E-Coli and Electricity Ladders

Greetings Capitalists.  Sorry for the delay on updating this page. Between getting E-Coli and catching up my schoolwork I haven't had the time and/or energy to do so.  But, I'm going to try to do a post every 1-2 weeks from here on out.  I will probably post things less often on Facebook so I'll have more to write on here.

Anyway...

So, since my last update quite a few things have happened.  Most notably I contracted E-Coli which royally sucked.  The most typical way to get it is from drinking non-treated tap water or eating poorly cooked food.  I'm thinking I got it by eating a disgusting piece of street meat.  It was beef that tasted more like rotten fish, so fairly safe to assume that was the culprit.  Never again will I do that.  I'm downright scared to eat meat of any sort now.

E-Coli is straight-up AWFUL and I now understand what the meaning of 'feeling like death' is.  I dropped a good 10-15 pounds in a week as my stomach become bloated to the point of not being able to drink or eat anything.  I took far too long to go to the doctor as I never had a high fever, but found out after going that I have an allergy to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin.  This set me back a pretty nasty rash and allowed the E-Coli to stay in my body for an additional week.  Eventually I was given a mix of different antibiotics by a doctor at the French Medical Clinic here, which is basically the best place to receive medical treatment in all of Laos, which isn't saying a lot.

On a more positive note, I have fulfilled a long-held bucket list wish of getting a moped.  She's a beauty and is insanely fun to hop around Vientiane in.  Seriously, I love this thing.  It's a Kolao, which is a joint venture company between Korea and Laos.  I was tempted to buy a faster Suzuki or Honda motorcycle, but those things get stolen constantly.  The Kalao ended up costing only about 900 bucks brand new and I can get a weeks worth of gas for around 3 bucks.  Francis likey.  Here's a pic.

Alex and I finally have a pretty good feel for this city now.  Here's a map (click on it to make it large enough to see).  We live where the red circle is within the embassy part of town.  The black square is the downtown area.  That's easy to find because it's where all of the white people are.  Lots of great little restaurants here where you can get a good meal for less than 5 bucks.

The weather here is insane.  I've mentioned on facebook several times that it's the cool season,  yet somehow is still 95 degrees every day.  It's also the dry season.  I think we've had a combined 5 minutes of rain so far in 5 weeks.  Hot season is going to be an unbearable 110 degrees and 90 percent humidity, or so I've been told.  Thankfully it only lasts for the months of March and April.  I think I'll head back to Jersey for most of April to jointly visit family and friends while getting out of the heat.

Speaking of heat, it has made me already go through several haircuts and facial hair configurations.  I think you'll notice a pattern here.

I'm also happy to report that I've gotten my driver's license back.  On our second day in Vientiane I was pulled over for a cop for having my headlights on during the day.  Apparently, that's a no-no for some reason.  Once I was pulled over, the cops here (who are kind of scary looking communist police) took my license and drove away.  Apparently, I was supposed to follow them but it was hard to know that considering they spoke zero English.  Only later did I learn I could just give them 4 dollars and they'd walk away with no questions asked.  Instead, Alex had to enlist the help of UN security to first locate my license.  It wasn't until we offered $25 to a policeman that they finally 'found' it.  Bribery goes a long way here.

Since we have gotten here two major things have happened at home - Hurricane Sandy and the re-election of President Obama.  It was a very helpless feeling watching the reports of Hurricane Sandy and watching foreign coverage of the election helped me realize what an enormous impact US politics and policies have on the world, even here in tiny, communist, landlocked Laos.  It's easy to see how the US affects places like Iraq or Afghanistan but seeing it from here provides a very different and very real perspective that I hadn't had before.  I'm sure I'll write more on that in future posts.

Please note -I now have a US phone number that forwards to my cell phone here in Laos.  The number is 908-514-4473.  Call me!  Reminder:  Laos is 12 hours ahead of EST.

Lastly, escalators in Laos are called 'electricity ladders'.  How awesome is that?

