Portraits | STORIES from

Yardthip

19 years

Vientiane

What are you working?

I work as a volunteer sign language interpreter. I also study International Relations at the National University of Laos.

Why did you decide to study International Relations?

Because I like learning about politics, especially politics for people with disabilities. I think also because of sign language.

Why are you interested in this topic of disability policy?

Firstly, I like to participate in many activities for the disabled (social activities). I recently found out that I have a relative who is deaf. I applied for a course in the Deaf Association. I think when I deal with them I can feel them and I want to help them.

Do you 'only' work for deaf people?

Yes, I do and I am also a volunteer in the Zero Waste organization in Laos.

How many days a week do you work as a sign language interpreter?

It depends on the conference, workshop or meeting. On average 2-3 days per week.

Would you rather become a sign language interpreter in the future or work more in deaf politics or both?

Both.

How would you evaluate this situation for disabled people in general?

I think it's quite difficult for them because they can't hear and therefore they don't have access to the community or society.

Are you satisfied with your current job?

I am very satisfied with my work as a sign language interpreter because it helps society or deaf people and I love this work.

Do you also have your own workshop or do you teach sign language to other people?

No, I am only a sign language interpreter assistant. There is one main interpreter. I only started learning sign language 11 months ago.

What is your dream job?

My dream job in my childhood was a doctor, a dentist. As a child, I believed that dentists earn much more money and that dentists always wear a nice uniform to the clinic.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

I like going to the zoo because I really enjoy seeing many kinds of animals, especially monkeys.

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

At the moment I want to live in the city because there are many more possibilities and opportunities here. Even if you live in the countryside, you have to go to the city at some point to find a job or whatever.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Maybe I would put the money in the bank and in an investment. Then I will buy insurance for my family. A health insurance or maybe any insurance.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

I want to travel to the future, it is more important than the past, because in the past we could not improve or solve anything. It cannot be changed and has already happened.

But what if you can change the past?

There is nothing I can change in the past. I think this is the way of my life, I can't change the future or my past.

What is the most important thing in your life?

I think 'Time' and maybe money (is laughing...). When I have a lot of time, I can do whatever I want to do. I can relax or live with the people I love, like family or even find a job I want to do.

For example, the job as a dentist?

No, but at the moment it's a sign language interpreter and anything that might help deaf people access the community.

What can someone do to make you happy?

A compliment. (is laughing...) There are many compliments that can make me happy. For example about my appearance and my performance at work. When the participants of a conference or a meeting see that I interpret sign language, they have given me a few compliments.

What are you most afraid of?

I am afraid of heights because I had a bad experience with heights in my childhood. I went on a roller coaster in Thailand and I was afraid of falling off the roller coaster (laughs).

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

Definitely money or money I could spend for the rest of my life.

What does friendship mean to you?

I think I have many kinds of friends, but the true meaning of a friend, in my opinion, is the one with whom I can talk about everything and feel comfortable being with. Like someone with whom we can share everything, happy or sad stories, and with whom we understand each other.

And what does family mean to you?

It's hard (is laughing). For me, family means being at home when I go out or meet a lot of people and in the end I go home and live with my family.

What do you owe to your parents?

I want to give them back my success. Actually, I want to say money, but I try to answer it the nice way (laughs).

What character in a person do you value most?

I think it's about honesty, responsibility and self-love. Honesty is important for me because we live in a society with so many people that we also have to be honest at work or at school to build trust.

What do you think will happen (to you) after death?

I can't imagine it. Maybe after I die I am just dead.

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Kat

22 years

Vientiane

What are you working?

I am a cashier and also help in the café.

What did you do before?

I was an English teacher at a private school

What did you do after graduating from school?

After graduating from school in 2018, I started studying at the National University of Laos.

Do you plan to stay in your current job for the short or long term?

I think that's just a short period of time.

What do you want to do afterwards?

I want to work as a flight attendant (laughs).

Why?

Because I can work and visit many countries at the same time. For example: When the flight lands in a country, we can rest there, visit it or travel for a few days.

When will you apply?

Soon, because I will graduate next month from the business school where I am currently studying.

What would be your dream job?

I want to open my own café, like the one where I work (laughs). Because I am happy every time customers come to us and eat the food we have prepared or drink our drinks and then compliment us like "delicious" or "I like it" or something similar. That makes me happy.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

New Zealand!!! I want to fly to New Zealand. I want to relax there when I have enough money. For me, New Zealand is a very beautiful country. I find it quiet and peaceful.

Have you ever been outside of Laos?

Yes, but only Thailand (laughs).

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

In the countryside, because it is quiet there and it is very easy to find natural materials for eating or cooking. Life is easier than in the city.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I would deposit it in my bank account and earn interest. I would then travel around the world and do some beauty surgeries (laughs). And if I'm happy, I'll give it to someone who needs it.

What kind of beauty surgery?

Completely new! (laughs).

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

I don't know and I don't want to change anything about the past because that was my lesson. I would go into the future to see what mistakes will happen so that I can avoid them.

What is the most important thing in your life?

Money! (laughs). Because if you don't have money, you don't have food or anything.

Is there nothing more important for you?

The reason I mentioned money is that some people think differently. For example, my own parents. They are not happy with me if I don't have money. But when I have money, they call me "daughter"..

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

One wish and it could be anything? -Yes- I wish I was the one who could grant everyone a wish. Like a genie in a bottle. Because everyone else has a wish too. Not just me, so I want to help them by granting them a wish. To give them a better life, even if I don't get anything out of it, but I'm willing to give everyone else one.

What can someone do to make you happy?

I think a person who listens to my problems, helps me or supports me and when I've made a mistake, doesn't argue with me but just gives me some encouraging words or just tells me "everything will be fine". That's all I want. Money, I can earn my own.

What are you most afraid of?

I am most afraid of death, because when I die I don't know what will happen to me or to the people next to me. I'm probably not so afraid of what will happen afterwards, but I worry about the people who will still be alive then, like the one who lives with me. I am not sure what will happen to him. Yeah, I am just worried.

What character in a person do you value most?

For me it is empathy. Be kind to everyone, no matter what gender or skin colour, no matter how rich or poor you are. Just treat everyone equally and be gracious.

Why empathy?

For example, if I was an employee and then I get promoted to manager, I would give them some extra money or a special reward or just some happy compliments or something because I know they are working really hard.

Would you like to know the date when you will die?

I really want to know. If I know the exact date, I can fulfil all the things I most want to do or never want to experience or fulfil my bucket list. I want to do everything before I die.

What's on your bucket list?

To visit all continents. Things I have never done before or am afraid of, like dangerous or adventurous activities, e.g. bungee jumping or skydiving.

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Matina

23 years

Vientiane

What are you working?

I am an apartment manager.

What does your work look like?

I take care of the guest's booking and manage everything. Everything should be perfect, sometimes I solve some problems and also do the marketing about the flat.

