat ( [kadi], lit. 'cut with scissors'), a southern coastal dish (from the Dawei area) of rice noodles with a variety of seafood, land meats, raw bean sprouts, beans and fried eggs comparable to pad thai
Jaryoh hinga ( [tajou hina]), lotus roots in clear chicken or fish broth
Jarzan hin, ( [dazan hin]) glass noodle soup with chicken, wood-ear mushrooms, dried flowers, onions, boiled egg, garnished with coriander, thin-sliced onions, crushed dried chilli and a dash of lime (Mandalay)
Jauk-kyaw ( [taotau]), agar jelly usually set in two layers with coconut milk
Jay-oh ( [teiou]), vermicelli noodles in soup with pork offal and greens
Let thohk sohn ( [le ousoun]), similar to htamin thohk with shredded green papaya, shredded carrot, ogonori sea moss and often wheat noodles
Mohinga ( [mounhina]), the unofficial national dish of rice vermicelli in fish broth with onions, garlic, ginger, lemon grass and sliced tender core of banana-stem, served with boiled eggs, fried fish cake (nga hpe) and fritters (akyaw)
Shwe yin aye is a popular and refreshing dessert
Montletsaung (Burmese: [mounlesaun]), tapioca balls, glutinous rice, grated coconut and toasted sesame with jaggery syrup in coconut milk
Nanjee thohk (Burmese: [nandi ou]) or Mont di, thick rice noodle salad with chickpea flour, chicken, fish cake (nga hpe), onions, coriander, spring onions, crushed dried chilli, dressed with fried crispy onion oil, fish sauce and lime
Nanbyajee thohk (), as above with tagliatelle
Ngapi jet ( [api d]), fermented spicy fish paste or salted fish curried with onions, tomatoes, garlic, chilli and coriander served with to za ya, vegetables fresh or boiled, on the side
Ngapi jaw ( [api tau]), fried version with dried shrimp, onions, garlic and dried chilli
Ohn-no khao sw ( [ounnou kausw]), curried chicken and wheat noodles in a coconut milk broth similar to Malaysian laksa and Chiang Mai's khao soi
Sanwin makin ( [sanwin makin]), semolina cake with raisins, walnuts and poppy seeds
Shwe gyi mohnt ( [wei di moun]), hardened semolina (wheat) porridge with poppy seeds
Shwe yin aye ( [wei jin ei]), agar jelly, tapioca and sago in coconut milk
Shauk thee thohk, sliced lemon or kaffir lime (no pith or rind), toasted chickpea flour, crushed roasted peanut, crushed dried shrimp, crushed dried chilli, baked fish paste, cooked oil with onions (goes very well and often served with kya zan hinga)
Chinese-inspired
Mandalay Meeshay
Asayn jaw, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, green beans, baby corn, cornflour or tapioca starch, tomatoes, squid sauce
Bghin ( [be kin]), roasted duck
Dim sum, meat/fish/prawn/crab/sausage/egg/sea weeds, flour, flavor enhancer
Hpet htohk (lit. leaf wrap), meat, pastry paper, ginger, garlic, pepper powder, salt. Usually served with soup or with noodles.
Htamin jaw ( [ta min tau]), fried rice with boiled peas (p byouk),the poor man's favourite breakfast
Kawyei khao sw ( [k ji kau sw]), noodles and curried duck (or pork) in broth with eggs.
La mohnt ( [la moun]), (mooncake), an oily disk-shaped cake filled with either sugar or sweet bean paste
Mi swun ( [mi swan]),very soft rice noodles, known as Mee suah in Singapore and Malaysia. It is a popular option for invalids, usually with chicken broth.
Panthay khao sw ( [panei kau sw]), halal noodles with chicken and spices, often served by the Muslim Panthay Chinese.
Pao-see ( [pau si]), steamed buns filled with either pork and egg or sweet bean paste
San byohk ( [san pjou]), (rice congee) with fish, chicken or duck often fed to invalids.
Seejet khao sw ( [si t kau sw]), wheat noodles with duck or pork, fried garlic oil, soy sauce and chopped spring onions. It is considered an 'identity dish' of Myanmar and Burmese Chinese, as it is not available in other Chinese cuisines. Sarawak's Kolok mee is a bit similar.
Wet-tha doh-to, pork offal cooked in light soy sauce. Eaten with raw ginger and chilli sauce.
Indian-inspired
Fried chapatti with p-byohk - a Mandalay favourite
Samosa salad in Mandalay
Danbauk ( [dan pau]), Burmese-style biryani with either chicken or mutton served with mango pickle, fresh mint and green chili
Fried chapatti, crispy and blistered, with boiled peas (p-byohk), a popular breakfast next to nan bya
Halawa, a snack made of sticky rice, butter, coconut milk, from Indian dessert halwa. In Burma Halwa is referred to a loose form, something like smashed potato, without baking into a hard or firmer cake in contrast to Sa-Nwin-Ma-Kin.
Hpaluda, similar to the Indian dessert falooda, rose water, milk, jello, coconut jelly, coconut shavings, sometimes served with custard and ice cream
Htat taya ([ta t ja]), lit. "a hundred layers", fried flaky multilayered paratha with either a sprinkle of sugar or p byouk
Htawbat htamin, rice made with butter and mostly eaten with chicken curry.
Kyit Sara, Semolina chicken or meat paste
Chicken or meat is boiled or cooked and removed all the bones and skin. It is then mixed with Semolina and dhal. Nowadays the mixture is easily put into the grinder and grinded. But originally it was put in the big pot, stirred and pounded using a big ladle with a rounded lower edge. Once it turns into a thick paste it is sprinkled with cinnamon powder and deep-fried onion. Not only it is tasty but it is highly nutritious and easily digestible.
Malaing lohn ( [m lain loun]), Burmese-style gulab jamun
Nan bya ( [nan bja]), Burmese style naan buttered or with p byouk, also with mutton soup
Palata ( [p la a]), Burmese style paratha with egg or mutton
Samusa ( [sa mu sa]), Burmese-style samosa with mutton and onions served with fresh mint, green chilli,onions and lime
Samusa thohk ( [sa mu sa ou]), samosa salad with onions, cabbage, fresh mint, potato curry, masala, chili powder, salt and lime
Sa-Nwin-Ma-Kin or Burmese Semolina Cake or Semolina Pudding or (Kuih) Sooji, using Sooji (Semolina), eggs, cream of wheat (Semolina), coconut cream, sugar, raisins and milk. It is topped with sesame seeds and baked with the charcoal slow fire above and below to made them like brownie golden cakes.
