Lovely Laos Reopens!

 

    Laos survived the Pandemic and recently reopened its borders after two years. We used to work in an international school here that was shut down by the government due to the Covid virus. When Laos closed its borders, I was one of the last foreigners to depart. Now the streets are quieter and many places are permanently closed, but the strong spirit of the people can still be felt. Stoic expressions on solemn faces show their determination to survive. Even though the city buses are not running in the capital city of Vientiane, the local people still greet us with a smile. They need tourists and businesses to return to their lovely country with mountains, beaches, and three National Heritage Cultural Sites. Laos is called the "Land of a Million Elephants" and is famous for its scenery, ethnic villages waterfalls, and unexplored land.

    My husband and I visited our former international school today in the capital city of Vientiane. It just reopened after the Lao government forced all schools to close and was required to pay their employees for the past two years. This was a hardship for private schools like ours. Luckily, they have reopened, attracted new students, and are continuing to build their Sports Hall. Lao employees mirror the resilient spirit of the country to rebuild and attract new business. Chinese are building a new housing development near the school that will hopefully bring new students. China also built a railway to Laos that recently opened to increase business and tourism. This partnership will expand once China reopens its borders. 

    My husband and I roamed around the city of Vientiane visiting the outdoor markets, our favorite coffee shops, and restaurants. Some of them survived the Pandemic, but not all. Many buildings and shops are now empty or have been demolished. Foreign embassies flew their employees out on charter flights when the pandemic hit Laos. Many never returned. Foreign aid is assisting the revival of this majestic country that has survived many revolutions. The residents' resilient spirit can be in their eyes when they look at us. Their children may never remember this difficult time in history but will be part of the grand renewal of this majestic country.

    We could see this strong spirit in the eyes of the young students at our former international school. Students are sitting at tables from a young age learning English through stories and songs. They are working hard to make their parents, teachers, and school owner happy who has two children of his own at school and a new baby in the wings. Children will lead Laos into the future with their desire to improve this historic country that has withstood centuries of turmoil. Laos will survive, students and businesses will return, and they will emerge stronger than ever. Now, they are celebrating the three-day Lao National Day. This public holiday marks the end of the monarchy and the establishment in 1975 of the People's Democratic Republic in Laos. It is now a one-party Communist State. Laos is still struggling and one-third of the children in Laos have limited access to food. Even though the U.S. dropped over two million tons of bombs on Laos during the Vietnam War, they have the reputation of being one of the friendliest nations worldwide. It is a scenic country to visit with a fascinating story to tell.