How long do you work per week now?

On average, I work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.

How long have you been doing this job?

Since 1 year and 2 months.

What did you do after graduating from school?

After leaving school, I began a four-year course at the National University of Laos at the Faculty of Literature, Department of German.

Why did you study German?

I got a scholarship from the government and wanted to work as a tourist guide in Luang Prabang, my hometown.

What did you do after graduating from school?

After leaving school, I began a four-year course at the National University of Laos at the Faculty of Literature, Department of German.

What made you decide to work as an apartment manager rather than a guide?

First there was someone who always supported me to become a tourist guide, my uncle, and then he died. Now I have changed my mind, I want to become a businesswoman, so I have to learn about housing and maybe when I have enough money I would like to build my own hotel or flat in Luang Prabang, for that I have to earn a lot of money.

Why do you want to be a businesswoman?

Business is a big challenge for me and I can meet other business people in the circle to learn from them how to succeed in business. If I earn a lot of money, I can provide for my family and build a better life. It's about quality of life.

You mentioned you have 2 jobs at the moment, what else do you work?

I own a small online shop that sells jumpers.

Which job do you like more, selling jumpers or being a housing manager?

I think I prefer my online shop because I am the owner of my shop myself and I don't have a boss. I can do everything, there is no one to give me instructions..

Is it generally difficult to be a businesswoman here?

Yes, it is. Most of customer in Laos are not believe in the woman empower.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

(Is thinking...) - On my holiday I would like to go to Hualon Mountain, I would like to get close to nature, feel the peaceful life or sit with friends and drink coffee and Beerlao there.

Which country would you like to visit one day?

For abroad, I would like to go to Munich for the heritage and Oktoberfest, as I have not been to Oktoberfest in Laos or Germany before. I would like to see what's going on there.

What comes to mind when you think of Germany?

I want to join Oktoberfest - (laughs...).

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

I prefer to live in the city where it is more convenient and business is growing fast. There is also better education and health care here than in the countryside.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

(Laughs) - Hmmm, it's a dream... -(is laughing again and thinking...) - Part of my dream is to set up my own foundation to help poor children in Laos' countryside by buying them clothes and food.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something and why?

I would rather live in the moment, because the lessons or events of the past make me who I am today. I don't want to know or hope what will happen in the future. I want to live the present and make each day the best it can be, which will affect the future later.

What is the most important thing in your life?

The most important thing in life for me is 'myself', because if you have self-love or take good care of yourself and always think positively, then that transfers to everyone around you.

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

I would wish that my grandfather was still alive. He always helped me and supported me. I would like him to see my success.

What are you most afraid of?

My feelings! Because I panic quickly and for a long time.

What character in a person do you value most?

Kindness is most important for people. If you have kindness or a good heart, your thinking will be good.

What do you think will happen to you after death?

I believe that after I die, my spirit will remain in the place where I was last and in the places I have ever been.

Will your spirit stay there forever?

No, only seven days -(laughs)- . After seven days I'll go to paradise -(laughs again).

1/11

Kui

24 years

Vientiane

Why did you decide to become a barista?

The main reason is the good salary. I want to earn money myself and gain as much experience as possible. One day I would like to own my own café.

How long do you work a week?

On average I work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week.

What did you do before and why did you change your job?

I finished school in 2019 and then opened a small grocery shop at my house, but it didn't do well, so my mother and I decided to open a small barbecue shop in a side street of our village. I like to serve people and preparing them coffee.

Are you satisfied with your work?

Yes, I am proud of myself and enjoy every moment I do this work.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

I would like to travel in Thailand and Hong Kong. There are many different types of food in these 2 countries, full of sights and I want to know what everything is like in their countries.

Have you ever been outside of Laos?

Yes, the furthest country I have ever been is Thailand.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Just like the people in Laos would normally do. First I want to buy a nice house, a good car and some land. The rest I will distribute to my family and my cousins.

Why your cousins in particular?

My cousins mean a lot to me, even though they are not my parents or siblings. Whenever I was sick or needed help, they were always by my side to take care of me or my family. That's why I want to give them some money to give back to them.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

I would rather travel to the future because we cannot change anything in the past. It has already been written. So it must be better to travel into the future.

Why?

I really don't have the words to explain it, but I believe that my life has to be better in the future than in the past. If I had a skip button in front of me, I would press it immediately. I don't care whether a good or a bad future awaits me. But in fact it is difficult to answer this question.

What is the most important thing in your life?

Does the smartphone count? -Yes, sure. Everything.- If I have my mobile phone with me and get into an emergency situation, e.g. have an accident, get lost or get robbed, I can immediately ask someone for help, e.g. my friends or family.

If you had one wish, what would you wish for?

Hmmm, if I had one wish? (is thinking...) My wish is that only good things come into my life, or in simple words, that my life becomes smooth, that nothing bad happens to me. I could live my life without any problems.

What are you most afraid of?

I hate every reptile when it comes to animals. But the thing I'm most afraid of is the dark. Whenever darkness falls, it must be difficult to find the way out. I always feel panicky and unsafe when I am surrounded by darkness.

What character in a person do you value most?

Mercy and loyalty. For me, loyalty is very important. For example, if we are not loyal to ourselves or to our family, we will live in a cruel world. For example, if I were to lie to you, I would lie to everyone else.

What do you think will happen (to you) after death?

It is difficult to answer what will happen after death. We cannot decide or know which path will be waiting for us. For example, if we have done a lot of good and only do good, heaven will be waiting for us. However, if we have never done anything good in life, the only place we will be welcome is "HELL"....

1/11

Khoundeth

24 years

Vientiane

What are you working?

I work as a barista. I serve and prepare drinks for the customers and also teach them sign language.

You also teach foreigners?

Yes, most of the customers are German and Japanese, and we also have a book with pictures or in English if they want to learn.

How long do you work per week now?

10 hours and it depends on the day because there are 3 deaf people working here. Sometimes it is 8 or 9 hours a day. I usually work from Monday to Sunday, but sometimes also 5 or 6 days a week. As we are 3 colleagues, we can change our shifts.

How long have you been doing this job?

For about 4 years now.

Are you satisfied with your work?

I am really happy and satisfied with my job at the moment, because not only me, but also deaf friends of mine work here and we understand each other. The work here is very pleasant for me and makes me very happy.

What would be your dream job?

I want to work as a hairdresser because I have a friend who works as a hairdresser and earns a lot of money, but it's quite hard for me because I can't talk to customers. I am also interested in haircuts and hairstyles because I like to change my hair into many kinds of styles.

Is he deaf?

No. He advised me to work together in the hairdressing salon, but my hearing and speech impairment makes it difficult to do this job.

How did you become deaf?

When I was born, I could hear normally. Then, shortly after I was born, I got dengue fever, according to my parents. As we lived in the country and it is quite difficult to find a doctor, I didn't get to the hospital in time, so I became deaf.