Shai Mai or Sa Wai or sayviah/ sweet vermicelli served with fried cashews, coconut shreds, raisins with milk
Theezohn chinyay, lit. vegetable all- sorts sour broth, with drumstick, lady's finger, egg plant, green beans, potato, onions, ginger, dried chilli, boiled egg, dried salted fish, fish paste and tamarind
Shan-inspired
Shan khao sw with tohpu jaw, with monnyinjin on the side
Shan inspired - Nangyi Thohk
Htamin jin ( [ta min tin]), a rice, tomato and potato or fish salad kneaded into round balls dressed and garnished with crisp fried onion in oil, tamarind sauce, coriander and spring onions often with garlic, Chinese chives roots (ju myit), fried whole dried chili, grilled dried fermented beancakes (p bouk} and fried dried topu (topu jauk kyaw) on the side
Lahpet thohk () [le pe ou]), a salad of pickled tea leaves with fried peas, peanuts and garlic, toasted sesame, fresh garlic, tomato, green chili, crushed dried shrimps, preserved ginger and dressed with peanut oil, fish sauce and lime
Meeshay, ( [mi ei]), rice noodles with pork and/or chicken, bean sprouts, rice flour gel, rice flour fritters, dressed with soy sauce, salted soybean, rice vinegar, fried peanut oil, chilli oil, and garnished with crispfried onions, crushed garlic, coriander, and pickled daikon/mustard greens
Papaya salad ( [in bau i ou])
Shan tohu ( [an tou hu]), a type of tofu made from chickpea flour or yellow split pea eaten as fritters (tohpu jaw) or in a salad (tohpu thohk), also eaten hot before it sets as tohu byawk aka tohu nway and as fried dried tohpu (tohu jauk kyaw)
Shan khao sw ( [an kausw]), rice noodles with chicken or minced pork, onions, garlic, tomatoes, chili, crushed roasted peanuts, young vine of mangetout, served with tohu jaw or tohu nway and pickled mustard greens (monnyinjin)
Wet thachin ( [w a tin]), preserved minced pork in rice
Wet tha hmyit chin ( [w a mji tin]), pork with sour bamboo shoots
Mon-inspired
Mon banana pudding
Thingyan Rice () - fully boiled rice in candle-smelt water served with mango salad.
Htamane () dessert made from glutinous rice, shredded coconuts and peanuts
Banana pudding dessert made from banana boiled in coconut milk and sugar.
Wet mohinga like mohinga but vermicelli is served while wet
Durian jam also known as Katut jam
Nga baung thohk () Mixed vegetables and prawn, wrapped in morinda leaves and then banana leaves outside.
Sanwinmakin () dessert cake made from semolina, sugar, butter, coconut.
Rakhine-inspired
Monte-de - an extremely popular and economical fast food dish where rice vermicelli are either eaten with some condiments and soup prepared from nga-pi, or as a salad with powdered fish and some condiments. The American Conger, Conger oceanicus, called Nga-shwe in Arakanese and Burmese, is the fish of choice.
Jar-zun thohk - glass vermicelli salad with boiled prawn julien and mashed curried duck eggs and potatoes.
Ngapi Daung - an extremely spicy condiment made from pounded ngapi and green chili
Khayun thee nga chauk chet - Brinjal cooked lightly with a small amount of oil, with dried fish and chilli
Ngha-pyaw-thi-bohn - bananas stewed in milk and coconut, and garnished with black sesame. Eaten either as a dish during meals, or as a dessert.
Saw-hlaing Monte - a baked sweet, made from millet, raisins, coconut and butter
Sut-hnan - millet cooked in sweet milk with raisins
Starches
The most common starch (staple food) in Myanmar is white rice. Glutinous rice called kauk hnyin is also very popular including the purple variety known as nga cheik especially as a breakfast dish. Various types of noodles are commonly used in salads and soups or fried. Vermicelli noodles and rice noodles are often used in soups, while thick rice and wheat noodles are used in salads. Palata, a flaky fried flatbread is often eaten with curried meats while nan-bya, a baked flatbread is eaten with any Indian dishes. Another favourite is aloo poori - puffed-up fried breads eaten with potato curry.
Ingredients
Main article: List of Ingredients in Burmese cuisine
Ingredients used in Burmese dishes are often fresh. Many fruits are used in conjunction with vegetables in many dishes. The Burmese eat a great variety of vegetables and fruits, and all kinds of meat.
A very popular vegetable is the danyin thi, which is usually boiled or roasted and dipped in salt, oil and sometimes, cooked coconut fat.
Ngapi
Ngapi is considered the corner stone of any Burmese meal or dish. It is used in a versatile manner in that it is used in soup base, in salad, in main dishes and also in condiments. Popular varieties depend on the region,such as in Rakhine State, Shan State, Ayeyarwady Division and Tanintharyi Division.
The Ngapi of Rakhine State contains no or lesser salt, and uses marine fish. It is used as a soup base for the Rakhine 'national' cuisine, Mont-de. It is also used widely in cooking both vegetables, fish and even meat.
In the coastal Ayeyarwady and Tanintharyi divisions, the majority of ngapi is instead based on fresh water fish, with a lot of salt. The ngapi is also used as a condiment such as ngapi-yay (an essential part of Karen cuisine, which includes runny ngapi, spices and boiled fresh vegetables). In Shan State, ngapi is made instead from fermented beans, and is used as both a flavoring and also condiment in Shan cuisine.
Condiments
Burmese cuisine is full of condiments, from sweet, sour to savory. The most popular are pickled mango, balachaung (shrimp and ngapi floss) and ngapi gyaw (fried ngapi in various manners) and vegetables preserved in rice wine (from Shan State). Ngapi plays a major part in condiments, as a dip for fresh vegetables.
Bean ngapi from the Shan states plays a major role in Shan cuisine. Dried bean ngapi chips are used as condiments for various shan dishes.
Fruits
Myanmar has a wide range of fruits, and most are of tropical origin. However, some notable Western fruits such as strawberries are also popular. Durian, guava and others are commonly served as desserts. Other fruits include mango, banana, jackfruit, plum, lychee, papaya, pomelo, water melon, pomegranate, mangosteen, sugar-apple and rambutan.
Eating customs
A typical Burmese meal
Traditionally, Burmese eat their meals with dishes on a low table, while sitting on a bamboo mat, and dishes are served more or less at the same time. A typical meal would include steaming hot rice as the staple, a curried freshwater fish or dried/salted fish dish, if affordable a curried meat or poultry dish instead, soup (hinjo) which if sour is called chinyay, and fresh or boiled vegetables to go with a salty dish almost invariably a curried sauce of pickled fish (ngapi yayjo) in Lower Burma. Fritters such as gourd or onions in batter as well as fish or dried tohpu crackers are extra.