Over and out.

-Pat

Long overdue update from Laos.

Hi all - we only had intermittent access to the internet for awhile and now that its back this post is way overdue. 

First off - it's insane what we've seen on the news and from our Facebook feeds regarding Hurricane Sandy.  It always seems like the media overhypes these things but the sense from here is that things, if anything, were worse than predicted.  Our thoughts are with all of you and Alex and I wish we could be there to help in some way.

As far as things over here, it's been a very interesting first two weeks to say the least.

As I mentioned on Facebook at some point, after 20 hours of flying we arrived in Bangkok.  Here's some photographic evidence of that.

First picture - right as we departed the plane in Bangkok.

Bags, Buddy and all.

Buddy's ID for the plane.  He is friendly.

Our 24 hours in Bangkok coincided with Alex's birthday so we treated ourselves to a suite at the Conrad Hilton Hotel.  Amazingly enough, also in Bangkok for one night, and staying in the same hotel was my college roommate Ryan and his fiancé Andrea - both of whom were en route back to Germany from a month long trip in Australia. 

In the morning, we set off for what was expected to be an 8 hour drive to Vientiane, but ended up being 14.  All the while, we had to have buddy's crate on top of the van as there wasn't enough room with all of our luggage.  The crate had these giant 'LIVE ANIMAL' stickers all over it from the flight and even though buddy was in the car with us, definitely looked like we were pulling a Mitt Romney-dog-on-the-car trick.

Buddy Mobile

We came into Laos via the Friendship Bridge connecting Thailand and Laos.  My initial impression after crossing was that Laos seemed like North Korea compared to the Westernized Thai side of the border.  My next thought was 'wow, there is no corporate advertizing here at all - awesome!'.   Well, except for the ubiquitous Lao Beer signs everywhere.  Everywhere.  

We stayed the first 5-6 days in temporary housing.  It wasn't too shabby.

Our piece of home we brought here.

My new best friend.

Then we moved into our permanent home.  I'm not going to lie - it's absolutely gorgeous.  It's hard not to feel like we live in paradise.  But, I think its also emblematic of this country in that such opulence is completely surrounded by abject poverty.  Our neighbors quite literally live in tin shacks (which I did not feel comfortable photographing as I didn't want to disrespect them in any way).  It's hard not to feel guilty but makes me feel that much more determined to do serious volunteer work here to give back in some way.

Front Porch

House

Backyard

After moving in, Alex had picked up a bad cold and between that and work she's been a bit out of it.  However, today she finally started to feel better and had off of work for Buddhist Lent, which is a huge holiday here.  Essentially, it consists of crazy drunk Lao people boat racing on the Mekong and setting off fireworks all over the place.  We thought it would be an ideal day to take our first side trip, to Buddha Park, about 45 minutes east of Vientiane.  

This group of Chinese dudes ran up to us wanting to take our picture, so we returned the favor.

Afterwards we went out to dinner at Lao Gardens, which is looking like our go-to restaurant here as it's just down the road.  It was a beautiful night following a near perfect 75 degree, no humidity day which hopefully will be very common during the dry season, which lasts from November - February.

As we were finishing dinner I think it finally sunk in that we will be living here for at least the next two years.  And I'm very happy about that.  This place is so beautiful, both aesthetically and culturally.  The laid back nature and friendliness of the people is a welcome change from NYC and really suits my personality in a way NYC did not (though believe me, I miss home!).   I can't help but feel at peace and content here and I can't wait to experience it more fully each day.

Love and miss you all!
Pat (and of course Alex, too).

Why we're moving to Laos (and some videos)

The big move is nearly here.  Alex is leaving in less than two weeks and it's all starting to feel very, very real.


How we are feeling these days.
To me, it all feels remarkably like the summer before leaving for college.  So much anticipation while having no clue what to really expect.  Leaving the comfort and security of home for something that is clearly a new chapter in life and will undoubtedly change us.  All of it is extremely exciting while terribly sad and somewhat frightening.  Also, goodbyes really, really suck.