What kind of person prefers to come to the Café ?

Mostly it is Japanese and Americans who are interested in sign language and therefore come to this café and try to learn sign language from me. This café is supported by a Japanese organization. Deaf people also enjoy this café because they know their own sign language and in Laos the deaf society is quite small, which means that most of them already know each other.

Do deaf people have the possibility to work here in Laos, or is there only the possibility to work in a café or something similar?

It's quite hard for me to find a job because I only finished secondary school for the deaf here in Vientiane and then I went back to my home province of Vientiane. I started looking for a job in my hometown, but there was no work for me. One day I saw an ad on Facebook from Min Nano Cafe and I decided to apply. And now I have been working here for 4 years.

Is there a special school for the deaf in Laos?

Only one school in Vientiane, another in Luang Prabang and in Savannakhet, but they are already closed.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

Usually on my holidays I go to the Mekong riverbank or to the night market in Vientiane to meet my deaf friends. During the big holidays, I prefer to go to Vientiane province, my hometown, to take care of my nephew.

Why your nephew?

Because my family is very important to me and I moved to the capital to work. So when I have a long holiday, I prefer to go to my hometown and take care of him.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I take some money and buy whatever I want to buy, e.g. clothes, phone or land, and save some money for my parents in the province.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

I want to solve something from the past. At that time I tried to find a job in society or in a company that wouldn't let me work and I was really tired of it because I was looking for so many jobs and it took a long time. So if I could work through my past, I would make myself find that job sooner.

What is the most important thing in your life?

For me it is my job. If we as deaf people have a job, it means that we can take care of ourselves and live by ourselves even though we are deaf or disabled. When deaf people have a job or can live independently, they are very proud and realise the value of their lives.

What can someone do to make you happy?

By customers who visit this café and are interested in sign language and want me to teach them. This makes me feel that people appreciate or are interested in sign language and include deaf people in the society.

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

I wish for everything that I lack at the moment. For example, money, a new motorcycle or clothes.

What are you most afraid of?

Angry customers, for example, I serve a customer and she/he is not satisfied with it because I just started this work. As a deaf person, it is normal to be afraid of society not appreciating or accepting you. When I started serving coffee in this café, I was afraid that I might serve the wrong order or the wrong drink to the customers because as a deaf person I cannot speak and hear. As a child I could not go out in society because my parents are very strict with me, so I could not find other people in society.

What character in a person do you value most?

For me it is respect because I think many people in society should respect each other. I like it when we deaf people talk or exchange with each other, and I like it when society treats or respects us equally to give us quality.

What do you think will happen (to you) after death?

I believe that when people have died, they become ghosts. Because when my parents died, they still cared and worried about their children. I have also seen ghosts.

What was it like when you saw a ghost?

One night after my parents passed away, I saw them as a ghost taking care of my younger brother. The next day I offered alms to the monk and it felt so good.

What do you miss most in your daily life?

Most deaf people miss certain things. Among other things, it is very difficult for them to be accepted in society. As an illustration, when I go to the night market and meet normal people who are not deaf, they often act as if deaf people are disgusting and not accepted.

What do you think is the most important thing to make deaf people more comfortable?

For me, it's a sign language interpreter because when I go somewhere and I want to communicate, I always call an interpreter to communicate between me and the non-deaf people. When I go back to my hometown and I want to talk to my nephew, I always need an interpreter.

1/10

Miemee

24 years

Pax Xeuang

What are you working?

I am the one who manages everything on the farm on the whole and also does some of the work. I also take care of marketing and trade. There are mainly tasks that we have to do, such as plant propagation, pruning and tree care. But at this time of year, we only harvest the fruit.

The fruit seller on the roadside, do they get the fruit from you?

Yes, they do. But that's not most of our customers. Most of our customers are in Luang Prabang, Vientiane Capital, Oudomxay, Attapeu, Pakse and also in Vietnam.

Do they come with trucks or how does it work?

For the south, e.g. Pakse, we deliver with a logistics company. Customers from Vietnam and Vientiane come with their own trucks for collection.

What did you learn or study?

I studied at the Pak Seung College of Agriculture and Forestry.

Are you satisfied with your work?

Yes, very satisfied. It makes me happy and sometimes also tired.

What would be your dream job?

I want to have my own farm, as this is a family farm, which includes my parents, siblings and cousin, so we share the profits. There are lots of ideas from each of them.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

Every waterfall in nature. So far only in Laos. I would also like to go abroad, but I haven't had the opportunity yet.

And what countries would you like to visit?

If I have a chance, I would like to go to Georgia and Finland, these two countries have very beautiful cities and peace. I also want to see the northern lights and touch the snow.

Why these two countries?

Because I like to watch the people on TikTok picking fruit and they have a very beautiful nature, very quiet and peaceful. The workers I followed on TikTok earn very good money, have excellent views and plenty of peace and quiet. I enjoy watching them.

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

A rural area like the one I live in? If it's called the country, I'd rather choose the country. In the city, it's more convenient to find food, travel or electronic devices, but it's crowded and you spend a lot of money. Here, food is also easy to find, there are some food trucks passing through the street, or we eat in nature, which is more peaceful. I might disagree if it was more rural because I don't know how good the electricity or water system is.

Is it generally difficult to be respected by men as a woman in agriculture?

No, it's not. The workers who work with me are like a family, we share the work and help each other a lot. Customers respect me as well.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I would buy a tractor. I want to use it on my farm and also invest, e.g. if someone wants to adjust their soil surface to avoid flooding, they could hire us and we could make a lot of money. And if there is still some money left (a tractor costs about 800-900 million KIP [~39.000 - 44.000 USD] ), I will build an irrigation system for my farm.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

Can I choose the present? -Yeah, sure!- I don't think much about the past and the future. But I have some plans for the future and it's okay if they don't materialize. I'm happy with the present.

What is the most important thing in your life?

I think myself. The people around me are also important, but I have to take care of myself first before I take care of others. For example, if I want to help someone, I have to be independent first before I can help them.

What can someone do to make you happy?

With empathy. Anything where you can empathize will not lead to any problems. Even at work or with other things. If we can empathize with the other person, the work will go smoothly.

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

I don't want to wish for anything. Honestly, every time I go to the temple, I don't ask for anything either. I offer some alms to the temple, but I don't ask for anything, like wealth or success. As Buddhism teaches, there is nothing and no God who can help you unless you make it happen.

What are you most afraid of?

I've never seen a ghost or don't know if one exists, but I'm scared of ghosts. Because when I was a kid, I lived in the woods and my friends and family used to play tricks on me about ghosts. Nowadays I'm not so scared and I don't worry about it anymore.

What do you owe to your parents?

I think I look after them as well as I can, but if the opportunity arises to go travelling with them, I will do that and book some tours for them.

What character in a person do you value most?

Loyalty. If we work together and cheat or lie to each other, there will only be problems. I think everyone should be honest, not only at work but also in society. For example, if someone speaks very nicely to us in front of us, but only says bad things about us behind our backs after they have left.