Out of respect, the eldest diners are always served first before the rest join in; even when the elders are absent, the first morsel of rice from the pot is scooped and put aside as an act of respect to one's parents, a custom known as oo tcha (lit. first serve). Burmese people eat with their right hand, forming the rice into a small ball with only the fingertips and mixing this with various morsels before popping it into their mouths. Chopsticks and a Chinese style spoon are used for noodle dishes, although noodle salads are more likely to be eaten with just a spoon. Knives and forks are used rarely in homes but will always be provided for guests and are available in restaurants and hotels. Drinks are not often served with the meal and, instead, the usual liquid accompaniment is in the form of a light broth or consomme served from a communal bowl. Outside of the meal, the Burmese beverage of choice is light green tea (yay nway jan; [jei nwei dun]).
Influences
The countries that border Myanmar, especially India, China and Thailand - have influenced Burmese cuisine. Indian influences are found in Burmese versions of dishes such as samosas and biryani, and Indian curries, spices and breads such as nan (naan) and palata (paratha). Ethnic Indians have a monopoly on such dishes. Chinese influence in Burmese cuisine is shown in the use of ingredients like bean curd and soya sauce, various noodles as well as in stir-frying techniques. Fried insects are eaten as snacks as in neighbouring Thailand and Laos.
Gallery
Mohn la jin - pickled daikon or mooli
Cha-om omelette - a popular dish with ladies
Bu nyunt hinjo - young vine of gourd clear soup
Dunt dalun chin-yei - drumstick sour soup
P bouk - dried fermented bean cakes to grill or fry
Thayet chin thohk - fermented green mango salad with onions, green chilli, roasted peanuts, sesame and peanut oil
nga paung thohk
See also
Burmese recipes
References
^ Yin, Saw Myat (2007). Culture Shock!: Myanmar. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Inc. p. 133. ISBN 9780761454106.
^ BBC NEWS | Business | Burma cyclone raises rice prices
External links
Burmese breakfast at Mae Sot
Mi Mi Khaing, Cook and Entertain the Burmese Way. Rangoon, 1975
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cuisine of Myanmar
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Hi everyone. I'm doing a project for school and I need a recipe from Laos. There will be tons of displys in my cafe, so I need a finger food. Desserts with some type of fruit would be great! thanks for all your help in advance. :D
Sai Ua Moo PORK SAUSAGES Ingredients
400 grams pork meat, including some fat, washed and minced 150 grams pork fat, washed and minced
2 dried chilli peppers, soaked in water until soft
10 (small) shallots
10 black peppercorns
pound the above three ingredients together finely
coriander leaves, finely chopped
salt and fish sauce
1 pig's intestine, turned inside out and washed and then turned right side out again
Method
Place in a bowl the pounded ingredients, the minced pork, the minced pork fat and the chopped coriander leaves. Add the fish sauce and mix all together. Take a very small sample portion of the mixture, wrap it in pieces of banana leaf and grill it until cooked. Taste it and check the saltiness. (If this test is satisfactory you can proceed to make the sausages. If the taste of the grilled sample is not right, adjust the seasoning.)
Stuff a section of the pig's intestine with the mixture from the bowl, taking care not to include any air bubbles. If there are any, use a needle to let them escape.
Tie the intestine into portions as you stuff it, each portion to be 15 cm long. There should be two knots between each section with a space in between for cutting them apart. Use a bamboo holder to grill them until they are done. Then transfer them to a platter.
The following article is designed to merely act as something of a primer for those seeking information about the American K-3 visa process and provide elucidation regarding the possible reasoning behind the current policy of "administrative closing" of many K-3 visa applications.
The K-3 visa was originally designed as an expedited travel document for those awaiting the processing of their immigrant visa petition at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) at a point in time when that agency had a significantly larger backlog of immigrant visa petitions compared to the current estimated processing times. Presently, K-3 visa petitions could receive adjudication after the adjudication of the underlying immigrant visa petition. In circumstances such as these there are those who might argue that the K-3 visa's utility is mitigated by the fact that there is no need for expedited processing due to USCIS's backlog and the immigration benefits conferred by K-3 status do not include lawful permanent residence and therefore one entering the United States in K3 visa status would still need to apply for an adjustment of status resulting in further overall expenses in time, money, and effort.
Logic such as that described above may account, at least partially, for the American State Department's National Visa Center (NVC) dictating the policy that K-3 visa applications would be "administratively closed" when approved K-3 petitions arrive at NVC at the same time, or before, the approved immigrant visa petition. This policy has probably resulted in some Laotian-American bi-national couples being forced to seek immigrant visa benefits rather than non-immigrant K-3 or K-4 benefits thereby necessitating the submission of an application for IR-1 or CR-1 immigration benefits. It is interesting to point out that the Laotian husband or wife of a United States Citizen entering the USA pursuant to approval of both an Immigrant visa petition and application will be accorded either Conditional or Unconditional Lawful Permanent Residence in the United States of America upon lawful admission at an U.S. Port of Entry.
Those thinking of seeking visa benefits for a Laotian loved one ought to do research in order to learn about immigration options in an effort to make an informed decision about submitting a petition for American immigration benefits. It should be pointed out that it is also wise to ask for the license of those claiming expertise in matters pertaining to United States Immigration law as licensed attorneys from the USA are permitted to represent clients before the Department of Homeland Security as well as the Department of State during the US visa process. Whereas those without licensure as an American attorney are not entitled to practice US Immigration law pursuant to U.S. Federal statute.
About the Author
Ben Hart is an attorney from the USA, the Managing Director of Integrity Legal (Thailand) Co. Ltd., and the International Director of White & Hart Ltd. Contact information: 1-877-231-7533, +66 (0)2-266-3698, or info@integrity-legal.com. See them online at: K3 Visa Laos or K1 Visa Laos .
"Interesting Facts" Akre's photos around Louang Phrabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep
Akha Hill Tribe Headdresses and Bamboo Love Shacks
Akha hill tribe women in northern Laos dress in faded shades of black cloth. Color exists only in their decorative accouterments. Old coins add a bit of glinting highlight to their costumes.
The Akha are a proud people. It's thought they may have originated in Mongolia about 1500 years ago. Today most Akha hill tribes live in southern China or in northern Thailand or in two provinces of nearby northern Laos. Today their culture is on decline. Many Akha women don't wear their traditional dress everyday and virtually no Akha men don traditional attire. Influence from the West arrived and males were the first to acquiesce. Today many Akha men clutch mobile phones. Fake leather jackets imported from nearby China are now the rage for Akha men. Perhaps they want to look hip.
