Hello from Tha Thom!

We have finally made it and are writing our first blog entry from the MCC office in Tha Thom. After a 4 hour boat ride we arrived last Thursday (21st) with all of our belongings plus three bikes. I would include a picture of the loaded boat, but with the excitement of loading and unloading our baggage there was not much time for picture taking. We are currently living in a guest house near the edge of town with a breathtaking view of a mountain ridge. It is a little hike to the office every morning so we are thankful for the bikes we picked up second hand.

Rice Fields behind the Guest House

There are only two of the nine staff here since the country-wide Lao boat racing festival is underway. Even in this small town they hold boat racing in the Nam San (river). We have enjoyed our first taste of Lao festivities. The Lao sure know how to celebrate. Some of the more unique foods we have eaten include: Job’s tear (a steamed grain), embryonic eggs (hardboiled semi-mature fertilized eggs), grilled goat and fish, and khaulam (sweetened purple sticky rice steamed in bamboo). We have watched two days of boat racing, danced the traditional Lao dance, and enjoyed the food offered by the street vendors.

Boat Racing!

The coming few weeks will entail continuing to learn new Lao vocabulary, visiting project villages, adjusting to life in Tha Thom and figuring out long term housing. We are very excited to finally be here even though life and work will be challenging.