What do you think will happen (to you) after death?

I do believe in a world after death, but I rather believe that if we do something good, we go to a good place and if we do something bad, we go to a bad place. I don't know much about it, but I know that if we have done something bad, it will be avenged somehow, for example if we have killed an animal, our life will be shortened. That is Karma.

Are you positive about the future?

It's terrible that so much forest is being destroyed and then burnt this year. It causes so much air pollution because it hasn't rained much for almost 5-6 months. I would say average.

Are you worried about climate change?

Yes, because I've never seen such air pollution, and it didn't rain in May and June, so we had to wear a mask even when we were indoors.

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Tik

24 years

Vientiane

Since when have you owned your own bakery?

Since end of 2021.

What did you do before?

I used to work as a sales manager for a big club here in Vientiane. I had to take care of my staff and get customers to buy our beer to increase sales.

What was your reason for the change?

I would not have done the nightclub work permanently. If I was still working there, it would possibly affect my health because I would have to drink beer and alcohol every day. Sometimes I had to keep in touch with the customers, whether you like it or not. It's also about the work shift, I had to work all the time.

How long do you work per week now?

On average I work 8 hours per day. Four days a week I bake, three days I take care of organisational things like customer relations etc.

Are you satisfied with your current job?

I never had this job in mind. One day, my little sister was baking biscuits in the kitchen. They smelled so good and tasted delicious. From that day on, I baked biscuits almost every day and tried to make different kinds of biscuits. Later, my friends and family tasted my biscuits and told me how delicious they were. At that moment, I knew what I wanted to become. So the next day I bought a mini oven. It started as something I do every day, became my hobby and is now a part of my life. Then I decided to open my own business, hoping to make some money.

Would you say this is your dream job?

I would say it's my dream job at the moment and I'm enjoying every second I'm doing it. I just want to see how far I can go in this business. Another reason is that I've come so far that I couldn't just give up. If what I do was a tree, for example, it would be ready to be harvested now.

What do you like most about this job?

I would rather say that it constantly challenges me because I always have to be on trend. I have to learn and try new recipes, adapt them and turn them into my own style.

Is it hard to run your own shop?

Yes, it is. Especially the costs. That includes: the rent, the material, the decoration and more. I have to take care of every single thing. I'm still new in the business and only have a few customers, so I have to work very hard at it.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I will mostly keep it as I don't have anything I want now. However, I'd split some of the money to buy some new things for my own shop such as new decoration or taking bakery classes.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

I prefer to say no to the past, I have left it behind and I don't want to relive it. If it is possible, I prefer to travel into the future because I want to see how everything will happen in the future.

What is the most important thing in life for you?

For me it's my family, because I hate losing people I love. We live, eat and talk with each other almost every day and it would be sad if one of them was missing.

What are the benefits you receive from your family and why are they so important to you?

They support me in everything, especially my older sister, she supports me in almost everything, like college tuition fees, clothes and even if I want to go somewhere or eat something, she takes me there. No questions asked.

What does friendship mean to you?

Besides family, friendship is also very important to me. Whenever I think too much about work and then ask them "Do you want to go out tonight or do something?" they won't turn me down, no matter what. The same is true when I have a difficult time, like a break-up or stress. My friends are always there for me.

What character in a person do you value most?

I like people who can keep their promises no matter what, because I don't like being lied to. You have to keep your word.

What do you think will happen (to you) after death?

It could be empty and dark. I'm not sure if I should talk about it or not, but one day when I was on my way home after school, there was this motorbike. It dragged me along so that my bike went down and my head hit something. At that moment I didn't feel anything, I was very dizzy. I think that if I was dead, it would feel the same.

You were unconscious?

Yes, it took me a moment to notice the people around me shouting "Call an ambulance, quick!". Then the ambulance came and took me to the hospital.

1/3

Khua

28 years

Luang Prabang

What are you working?

I am a painter and I paint pictures.

How long do you work per week?

On average, 6 hours a day, everyday a week.

How long have you been doing this job?

I started in 2010 when I was in secondary school.

What do you particularly like about your job?

Firstly, it's something I like in general. I also feel happier painting than I do with other jobs. When I paint, I can bring my own imagination into the pictures.

What did you learn or study?

I studied General English at the University of Luang Prabang.

Would you consider this profession to be your dream job?

Yes, because I have plans and want to improve my work in the future. But I also like photography. I learned it in the past. It's also very interesting for me. If you don't learn it, you have no idea about photography. It's very difficult to take a picture that someone wants to buy. You have to learn a lot.

Why did you decide to focus on nature in your pictures?

Because of my feelings. I feel too bored to paint big cities and crowded places. When I paint beautiful pictures, such as a beautiful river or a mountain, I want these places to be real. I don't like to paint temples, monks or people.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

I would like to visit ancient cultures, like old cities in China or even Thailand. But not the big megacities.

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

Neither in the city nor in the countryside. Something in between, not too far from the city. It's easy to get into the city there and at the same time you have more nature and fewer people. I lived in Vientiane and Luang Prabang for 20 years and felt quite bored.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I don't need anything. I am currently planning to open a workshop or gallery for my paintings here in Luang Prabang. I would also buy food for my school. When I was in high school, I saw that they need food so they can have extra meals.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

(Thinks for a long time) Past. I would like to change some of the customs of my local culture. I'm Hmong. In my culture, if a girl gets married and divorced, she can't go back to her house. I want to change this part of the culture in a better way.

How would you do this?

That's just what people believe. I would travel back in time and talk to the village chief. Maybe they will understand and change it in a better way. Many things are only changed by time.

What is the most important thing in your life?

Not to bother other people. Live happily and don't think too much about what is coming or what will happen.

Why 'not bother other people'?

Because I don't want others to bother me too (laughs).

What can someone do to make you happy?

When people help other people in need, that makes me happy. The same goes for helping or rescuing animals. That makes me happy, even if I have to cry sometimes.

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

If Buddhism is right, then I don't want to be reborn, neither as a human being nor as an animal. Because the world is like a prison. All people have to suffer from something like war or illness. They want to have more money or a big house, so they nearly destroy the world.

What are you most afraid of?

(Thinks for a long time) There are many things. Sometimes I can see what will happen to friends or relatives in the future. Even though I know it, I can't change it. I don't know why. It's as if someone is telling me what will happen in the future or guiding me there. I had a dream 10 years ago where someone was leading me to a bridge over a steam. There was a flood that flooded the whole village. After 7 days, the flood was a reality. When it happened, my whole body was shaking. I am afraid because it will happen and even if I want to change it, I cannot.

What does friendship mean to you?

Friendship can be a power to protect you, your friends and families.

What character in a person do you value most?

Genuine reactions from people, like honesty. Sometimes people who have a lot of money do donate, but in reality they only do it for business reasons and not for the ideal.