Like many travelers to northern Laos, I trekked up a steep mountain to visit one of the more remote Akha villages. As guest of honor I was invited to sleep in the village chief's hut. As with many hill tribes in Laos, UNICEF had helped these villagers install a water pipe from the nearest small river, which provided my trekking team with what turned out to be a bone-chilling, very public bath about thirty minutes before nightfall. Our seven-hour trek to the mountaintop had been steep, strenuous and sweaty. Climbing mountains at midday in these locales can be hot and exhausting. The climate in Laos is generally moderate but in the mountains the winter nights resemble those of the North Pole. It's funny how icy water can be excruciatingly painful and refreshing at the same time. The Akha are modest, so each member of our party only stripped down to underwear for the goose-bump-inducing, fully-exposed frigid shower in the middle of the village that evening. Surely it was the shortest bath of my life. Shivering in wet underwear under the curious eyes of several Akha women wasn't pleasant. But our bodies warmed up soon thereafter with ample samples of lao-lao--the home brewed, highly spirited local alcoholic concoction distilled from rice--that flowed freely later that night.
In recent years the socialist Lao government has virtually eliminated the production of opium, which in the past had become the staple method of sustenance for many in the Akha economic landscape. Today they plant corn and, of course, rice. I didn't see any drug addicts. These days lao-lao seems to keep the men happy enough I discovered while having a meal with the village leader. It was a feast of numerous Akha delicacies that spiced up generous helpings of sticky rice. One bowl was filled with a tasty red sauce that would tempt just about anyone's taste buds. I learned after downing a big helping that I had swallowed fresh pig blood curry. The village leader kept graciously filling our cups with lao-lao. Getting a bit tipsy at least minimized the trauma of having indulged in their pig blood culinary delight.
Evenings in Akha villages aren't quiet. Roosters crowed. Pigs grunted. Dogs barked and the night was filled with the occasional whimper of a baby. But babies didn't seem to cry very much there; maybe because they weren't spoiled. The evening sky was crystal clear at the top of that mountain. I lifted my eyes. Galaxies beyond infinity were visible. Every square centimeter of the universe seemed to be inundated with stars.
Akha hill tribes have developed interesting cultural mores. At age sixteen Akha lads are encouraged by their elders to build bamboo "love shacks" at the village periphery where they can freely court young ladies of mutual interest. It's a sign of great fortune if the young girl gets pregnant prior to marriage, which always ensues shortly thereafter. Not surprisingly, there are no sex crimes in Akha societies. After marriage, however, men and women don't sleep in the same room together. But they do make conjugal visits to the other side of the partition whenever either has the whim. After babies finish their suckling, the boys sleep with their father and the girls with their mother. Naturally, this could make for awkward conjugal rendezvous in the middle of the night. No problem. The parents meet somewhere in the middle in the dark. Note, however, that the house spirits become extremely disturbed when the proper locale has been altered so the next morning those spirits are appeased with the sacrifice of a chicken, which is later served as a family meal. The Akha eat lots of chicken.
Akha women possess a rather regal presence yet most of them can't read or write. Their sublime, innocent eyes captured every aspect of me.
Wikipedia describes their culture: "The Akha put a particularly heavy emphasis on genealogy--they are taught their family history at a very early age and their culture has a strong focus on honoring ancestors and their parents, though they dispute that this represents a form of ancestor worship. A better description of the Akha religion would be animism. They believe in a world filled with spirits (both good and bad) that have a definite physical impact on their everyday lives. They believe in a natural cycle of balance that, if disrupted, can result in illness and hardship or even death."
Why is it that many of us in the West have yet to discover such things?
I celebrate the Akha.
But all has not been rosy in their past. They consider having twins or triplets as an extreme imbalance that will beget much ill fortune. Until recently the village shaman and participating elders would terminate those children's lives within twenty-four hours of birth. Such practice is now illegal and can bring lengthy prison sentences. However, these offspring are not tolerated in the village even today and NGOs from foreign countries quickly help find them foster homes. The parents must leave the village for a few months until they have cleansed themselves of impurity.
There is no written Akha language. Only Lao is taught to young Akha kids in Laotian schools these days and one day soon the world will say goodbye to their culture.
I try not to pass judgment and I'm so appreciative I experienced their world while it still exists.
Visual artist Glen Allison is a vagabond travel photographer and writer embarked on a nonstop, ten-year marathon odyssey to photograph extraordinary destinations. Browse his website for stock photo licenses, fine art prints and Photoshop actions.
See Glen's stunning fine art imagery from this trip in his original blog post, "Akha Hill Tribes."
laos history facts="laos history facts" what are some interesting facts on Laos?
i have a stupid history project due soon and i have no idea of any interesting facts on laos!!! need biiiiiiiig help.
Communist state Population 6,368,481 Ethnic groups Lao Lum (lowland Lao), including Lao and Tai 66 percent Lao Thoeng (Lao of the mountain slopes), including Khamu, Lamet, Laven, Sedang, and Nyaheun 24 percent Lao Sung (Lao of the mountaintops), including Hmong and Yao (Mien) 10 percent Languages Lao (official), numerous indigenous languages and dialects, French, English Religious affiliations Buddhist 49 percent Indigenous beliefs 42 percent Nonreligious 4 percent Christian 2 percent Other 3 percent Life expectancy Total 55.5 years Female 57.6 years Male 53.5 years
Thalia Dragonas: Ethnic Macedonians have the right to self-identification
Why U.S. should not rely on ASEAN for combating human trafficking
The ASEAN members recently held a meeting to combat human trafficking. Earlier this month, ASEAN further celebrated its new establishment of Commission for human rights. Some people received this news with the hope for change in combating trafficking in the region.
Both Thailand Burma are active members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in particular, when dealing with their anti-human trafficking.
According to an NGO report released in Aug. 2009, the atrocity committed against Burmese human trafficking victims could have never been worse than what it currently is. Rather, the anti-human trafficking effort and the international cooperation among the ASEAN member nations only raise a skepticism that it is nothing but a political alliance among the member nations.
ASEAN's anti-human trafficking efforts: the hypocrosy of Thailand and Burma revealed
The new report regarding ASEAN meetings amplify the significant roles of Thailand and Burma in its leadership to combat human trafficking in the Southasian region. In 2002, Thailand was chosen by the 'Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to 'host a joint meeting between the European Union and ASEAN. In Dec. 2004, Thailand further linked with ASEAN to stamp out human trafficking. By then, Thailand already signed an anti-human trafficking agreement with its neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and China. In June 2009, the 9th ASEAN senior officials meeting was held in Burma. The meeting was intended to discuss transnational crime, including human trafficking.
According to no where else to go , an NGO research paper released in Aug. 2009, countless Burmese human trafficking victims testify against the atrocities of Thai nationals. Some of the offenders involved corrupted Thai law enforcement individuals.