Why are we doing this?
First and foremost, it's a tremendously great career opportunity for Alex. Working 'in the field' is the type of meaningful work she joined the UN to do.  She is hoping to do some truly good work for the people there, working directly with the Laos UXO program and literally making the everyday life of people there more safe and secure.

Additionally, the timing was pretty much perfect. In going back to school earlier this year, I was no longer bound by my career.  I specifically chose to study an online master's program as we had a pretty good idea we wanted to move somewhere kind of far away.  Not yet having children also made this easier. Oh, and we will get to travel.  A lot!

However, the real reason we are doing this is that between Alex's work and the teaching/volunteer work I will be doing, Alex and I will have a chance to truly be of service to the world at large in some small way.  It's hard to put into words why this is so important to us, but it is.  I'm sure there will be many posts on this blog relating to exactly that in the months/years ahead.

Ok, enough of that.


Good news - we have temporary housing.
For the first month in Laos - we will be staying at a small hotel.  Check here to see it.  Great news in that we'll have the internet from day 1 so we won't feel so isolated during our first few days.  Also, it has a pool and a gym.  Sweet!

From the first weekend we are there we will begin the process of finding a long term house. Excited about having an actual house with backyard for Buddy.


Some videos of Laos.
Anthony Bourdain did a trip to Laos.  Check it out if you want to see what it looks like and care to learn more about the country itself.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

That's it for now.

Blog begins

Friends/Family...welcome to the Pat and Alex in Laos blog - the purpose of which is to keep you all updated on our thoughts, pictures and experiences as we move from NYC to Vientiane, Laos.  As most of you know, Alex has transferred there to work in their UN office.  She'll be working for the Unexploded Ordinance Program, which is essentially the international initiative to help rid the country of the millions of land mines and unexploded bombs scattered throughout the country by...yup, the good old USA.  I will be continuing with my master's program (which will be done online) and doing volunteer work and/or teaching English.

Here's some basic info on the program that is bringing us to Laos for the next two years.


Some FYI on Laos as most people aren't familiar with it:

• Official name of country is Laos PDR (People's Democratic Republic) - which is, ironically, a communist country
• It is landlocked -  Burma and China to the north, Vientnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west.   

• Total population 6 million, of which 750,000 live in the capital, Vientiane.
• Climate - tropical.  Rainy season from May to November.  Dry season December to April.  Locals say there are three seasons - rainy, hot and slightly less hot.
• Laos is a very poor country.  80% of its people are subsistence farmers. Economy has opened up over the last several years due mainly to foreign investment.  Tourism is now starting to be its first real economic driver.
• Country is known for its very relaxed style (Laos PDR jokingly referred to as 'please don't rush').  It has been untouched by the Western world until recently.  No urban development, no McDonalds.  What you see is what its always been.

• Few roads, nearly no cars.  Boating on the Mekong River still the most common way to travel.
• Most Laotian people are Buddhists.  The country is essential a giant, beautiful buddhist shrine.
• Apparently the food is awesome.  Similar to Thai food.  

Our Travel Route:
Since we are taking Buddy with us, we decided to break up the trip there by first traveling to Vienna, Austria.  Alex will take buddy with her on 10/6/12.  That will give her time to get some travel paperwork for buddy completed while I stay with my family for one last week before heading out on the 13th.

On the 17th, Alex, Buddy and I will fly from Vienna to Bangkok, arriving on the morning of the 18th, which just happens to be Alex's birthday.  Sucks for her, but we are splurging on a night at the Conrad Hotel (click for hotel website).

The next day, the three of us are renting a car and driving to Vientiane.  Where in Vientiane is still to be determined.  We still don't have our temporary housing set up.  Short term rentals are not figured out for two weeks prior to move in date.

Anyway, I think that's enough for now.  Keep this site bookmarked to see what we're up to!