When you think about the future, do you tend to be optimistic or pessimistic?

I'm not worried about the future. Catastrophes, wars, climate change are developments in our world. I don't care about these.

What do you think will happen (to you) after death?

According to my religion, I will return to where my spirit came from. In Hmong culture, it is believed that after death, you return to the village you came from to receive a "spiritual passport or ID card" and then your spirit can go to another world. Although I have studied a lot and know a lot about science, a spiritual experience brought me more 50% into science and 50% into religion/culture.

1/11

Chanty

32 years

Pax Xeuang

What are you working?

I am a foreman on a pomelo farm. I look after all the workers by receiving an order from my boss.

What did you do before?

I did an internship on a farm in Thailand. I worked in the grape greenhouse. This place is an agritourism attraction, there is also a café, a restaurant, a zoo, a swimming pool, a flower garden and at harvest time tourists can come and eat fresh grapes from the vine. Then I moved here to work.

Are you satisfied with your work?

I am very happy because I really like what I do.

What do you like about farming?

To be honest, I love planting, even if my dream has not yet come true. I dream of having my own pomelo and green-skinned orange plantation. The reason why I want to start a pomelo and a green-skinned orange farm is that these two fruits are easy to store, as they can be stored longer after harvest than other fruits, about a few weeks.

How far away are you from the dream of owning your own farm?

It's already underway. I've already bought land for it, and last time I bought some sprouts to plant. But there is no one to take care of it. Now I'm preparing the sprouts and will plant them next year.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

I would like to visit a farm in Paksong [place in Laos] and to interview the owner to find out how things are going on his farm.

And what other countries would you like to visit?

Just Thailand (smiles).

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

I prefer to live in the countryside because the weather is clear and nature is alive there. In the city, we have to spend a lot of money and it's very crowded.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

If I won 1 billion KIP [~50.000 USD], I would build a school in the countryside, because in the city the government already covers the costs, but in the countryside we have to contribute to the funding ourselves. I would also like to buy learning materials for the school, e.g. stationery, textbooks and especially computers. I want to help disadvantaged, disabled and poor people by giving them the opportunity to learn.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

Future, because I want to realize my dream.

Do you want to skip the time in between?

No, but I still want to be in the present so that I can build my dream with my own hands.

What is the most important thing in your life?

There are so many things. But the most important are time, health and money. When I was young, I didn't have much money, so I had to earn it. Then when we get old, we have money but no time. And when we are healthy, we have lots of opportunities for everything.

What can someone do to make you happy?

(Smiles) I am happy when someone, a project or an organization supports my business.

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

I wish someone could help me or support me with the irrigation system. And I wish I was successful at work.

What are you most afraid of?

For me, it's the inflation of money.

When you look at your daughter's future, do you think it will be optimistic?

I think she will be optimistic. When she grows up, I want her to learn about farming so that she can take over the marketing after me.

What do you think will happen (to you) after death?

(Laughs) It's hard to say or explain, but I believe in heaven and hell.

1/18

Phonethip

34 years

Pak Ou

What are you working?

I am a teacher at a school. Before I teach my pupils, I have to prepare the lessons for each class for the following week at least a week in advance. It's not like in primary school, where each teacher has their own subject, so they have to research and take turns teaching in the classrooms.

How much time do you spend preparing at home?

About 1-2 hours at home.

What did you study?

I studied teacher training at the Luang Prabang College of Education (Sarng Khu). It is the college for teacher training only.

What subjects do you teach?

Geography and history or simply a category called society.

Are you satisfied with your job?

(Is laughing...) Yes!

What do you like about your job?

I enjoy imparting knowledge to my students and helping them to understand the world or to help shape their future. That makes me happy.

What would be your dream job?

Above all, I wanted to become a teacher because I wanted to be a teacher as a child. If that hadn't been possible, I would have liked to become a nurse because I like helping patients or victims. As a teacher, I am the one who has to talk to the students when they don't want to learn so that they can concentrate more on learning for their own future.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

When I am on holiday, I would like to relax in nature, for example at a waterfall or by the river with my family after a long week of lessons and studying. An amusement park for my children is also a good place then.

What about holidays abroad?

I also want to go abroad, I want to see the sea because we don't have a sea here. I've seen a lot of people go to New Zealand or Singapore. I like the beautiful nature in New Zealand and in Singapore I like how modern they are, for example the light decoration or the big LED screens everywhere in the city. At night, they switch on the lights around the trees or buildings by the river at night.

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

I prefer living in the countryside to the city because it's peaceful here and there's not so much going on. Here we can eat what we want, for example collect bamboo or vegetables in the countryside and cook with them. It's different to the city, where we have to pay for everything and have a lot to do.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

If I win 1 billion KIP [~50,000 USD], I will give part of it to my parents and buy a property for my children. I'll save a portion in the bank for my children and use the rest to travel with my family to a country like New Zealand or a modern city like Singapore.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

Future, because if I travel to the past, I might not be able to change much. So I prefer to travel to the future to see or learn my mistakes, then I can avoid them or make them better.

What is the most important thing in your life?

My health and my children. Because when I'm healthy, I can look after my family. And as for the children, I worry about them, because if something happens to me, I want them to be able to look after themselves and not go off the rails.

What can someone do to make you happy?

For me, it's enough if my family like my parents, my husband or my cousins are happy. I want them to be happy and stay strong. That's all I want for myself. On the other hand, I am also the one who worries or is unhappy when they are unhappy.

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

The only thing I want is for everyone in my family to stay healthy. Even if we had a lot of money but were ill, it wouldn't mean anything. It would mean that we could travel, but if our health is bad, we can't go anywhere. For me, health comes first and then money.

What are you most afraid of?

With animals, it's geckos and rats. To be honest, I'm not afraid of them, but I get a tingling sensation every time I see them. Apart from the animals, I'm afraid of myself. I don't like being alone, but not because of ghosts. For example, when I sit alone outside the house at night, I'm scared. I can imagine so many things...

What character in a person do you value most?

I am impressed when someone helps me in the way I have helped them.

What do you think will happen (to you) after death?

I believe that I won't feel anything after I die. But according to religion, you go to heaven if you do good or to hell if you do bad. That doesn't mean I don't believe in it. But when we die, there will definitely be nothing.

1/18

Thone

41 years

Luang Prabang

What are you working?

I usually weave and sell too, because if only my family weaves, that may not be enough to meet demand.

How long do you work per week?

On average, I only weave 4 hours a day because I also have to sell. When there is no customer, I weave. Some days I have to get up very early to dye the cotton or prepare it before weaving. I weave every day, except on Buddhist holidays. That means I only work 28 days a month, but I still sell and open the shop every day.

How long have you been doing this job?

For about 25 years. I started weaving when I was 12 years old because I really love this profession. After graduating from high school, I decided not to continue my studies/apprenticeship and to work exclusively as a weaver.

Are you satisfied with your current job?