1. Testimonies involving forced marriage
[My 18-year-old friend was sold] to a retired Thai policeman as a wife. Daw Than was paid 20,000 baht and gold weighing 45.5 g by the Thai policeman for selling him Ma Cho...He rented a house for her to live in with him and later she gave birth to a daughter. After the birth of their daughter, he abandoned Ma Cho and the child because he had wanted a son. With no money or other possessions she had to work outside to earn a living; she had to work as a hard laborer to pay rent for the house and for enough food to survive.
The wife couldn’t have a baby and after I had worked there for five months, I asked her when my debt would be paid, and she said that if I wanted to pay it all off I could have a baby for them. I didn't’t agree to do this, but the woman got her husband to rape me. I got pregnant and when I was due to have my baby they wouldn’t take me to hospital; instead they took me to a small clinic so the birth would be more secret. I gave birth to twin baby boys on February 19th, but the boss and his wife only allowed my babies to stay with me for 10 days. After 10 days, the two babies were taken from me and I wasn’t allowed to see them anymore.
2. The testimonies involving police corruption
On March 10th, 2008, Maharchai police raided that factory. The polices didn’t want to raid the factory even though they knew the employer abused and took advantage of the workers, because the employer had connections with corrupt members of the police force, however the NGOs put pressure on them and they had to follow up on the husband’s tip.
After being arrested for two weeks, they called me out with another two girls and promised that they would free us from jail and also provide us with jobs cleaning dishes at a restaurant. They sent us to a houseboat hotel and three policemen came and picked up us by motorbike. We didn’t understand Thai and we didn’t know what they said to us...
One policeman forced me to have sex with him although I refused; he was so strong and I couldn’t do anything to keep him off of me. He forced me to have sex in different ways and I was in a lot of pain. I was afraid and cried.
Burma's unwarranted credibility as a host of ASEAN meeting
According to the researhc, "No Whereelse to Go", Burmese military regime is not only the root cause behind the sex trafficking of Burmese women and children but also the sources of the exacerbation.According to no where else to go, the military regime's economic mismanagement and high tax are two driving factors for the Burmese victims to flee the country. The research also states that the victims are hesitant to report cases against police corruption involving human trafficking because the close connection between the military regime and the many NGO representatives would only bring the victims themselves under the accusation of taking part in the human trafficking ring. Therefore, many victims' reports remain unreported. The Burmese military regime, according to the report, is in charge of a large percentage of aids and social welfare programs, which will only worsen the current situations of trafficking victims.
Reliance on ASEAN cooperation on combating human trafficking is foolish
Nor should anyone trust Burmese or Thai governments to rectify the situation for human trafficking victims. Certainly, Foreign aid therefore is not a solution, either. Rather, the ultimate solutions lie on the drastic changes on many policy mechanisms in both countries. For Burma, the military regime must address the root causes of the rampant human trafficking in the country by improving education system and job opportunities for women, lowering unreasonably high tax rates on rural population, etc. In Thailand, corruption among the law enforcement individuals must be dealt with dire consequences. Also, its immigration policy should protect the fundamental rights of migrant workers in the country as much as Thailand's economy benefited tremendously from the cheap labors of migrant workers.
laos ngo="laos ngo" What paid work opportunities are there in Laos?
Preferably Vientiane. I am an experienced TEFL teacher but would prefer work with a development agency/NGO. Anyone any ideas?
Among the travellers, teaching job is popular. I hope some NGO,etc from Laos responds to your question. You might enjoy these resources which I have collected for you. In most cases, you might need to contact them instead of waiting for them to contact you. Just send them emails asking for jobs. Were you also looking for volunteer oppertunities, then the doors of the none profit companies will be more open for you!
Laos Society and Culture http://www.google.com/Top/Regional/Asia/Laos/Society_and_Culture/
Jobs http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/en/SiteIndex/Search/search?assetTypes=Job&keywords=laos&sid=74958643-6-EovuK http://www.teachabroad.com/Laos.cfm
Hope that much helps you for now. Have a great day!
laos development="laos development" How much would it cost to build a school or library?
I am asking mainly about Laos, but some information about Thailand would be helpful too.
It looks like I am going back to SE Asia soon....if not this October, then next April. I would love to do something to help in the economic development of Laos.
I was thinking of doing some fundraising to get the funds to build a school or library in Laos; and if the fundraising isn't enough, I or my family will cover the rest.
So......how much would it cost to build a 2500 sq foot library or 10 000 sq feet school? Oh....would I be able to get help from the local government like tax relief, etc? I have asked certain people in Lao construction...they told me $40 000 for a 3000-4000 sq building...to me that seems low...but asking others before committing more would be helpful.
I do not know about the construction costs in Laos, but I would not bother about a library. Go for a school building or teaching equipment/materials.
Do not expect any help from the government in Lao PDR. From my discussions with the Swedish Aid Agency and the (now former) British Consul in Vientiane, I heard that Lao government officials frequently have the audacity to demand bribes in order to approve aid projects.
Instead, you should consider finding and approaching a NGO or a corporation that may be willing to help co-sponsor your project. The link will give you an idea of some that are active in Thailand.
Well, who actually did invent the game of Golf? The question has been asked and argued for many years with no true winner. Many countries have a valid claim to an early game that resembles the game of golf. Some of the countries that make this claim are England. Scotland, China, Rome, France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Laos. The most heated debate over who invented golf definitely comes from Great Britain and Scotland.
The first area to look when deciding the answer to our question must be what actually determines when a game with sticks and balls is golf or another game. Most countries in the world have had games where you hit an object with a stick at some sort of target. Is this enough to be called golf, I don't think so. If so, then these early games could claim the origin of many sports played today. I think it takes more than just a game with some kind of object being hit by a stick to qualify as the origin of golf(discount golf).
Holland is believed to be the origin of the name of golf but not the actual game itself. Holland played a game in the 1200s called Colf, which means clubs. This was a form of golf but once again the form of many other sports.
Colf has been traced back to Dec. 26, 1297, in the town of Loenen aan de Vecht in northern Holland. On that day, the local townsfolk played four holes of the game to commemorate the relieving of the Kronenburg Castle exactly one year before. The fact that colf was chosen to mark the occasion is proof that the game was already popular by that time.
Great Britain The earliest traces of golf history has golf being played are said to date back to 1340, where in a sketch from a stained glass window, the Great East Window, in the east wing of the Gloucester Cathedral, England, scenes of the Battle of Crecy in France showed a man apparently preparing to strike a ball in a golf-like manner.(wholesale golf )
One of the early forms of golf(discount golf) were all missing one important ingredient to their games to truly make the game golf and that was the hole. Scotland is widely believed to be the first country to put all the ingredients together and actually start a primitive form of the great game of golf.