I like and love what I do now. If there was a project to teach the new generation to preserve this culture, I would teach it in the mountains or in very poor places in the countryside. This would allow women to earn some money and spend it on their families.

What do you particularly like about your job?

I like to weave and design a new pattern. I usually weave a length of fabric first and then design a pair of trousers, a shirt or a bag. I am the one who designs the pattern and the others cut it.

Do the patterns follow a certain sequence or are they random?

No, for the pattern I will use the same as for the previous generations because this pattern is very popular. I used to make a modern pattern, but it didn't sell as well as the old one and the older it gets, the more expensive it is. So I want to keep this pattern. Unless I have to make new patterns for shirts. I follow the old pattern but change the colours, because if I stop weaving this pattern, the customers will ask for it. This Phanom pattern was once also used for the palace.

Who are your customers?

The share of Laotian customers is about 40 %, the rest are Thai and foreign customers, but mainly people from the capital.

What would be your dream job?

I want to become a fabric collector. I want to collect samples from every province, if possible, and then build a fabric museum displaying samples from tribes, ethnicities and provinces.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

(Laughs) I want to travel to the USA and Japan. The Japanese used to come here to learn from us how to dye and pattern. I also want to see their work and some Japanese ethnic groups who weave just like ours. I also export this pattern by mail to Japan where it is cut for making bags or shirts.

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

I want to live in the countryside. I want to learn how the local ethnic groups live or see what their lives are like. Because in the city they are already civilised, but in the countryside there is much more to develop.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I will advance my career and develop this place so that there are more looms and workers here to produce more different products for the market demand.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

I prefer to travel into the future because I can't change anything about the past. I just want to make my present and future life as good as possible.

What is the most important thing in your life?

The most important thing in life is family. Family means bad as well as the best for me personally. For example, if they have done something bad, they are still my family. I can't exclude them. And if they have done something good, there is a smart person in the family and he/she has graduated, it makes me very proud.

What can someone do to make you happy?

If someone like my children, my relatives or my colleagues, someone I am very fond of, graduates or works in this field of weaving, that is all I want.

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

I want to achieve any kind of success in my life and wish happiness to my family and good friends.

What are you most afraid of?

What I am most afraid of is poverty (laughs), of not having any money left to finance my daily life or to support my children's education.

What character in a person do you value most?

Goodness and loyalty. Like when I do business with others and then they betray or cheat me. That's why I want everyone to be good and loyal to each other.

What do you think will happen to you after death?

I don't know either, but we could end up in ashes. According to Buddhist belief, after death, if we have done something good, we go to heaven and, on the contrary, to hell. But I believe in goodness and sin.

1/13

Anousith

43 years

Vientiane

What are you working?

I work as a security guard in a factory.

What did you do before?

I used to work as a chauffeur for the National Assembly of Laos.

How long do you work per week now?

On average, I work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How long have you been doing this job?

Since 5 years.

How did you become a security guard?

My wife was pregnant and she worked for the government. She was able to take 3 months maternity leave, so I decided to quit my job and take care of our son for a few years until he could go to kindergarten. After that, I started working as a security guard.

Are you satisfied with your current job?

Average. It is not particularly exciting or disappointing. But for example: next week I have night shift. So I could do another job during the day if I want a bit more money.

What is your educational background?

I learned business administration. The National Assembly of Laos gave me a scholarship for this training. They taught us general accounting, bank accounting, secretarial and other subjects. It took about a year and 6 months. I was 34 years old then.

What would be your dream job?

Actually, I would like to have my own business. For example, open a grocery shop or a construction company. That would be better. If I had that chance, I would take it. But it's difficult with capital.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

I want to take my family to another province like Vang Vieng or Xamneua. To be honest, I have never been abroad, only to Thailand.

Which other country would you like to visit one day?

I only have one life. Of course I would like to, but I haven't had the chance yet. If it were possible, I would say China.

Why particularly?

Obviously because it's so beautiful! And I've seen some clips in Tik Tok, for example, where people go to the top of a mountain to see nature. For example, the glass bridge. Yes, I would like to see that one day.

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

Hmmm, I prefer to live in the country, on my own land, because I like farming and agriculture.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

(Is smiling and thinking...) - First I will buy some land and then start my own business. It's good that I don't have any debts to pay.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

If it is possible, I would like to go back in time to continue my studies, find a good job and then start a business. At that time, I couldn't imagine that the economy would grow so fast, for example agriculture. Nobody wanted to do that back then.

What is the most important thing in your life?

The future of my own son and my family, because he is the one who will inherit after me. Everything I have done, I have done only for him, for his own good. I want him to live in a better future.

What can someone do to make you happy?

It is the love of family. Seeing them by my side every day is all I want in this life (is smiling...)

When you look to the future, are you more afraid of it or are you looking forward to it?

It will be better, better than now. I really have no idea what will happen, but I will stand tall and face it. If you ask me if I'm afraid of it? No, I'm just worried.

If you had one wish, what would you wish for?

I wish my family and my cousin good luck and a healthy life.

What are you most afraid of?

Snakes! I have never been bitten. I'm just afraid of their venom and feel tingly every time I see a snake.

What do you owe to your parents?

Everything, I think. They sometimes worried because I did bad things when they were alive.

What character in a person do you value most?

Respect. If everyone shows respect to the other, there can be no problems.

What do you think will happen to you after death?

I don't know, but according to religion, if you have done so many bad things in human life, the place waiting for you is just hell. Just don't sin and everything will be fine.

1/12

Nanoy

45 years

Naxao

What are you working?

I am a farmer and plant sticky rice and manioc with my children. I plant from 7am to 11am and then rest or go back to my house.

How long do you work per week now?

Actually, you only need one day a week, e.g. today we plant together on my farm with 60-70 people, then on a friend's farm or on a local farm and so on. Some days I plant every day.

How long have you been doing this job?

I started planting when I was 12-13 years old. But I have been helping my parents since I was a small child. Together with my sister, we worked with our own buffalo to adapt the soil before planting the rice. Now we are grown up, married and live separately. But I still live with my mother and take care of the farming and the children. I also have an agricultural machine, but I never learnt how to use it.

When did you finish school?

I finished primary school because there was no one to look after my mum. So I dropped out of school and worked on the farm with my parents and looked after them. I have 2 children. The eldest has his own family and the younger one still lives with me.

What if you could travel back in time to continue your education?

No, I don't think I can't do it. Because my brain is too stupid (is laughing).

Are you satisfied with your job?

I like what I'm doing now because there's no other job I could do now. It's part of my life now. I do it every day and when people ask me if I'm happy, I say yes. I also have a motorbike, but I don't dare ride it to look for another job.

What part of the job makes you happy?

I love working with lots of people. For example, when we're harvesting or planting.

What would be your dream job?

Now I'm old and don't want to do anything anymore.

And when you were a child?