Yes, this will always be a disputed point, who actually invented the game of golf. If you believe some of the claims that the game they were playing was golf and they didn't have a hole, then you could take this same game and turn it into the origin of many games we still play today. I believe the hole is what separates all the early claims to who originated the game of golf.
Look at our Golf History section at the World of Golf Handicap for more detailed information on the History of Golf.
language of laos="language of laos" What language is best to learn out of these?
I was thinking to learn German or Danish. I know Danish Swedish and Norwegian are intelligible is German also intelligible with these 3? NOTE Not all people that speak one can understand the other. Like Thai and Laos Portuguese and Spanish etc. Hmm. I KNOW about Swedish Danish and Norwegian... German is not inteligable but there is a lot of common vocab okay. I have European dictionaries for all 4 and I can see the vocab is extreamly similar some words on paper seem to be the same. I learn languages easily so passion for one is not of importants. I speak spanish and am able to understand much Italian because of it.. If you speak Danish I'd like your kind logical opinion please thanks.
The Scandinavian languages (Norwegian, Swedish and Danish) are very alike. Danish differs from the other two in pronunciation and Swedish has more words that the other two don't have (Norwegian and Danish are very alike because the modern Norwegian is based on Danish), but other than that, they are extremely similar and people from the 3 countries understand each other very easily (though the Swedish and the Danish might have problems with each other). The three languages are more alike than anything else I can think of. The fact that they are in fact three different languages is just a historical thing. They could very easily be three different dialects of the same language. So if you learned Danish, you would find that pretty much all of Scandinavia was open to you.
Still I would suggest German. See, if you combine the native speakers of Danish, Swedish and Norwegian, you would end up somewhere between 20 and 25 million. German has over 90 million. And there are also far more people who have German as a 2nd or 3rd language than the ones who have a Scandinavian one. And chances are that if you take Danish, it's gonna take a long time before you can understand people speaking it natively. And then another long time before you get Norwegian. And Swedish is on all the way on the other side of the Scandinavian language tree, and they contribute with a little under half of all Scandinavians.
As for the question of Scandinavians understand German and the other way around: I am Norwegian and I can understand about a third of the German words when I see it written. When I hear it spoken it'll probably go down to one 10th. They are related, yes, but still very different. With the amount of English words making it to Norway as slang, I'd guess a non-English speaking Scandinavian would understand more English than German. Maybe with the exception of the Danes who live all the way down south, at the German border.
ECONOMY. Thailand has a pro-business market economy driven by strong foreign investments and export oriented manufacturing especially in electronics, foods and automobiles. Thailand's exports account for 60% of the country's GDP. Thailand experienced strong economic growth prior to the Asian economic crisis of 1997 with GDP growth averaging 9.4% annually. However, the crisis adversely affected businesses in Thailand and saw the value of the Thai Baht decline by more than 50% against the US dollar. Since the crisis, the economy has grown on a growth path. Thailand's GDP was US$163.5 billion with a GDP per capita of US$2,537 in 2004. Thailand's GDP grew by an average of 4.6% annually from 2000 to 2004 driven mainly by exports of high technology products mainly electronics. Inflation remained below 2.0% from 2000 to 2003 but increased to 2.8% by 2004. However, unemployment showed a declining trend from 3.6% in 2000 to 1.8% by 2004. Nearly 60% of Thailand's workforce is involved in the agriculture industry but contributed to only 9.8% of the country's GDP in 2004. The services industry contributed towards 46.1% of Thailand's GDP and manufacturing 44.1% during the period. Major industries include tourism, electronics, textiles and garments, processed foods, beverages, agriculture produce, jewellery, furniture, plastics, vehicles and vehicle parts and mining of tungsten and tin. Major agriculture products include rice, tapioca, rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybean and milk.
DEMOGRAPHY. Ethnic Thais account for 75% of Thailand's 65 million population and another 11% are Chinese or Sino-Thais who have assimilated into the Thai culture or are from mixed marriages. Minorities include Malays who lived mainly in southern Thailand and account for 4% of the population. Others include the Mon, Lao, Khmers, Puan and Karen minorities and immigrants from India. Nearly 95% of the country's population are Buddhists while Malays in Thailand are predominantly Muslims. Thai is the national language while languages used by the minorities include Malay, Isan and Khmer. Schools teach English but proficiency is low and generally, the educated elite are more proficient with the language. The majority of the Thai population still live in the rural communities though the proportion of the urban population is increasing. Thailand's urban population increased from 22% of the total population in 2000 to 31% by 2004. Thailand's capital and major city Bangkok accounts for nearly 8% of the country's total population. Other major cities include Nonthaburi, Pak Kret, Hat Yai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai and Udon Thani. Thailand successfully reduced the poverty level from 27% in 1990 to 10% by 2004. The proportion of the population categorised belonging in the low-income household is estimated at 60% while middle and high-income households account for 30%. The average household income in Bangkok is twice than the national average.
INFRASTRUCTURE. Telecommunication services to the general public are overall adequate. Internet broadband services are mostly concentrated in Bangkok. Cities and towns are well connected by roads but lacks super highways connecting Thailand's cities and major towns. Cities the major towns are served by airports and well connected by buses and rail system.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE. Thailand's major trading partners include Japan, US, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. Main exports from Thailand include electronics, vehicle and vehicle parts, textiles, garments, footwear, seafood, processed foods, rice, rubber, jewellery, electrical appliances including computers. Main imports include machineries and equipments, raw materials and finished products, consumer goods and fuels.
CONSUMER USAGE OF TECHNOLOGY. There were nearly 17.3 million installed fixed-line telephones in 2004 giving a penetration of 40% of all Thai homes installed with telephones. The penetration of mobile phones increased from just 7% of the population in 2001 to 42% or 27 million mobile phones by 2004. The penetration of computers is still low but increased from 5.1% of the households in 2001 to nearly 12% by 2004. The number of internet users reached an estimated 8 million in 2004 but most of the internet users are concentrated in Bangkok and the major cities and towns. The penetration of television in homes in 93% indicating many low-income homes have televisions.
RETAIL MARKET. The retail industry in Thailand totalled an estimated US$24.5 billion in 2004. There are nearly 300,000 traditional "mom and pop" stores in Thailand accounting for 65% of the total retail sales. However, there are 4,500 modern retail establishments (hypermarkets, supermarkets, department stores and convenience stores) accounting for 35% of the total retail sales. Most of the modern retail establishments are located in Bangkok. Shopping in modern retail establishments is increasingly popular and more establishments expected in the near future.