I also wanted to do something else, but I just didn't know how I was going to ride my motorbike into the city to look for a job with my friends.

What if you could ride a motorbike?

I could be a maid or a cook, but mainly I would like to work in the kitchen.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

I would like to travel around the country. I used to go to Xam Nuea with my husband, but I haven't travelled any further. So if I have the opportunity, I would like to visit all the places in Laos and see what is happening there. I'd rather not go abroad because, as I've seen on TV, it scares me.

Why do you think it is dangerous outside Laos?

I have never been outside of Laos. It scares me every time I see it on TV, for example when they would kidnap me somewhere and sell me as a laborer.

Have you ever been outside the Luang Prabang district?

I once travelled to the south, to Vientiane, with my sister. But I didn't go anywhere, I just spent a few nights there and then travelled back. In the north, I was in Oudomxay and Bokeo.

How about a visit to Thailand?

Yes, I would like to. I want to visit my sister in Bangkok. My sister moved there 20-30 years ago. She has always invited me to visit her, but I just can't go, I have to look after my mum.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I will give alms to the temple and from the rest I will first travel in Laos and then go abroad when I have a lot of money. I want to show my friends that I have travelled to this or that province.

Do you want to see snow or the sea?

I really want that. I prefer not to travel alone, but I will take a few friends with me to chat along the way.

1/15

Phetdavone

50 years

Vientiane

What are you working?

I own my own grocery shop.

How long do you work per week now?

On average, I work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week.

How long have you been doing this job?

I opened this store in 2018, before the pandemic and moved here. That was almost 6 years ago.

What did you do before?

I worked as a cook at a private school from 2004 to 2016. I had to prepare the food for the students.

Why did you change your job?

You know, it was a private school and the tuition was quite high. There were only a few students. Therefore, the school was finally closed.

Are you satisfied with your current job?

Of course, because I opened it in my own home. So I can take care of my business and my home at the same time. The advantage of having your own store is that you can open or close it whenever you want.

What would be your dream job if it could theoretically be anything?

(Is thinking...) I am very happy with what I do. If everything was possible, I would say that I want to open a bigger store and import many products. Just like D-Mart (big supermarket chain in Laos), your own store that you can open or close it whenever you want.

What kind of products do you sell?

Most of the products are snacks, drinks, ice cream and toys. My target customers are the kids around here.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

For a long-term vacation, I would go to the sea in Thailand.

Have you been outside of Laos or Thailand?

My sister from Australia and her english husband took me on trips, in 2013 to Singapore. Before the pandemic, in 2018 to Cambodia.

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

I chose the city because there are many practical things, such as transportation, department stores, restaurants, tourist attractions, and because it is close to the hospital. There is nothing in the countryside that interests me.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

First I renovate my house and open my own supermarket, give some alms to the temple and then take a trip. Today I will win 6 million baht in the Thai lottery! (is laughing…)

Why do you want to donate to the temple?

Because it is a tradition that parents teach and I also believe in. For example, if I have a lot of money, I build a hall and a bath, or if I have a temple in the countryside, I build a road leading to the temple.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something and why?

Definitely the future, because I don't want to change anything and return to the past. I chose the future because I want to see what happens in the future. So then I can go back to the present and be prepared for it.

What is the most important thing in your life?

The most important thing in life for me is my family, because seeing them happy, healthy and prosperous makes me ten times happier.

What can someone do to make you happy?

When someone gives me money. For example, my husband or my son.

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

I wish happiness and health to all in my family.

What are you most afraid of?

The one thing I fear the most is illness. Because when I'm sick, I'm afraid that no one will take care of me.

What do you owe to your parents?

Owe them anything...? (is thinking...) I don't think so (laughs), because the only thing I owe now is to take care of my father and make him as comfortable as possible. My mother has already passed away.

What character in a person do you value most?

I like people who are cheerful in their own lives, friendly and always on the bright side. Because I like to separate myself from bad energy or toxic people who would spoil my mood.

What do you think will happen to you after death?

I don't know what path awaits me, but I want to go to heaven and become a beautiful angel and be reborn as a human being.

Do you believe in reincarnation as an animal?

Yes. That's why I have to go to the temple, give alms to the monk and do a lot of good things.

1/13

Souliya

53 years

Vientiane

When did you start working?

I started working as a construction worker when I was 20.

How long do you work a week?

On average I work 6 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Why did you want to become a crêpe seller?

At the time, there were a lot of shops selling crepe and I wanted to do that too, so I jumped into it.

Have you learned how to make crêpes yourself?

I have a recipe from my friend. He taught me everything, from mixing the base to wrapping it in the package.

Is it difficult to start a business here?

It's definitely hard, but I love it, so everything seems easy to me.

What is your dream job?

I've had enough now because I'm too old to start another one, or I could say my dream job is to just lie down and do nothing.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I want to buy a new car and land, and the rest I will give to the temple. For example, build a hall or a toilet for the temple.

Why do you want to give it to the temple?

Only to give alms for the good future.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

I don't want to go into the past or the future. I have chosen the present. It has already happened, so I don't talk about it.

What is the most important thing in your life?

For me it is my family, my wife and my daughter. We can help each other when we get sick.

What can someone do to make you happy?

Giving me money (laughs...).

If you had one wish, what would you wish for?

I wish my family health and that they do not fall ill.

What are you most afraid of?

Snakes! (is laughing...) I am most afraid of snakes.

Have you ever been bitten by a snake?

Never. But every time I see them, I get goose bumps.

What character in a person do you value most?

For me it's a kindness, if you are kind then everyone will love you or want to be friends with you.

What do you think will happen (to you) after death?

After death? (is laughing...) After I die, I might be a ghost and go to heaven.

For how long?

For 100 days, and then the angel comes down and takes me to heaven (is laughing again...)

1/13

Tia

54 years

Vientiane

What are you working?

I own my own smoothie shop and sell fruit smoothies.

How long do you work per week now?

On average, I work 10 hours a day, 6 days a week.

What did you do before?

I used to work as a tailor. I worked for a garment factory and a small tailor shop.

Why did you change your job?

Since my eyes were so terrible that I couldn't even put the thread in the needle, I decided to stop.

Are you satisfied with your job?

Absolutely! It's very simple. It's my own business, so I can open and close my own shop whenever I want. It's much better than being an employee in the office. For example, I don't have to go to work on time, I just wake up and open my shop and I'm very happy with that.

What would be your dream job?

I myself love what I do. I like buying and selling things.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

I want to travel the world, especially Europe, because I've never been there.

How do you imagine life in Europe?

Life in Europe? Hmmm... (is thinking) Sure it could be nicer than here in Laos, no pollution anywhere. I want to experience it, I want to see and touch the snow and the sea there with my own eyes.

Have you ever seen snow?

No, I haven't. I only saw it on television.

Sometimes the temperature is far below 0°C. Would you like to go to a place with temperatures below 0°C?