FOOD CULTURE. Rice is the staple food but while those in central and southern Thailand prefer white fragrant rice those in northern Thailand prefer the glutinous variety. Thai dishes are generally hot and spicy but foods from the northern region are generally milder. Thais are less adapting to western foods even if they could afford it compared to consumers in Singapore and Malaysia. However, bakery and coffer shop chains are gaining popularity among young professionals who have adapted to western culture.
About the Author
Khal Mastan is a Senior Consultant with Pegasus Business and Market Advisory (http://bma.pegasus-asia.com) based in Malaysia. He involves himself in business and marketing research and provides consulting services on markets in Southeast Asia namely Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Brunei. He has more than 20 years experience in the region and work experience in various industries. He holds a bachelors degree in Biochemistry and an MBA. He can be contacted at khalzuri@pegasus-asia.com or +6 (03) 7726 5373 in Malaysia.
laos education="laos education" how can i help thise less fortunate than myself?
i want to help, to give something back. im fifteen, female and living in Perth. i don't want to just give money, i want to see where my moneys going and actually help myself. i want to go on a mission thing to a country like Laos or somewhere, to help with poverty, disease and child workers. To give young children better education and better health. are there any groups like this departing form Perth were i can volunteer? thank-you.
ps, can you send me links of websites?
I doubt at your age you will actually be allowed to travel to Laos or other countries in a similar situation and obviously you do not have the expertise or knowledge to make an impact.
But what you can do is to continue studying to learn things that will be useful in the future and join a local or national charity that provides the kind of help you have mentioned through fundraising, raising the level of knowledge, or even basic office help you could provide in your spare time to such charities. Once you learn more you could become a good speaker and go from school to school to inspire other children or teenagers.
Regarding websites, just use key words like: 'Perth based charities' or any other suitable key words to find what suits you.
Good luck.
MaximsNewsNetwork: LAOS LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND EDUCATION (UNICEF)
Evaluating Your English Teaching Job Offers - ESL TEFL TESOL
You have decided on being an ESL TEFL TESOL teacher so you are off on the job search. Aside from the obvious considerations such as what country to work in and what TESL TEFL TESOL teacher training or qualifications (TEFL/TESOL/CELTA/DELTA) to obtain; there are other things a teachers should consider when looking at potential job offers.
There are many factors a teacher considers which will affect whether they accept a teaching position. The most obvious factor would be the content of the position (i.e. what is going to be taught). What is the school asking of you as a teacher? You must ask yourself if the ESL TEFL TESOL teaching job is interesting and fits into your career plans as a teacher. The person and ESL TEFL TESOL school you will be working for is also an important consideration so you must take the time to talk to them either via email or phone. It would also be beneficial to ask to speak to other teachers from the school to find out their impressions. Knowing what the job is and whom you will be working with are the first step in deciding whether to pursue it further.
Some may say that the most important consideration would be salary and benefits but these should be a secondary consideration to what you want to do and who you will be working with. Regardless of the salary paid, most people will not stay at a position where they feel unsatisfied or have no growth. In addition, the people you work with or for have an enormous impact on your job satisfaction. However, when considering salary and benefits, do not focus as much on the starting salary but rather on the potential for growth and increases. Does the school have growth potential for you as a professional? Do they spell out cost-of-living increases and meritorious raises? Benefits are other areas that can supplement a position where the starting salary is not as good as you would have wished. Get a list of benefits from the company and formulate any questions you may have regarding them so that you can better discuss the position with management and other teachers at the school.
Another factor that may come into play with many teachers when evaluating a position is the ESL TEFL TESOL resources provided by the school for the teacher to prepare their lessons. Teachers spend a large majority of their time preparing for upcoming classes. This requires readily available resources such as teacher edition books, computer, printer, internet access, and preferably a reference library. In addition, there should be a work area set aside at the school for teachers to plan and prepare. Whether the school already has a set curriculum/syllabus for the class to be taught and ESL/EFL/TEFL student books because the teacher may be asked to help to create these resources (i.e worksheets) for your school year if they are not provided. I have known many teachers that have felt the need to move on because of the demands of planning for a school year without adequate resources.
To help you find that perfect (or near perfect) ESL/EFL/TEFL teaching job, you should ask these questions to all prospective employers/schools:
1. What is the salary?
2. How many months is the teaching contract?
3. Do/Can you sponsor me for all paperwork, including teacher's license, work permit, and visa extension?
4. How soon can you get this paperwork processed?
5. How many hours will I be teaching per week?
6. What kind of medical/travel insurance is on offer?
7. When are the starting and ending times for being at the school regardless of whether there is a class?
8. About how many school or community events a month are teachers required to attend outside normal working hours (teachers' meetings, parents' meetings, school festivals, seminars, etc.)?
9. Does the school have/provide ESL TEFL TESOL student books or will I be required to make my own worksheets?
10. Does the school have whiteboards or chalkboards?
11. Does the school provide all teaching materials needed? What are the items provided?
12. Does the school require that I attend/teach a summer camp?
13. Is there a discipline policy? What is it and how is it enforced?
14. What are the details of the teaching contract "extras" such as:
a. Resigning bonuses
b. Biannual or annual plane tickets to visit home
c. Housing allowances (if no housing allowance then ask about help finding accommodations along with cost in the area of the school)
d. Internet access both in and outside the school
e. Raise schedules
Searching for an ESL TEFL TESOL teaching position is difficult. After spending many hours on a search, making a careful decision regarding a job offer is important. Getting a job offer does not necessarily mean you should take the job. Most schools will not expect you to make a decision on the spot. You will probably be given a few days to a week to make up your mind. If they are unable to provide you with the time to make a decision then you should not consider this teaching job as a viable position. On the other hand, if you decide to go with a school without finding out the proper information, don't blame the school when the position turns out not to be what you expected or wanted. Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the job will help you make a more informed decision, rather than deciding on impulse.
When considering where in the world you want to teach, the big 3 for ESL TEFL TESOL jobs are:
Asia: Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia are the popular spots because they have so many ESL jobs available but there are always positions coming up infrequently in places like Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia though you must be a qualified teacher to obtain these. You may even find positions for Cambodia and Laos but you should look at the reputation of employers carefully due to lack of a solid legal system for recourse. Life can become very difficult “off the beaten path”.
Europe: Everyone dreams of teaching in Greece, Italy, France or Spain but unless you are an European Union (EU) citizen it is difficult to obtain these positions. The more frequent positions are available in Eastern Europe in places like Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine and Russia. These positions don’t pay very well compared to the cost of living in some of these countries but they provide lot’s of opportunity for travel while not teaching.
The Middle East: Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE) are the most common with Bahrain, Yemen and Qatar occasionally having openings. Now there are also more teaching positions available in Iraq. The Middle East is popular for the money paid for teaching positions but don’t expect much of a social life due to cultural restraints.
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In January 1950, the People’s Republic of China recognised the Vietminh’s Democratic Republic of Vietnam as the government of Vietnam. At the same time the non-Communist nations of the world recognised the France supported State of Vietnam led by former Emperor Bao Dai. The Battle of Dien Bein Phu of 1954 marked the end of French involvement in Indo-China and the independence was granted to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia by the Geneva Accords. The Accords also resulted in the partition of Vietnam along the 17th parallel, with Ho Chi Minh’s communist Vietminh in control of the north and the French-backed State of Vietnam in control of the south. Elections were to be held throughout the country, according to the Geneva Accords, but they were blocked by the South Vietnamese president, who feared a communist victory. Following a powerful propaganda campaign marshalled by the Americans, over one million people fled the North, mainly Catholics who feared communist persecution. In the North, the Vietminh who had come under the control of the Lao Dung Party consolidated their power under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh, collectivised agriculture and began planning about how to gain control of the South. In Saigon, Bao Dai was deposed in a referendum by the US backed Ngo Dinh Diem in late 1955, he immediately launched an anti-communist sweep of the south. The Vietminh cadres, dismissively dubbed the Vietcong by Diem found their backs to the wall and appealed to the North for support. A low key insurgency developed in the South, it was originally aimed at local government officials but it soon broadened to include other symbols of the status quo including teachers, health workers and agricultural officials.
In May 1959, the Lao Dung Party sanctioned an armed revolution against Saigon, thousands of insurgents began to stream down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to help form Vietcong units, this was the beginnings of the National Liberation Front. By the early 1960s, the NLF’s campaign had burgeoned and was scoring defeats on the Army, Republic of Vietman (ARVN). Diem and his mafia-like family were incapable of dealing with the growing crisis, the US administration began to seek ways of removing them from the reigns of power. The US diplomatic regime in Saigon approved if not planned a coup d’etat in May 1963 which resulted in the assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother Ngo Diem Nhu. Chaos followed the coup, one military government toppled another in quick succession while the North Vietnamese government took advantage of the instability by pouring support into it’s guerrilla movement. A controversial incident that occurred in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964, would have a profound impact on the war. The US destroyer, Maddox was fired upon by North Vietnamese torpedo boats, it was later reported that their crews were inexperienced and were simply responding to sonar and radar anomalies. However, the Johnson administration, used the incident to gain congressional support for increased military action in South-East Asia. The war began to escalate from 1965, in retaliation to Vietcong attacks on the US airbase at Pleiku, the US air force began bombing North Vietnam. In the summer of that year, General Westmoreland, Commander of the US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV), ordered the first US ground offensive ground operation. US troops began pouring into the country, and Washington encouraged its SEATO allies to send troops and Austrailia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines all sent troops, although America’s NATO allies, most notably Canada and the United Kingdom refused to contribute troops.
Westmoreland launched a series of large-scale ‘Search and Destroy’ operations, targeting Vietcong operating bases. Vietcong units often managed to evade US incursions by retreating to sanctuaries in Cambodia and Laos, though the attacks did take their toll on Vietcong forward-supply bases. The political situation in South Vietnam began to stabilise with the coming to power of Vice-President Nguyen Cao Ky and President Nguyen Van Thieu in 1967. The Johnson administration employed a ‘policy of minimum candour’ when dealing with the media, this policy damaged the trust of the American public in the administration and large scale public protests began in the States as the ’credibility gap’ widened. By mid-1967, US forces were gaining the upper hand until Hanoi launched the Tet Offensive in January 1968 with the intention of launching a military and civilian uprising in the South, that failed to materialise, however the offensive proved to be a political triumph for Hanoi because the American military and by extension the American public had believed the war to be almost over, they were shocked by the scope and intensity of the attack. It caused Lyndon B. Johnson’s job, home support for the effort began to seriously stumble and US policy-makers became increasingly determined to devise an exit strategy that would not simply abandon South Vietnam to PAVN; they began negotiations with North Vietnam in Paris, though little progress was made. The Nixon administration began a policy of Vietnamization, where ARVN forces were bolstered as American troops began to withdraw. In March 1969, US forces launched a massive bombing campaign of Cambodia with the goal of destroying PAVN sanctuaries, this violated a long succession of pronouncements from Washington supporting Cambodian neutrality.
However, in May 1970, the US began ground incursions into Cambodia; this action sparked nationwide protests on the home front culminating in the tragedy at Kent State University when four students were shot and killed by soldiers of the Ohio National Guard. The public were outraged, but the Nixon administration appeared indifferent, launching ARVN incursions into neutral Laos in early 1971 with the intention of cutting the Ho Chi Minh supply line. These incursions proved disastrous with the ARVN forces who were easily routed, retreating pell-mell, abandoning vehicles and equipment and requiring a bail-out by American airpower; the chaos clearly emphasised the failure of the policy of Vietnamization. Morale amongst US troops was at its lowest ebb - Australia and New Zealand pulled out their troops, many soldiers developed drug habits, there were problems with race relations and insubordination and cases of courts-martial soared. Vietnamization was again tested by the Easter Offensive of 1972, the VPA and NLF overran the northern provinces and other forces attacked from Cambodia, threatening to cut the country in half but US airpower again came to the rescue. It was now clear that South Vietnam could not survive without the support of American airpower, though the remaining American ground troops were withdrawn in August. After peace negotiations had broken down, Nixon ordered a massive bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong to pressurize North Vietnam back to the negotiating table. It worked, at huge cost, although the Paris Peace Accords were signed in January 1973, the offensive had destroyed much of the remaining industrial and economic capacity of North Vietnam. The Peace Accords enforced a cease-fire, it was stated that US POW’s would be released, national elections would be called for in the North and the South and a sixty day period was instigated for the complete withdrawal of American forces. However, the fighting in South Vietnam continued, the POW issue runs to this day and elections were never held. Many South Vietnamese fled to the United States in one of the largest war refugees migrations in history. There was no peace movement to protest the renewed bloodshed nor was there much media coverage. Early in 1975, the North Vietnamese launched their final offensive, South Vietnam rapidly collapsed. North Vietnamese troops entered Saigon, only hours after the US completed an emergency airlift of embassy personnel and thousands of South Vietnamese who feared for their lives under the communists. Hanoi gained control of South Vietnam, and its allies won in Cambodia, where the government surrendered to insurgent forces on 17 April 1975, and Laos, where the Communists gradually assumed control.
About the Author
Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source Russell Shortt, http://www.exploringireland.net http://www.visitscotlandtours.com