I am ready for it. I really want to see snow for once in my life.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

First I will buy a big new house with a swimming pool, a new car and then travel around Europe.

Which countries in Europe?

France and maybe Germany. Please take me to Germany (is laughing).

If you could theoretically change everything in the past, what would you change?

If I could, I would write down the lottery numbers, then travel back in time and become a new billionaire. Or when I was young. I would focus on my studies and thus have a good opportunity to get jobs with a big amount of salary

What is the most important thing in your life?

The most important thing in life for me is my family because I love each of them, want to see them happy and don't want to lose any of them.

What can someone do to make you happy?

Taking care for each other.

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

I wish my family to live their own lives happily and prosperously.

What are you most afraid of?

Snakes.

Why? Have you ever been bitten by a snake?

No. But I always imagine it like on the news in the Thai channel, the snakes always come up from the toilet or somewhere in the house and they scare me the most.

What does family mean to you?

My family is my top priority. Whenever I have something or get sick, we will always be there for each other, because I couldn't find anyone like them in this life.

What do you owe to your parents?

I owe my mother a lot of apologies. Ever since I was a child, I have always argued with my mother. Every time she mumbled or misunderstood me, we would start a fight.

What character in a person do you value most?

For me, it's loyalty and mutual care. Everyone in the family must be honest with the others. Otherwise there will be a disaster.

What do you think will happen to you after death?

I am sure that after death I will go to heaven. For I have earned many merits and done many things in my human life.

1/11

Keung

56 years

Vientiane

What are you working?

I work with computers, magazines, newspapers and sort books in the agriculture department of the National Library of Laos. I organise books, enter the ISBN and information about the province for the books or magazines.

How long do you work per week?

On average, I work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.

What did you do before?

After I finished school, I worked at the Lanexang Hotel and then resigned because my mother passed away. After that, my sister-in-law suggested I work here.

After doing different jobs, which job has given you the most satisfaction?

I would say that I get the most satisfaction from supporting reading, especially when we take the travelling library to another town and give books away to schools or somewhere in the countryside. I like it when the pupils come and take the books to read.

What do you like about books?

I like reading books, sometimes when I have nothing to do I read and I also play computer games. It's fun because there are fairy tales or Lao stories. My boss always says, if you have nothing to do, just pick up a book and read something. Every afternoon, students from the school come to the first floor and we give them books. It's about imagination and refreshing my knowledge from the outside, because my body likes to keep learning.

What would be your dream job?

To be honest, I wanted to be a police officer. I actually wanted to be a police officer a long time ago, but every time I went to the interviews, I was rejected because of my height. They asked for 160cm and I'm not qualified.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

I would like to travel to Vangvieng or Feung City or to natural attractions in Laos.

And abroad?

I like traveling to Thailand because it borders directly on Laos. I travel to Thailand very often, e.g. to Udon, Nong Khai, Khon Kaen. Preferably only to Thailand. My siblings have also invited me to travel to Vietnam, but I don't want to. My name Keung is actually of Vietnamese origin.

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

To be honest, I prefer to live in the countryside, it's convenient for me. My brother's house is also in the countryside. Because in the countryside you can't spend as much as in the city, and there is also inflation. But in the countryside we can grow our own rice or vegetables, because in the city it's all about money.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

If I win the lottery, I will open a business to support my family, for example by selling building materials such as cement, bricks.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

I prefer to travel to future.

Would you like to see what happens to you in the future?

Yes, I just want to live a long time. I want to stay as long as I can. I want to see how things will develop in the world in the near future.

Would you like to live forever?

Yes, but only in good health.

What is the most important thing in your life?

For me it is knowledge, because it has given me a chance to get a job. Especially knowledge about computers. How we can connect or even work on them. If you want to love yourself, you have to keep learning and learning.

What can someone do to make you happy?

I think it's the smile, because "smiles make the world beautiful", as Alexandra [Lao Celebrity] once said. There is a song that says: I want this world to be full of smiles.

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

I wish myself good luck and success

What are you most afraid of?

I am afraid of snakes and war. I once had a friend in the village of Xokkham who went to the field to pee. He was drunk at the time and was bitten by a snake, his wife took him to hospital and he died a few days later. Since then I've been afraid of snakes because they're poisonous. Of war, because of the bombs, so many casualties and disasters. I don't wish for war, just smiles and peace forever.

What character in a person do you value most?

Loyalty and a willingness to help. For example, if we see a homeless person on the street, we need to help each other as human beings.

What do you think will happen to you after death?

For me, after I die, my spirit will go to a good place. I'm not good at explaining it but after death we will seek our own happiness. Because goodness is important when you commit suicide or kill yourself or even go to hell by accident. But if you die naturally or in old age, you will surely go to a good place.

1/13

Phiew

61 years

Vientiane

When did you start selling groceries?

I first opened a greengrocer's store at the local market in 2013 and then moved here in 2016. Before 2013, I was a farmer.

Why did you move to Vientiane?

I came here with my family in 1997. To put it simply, I wanted to start a new life here.

What was the reason for starting a new life?

My brother came here first. And after I got married, my husband and I decided to move here to make a living and be independent, because in Champasack [City in southern Laos] we lived with my family.

How would you compare life in Vientiane and Champasack?

It's different, very different. In my home town, there is no place where you can easily find food or materials. Here, for example, we can buy our materials for cooking at the market. Life here is also better, because in Champasack I only worked in the fields. And it wouldn't work well to open a store there.

Are you satisfied with your work?

Yes, because it can support me and my family in our daily lives. I also enjoy meeting new people.

Do you know most of your customers?

Only superficially. It's mainly people who drive past here.

Where do you source your goods, e.g. charcoal, fruit and vegetables?

There is a small truck that delivers charcoal here. I buy fruit and vegetables at the big market, snacks and drinks at the market nearby.

What would be your dream job?

I would also do another job. Based on my knowledge and skills, I think I could only be a salesperson. But I don't have any ideas about what I could do either, but I'm happy with what I'm doing. Actually, I would like to have a bigger store so that I can import the goods and invest to get more customers.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

I would like to travel to Vang Vieng and also to Luang Prabang. Abroad, I would like to go to Thailand because I have never been there.

Have you ever been outside of Laos?

No, never.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

First of all, I will invest in my own business. Save something for emergencies and buy a nice car because I never had a car before, also to help me in business, for example to load things from the market, and also to use it in the family.

What kind of car?

(Laughs) It could be any pick-up..

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

I want to travel into the future. I want to see how my children and grandchildren are doing and get to know the civilization of every village, every province and every country.

What is the most important thing in your life?

Family, children, also everyone in my bloodline like cousins or siblings. Above all, it is our love and the relationship between us. That can't be taken away, no matter what.

What can someone do to make you happy?

Harmony. It makes me happy every time we get together and have a moment together. Even when someone asks about me, for example when my sibling calls me on video and asks how I'm doing.

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

I wish myself and my family that they stay healthy and happy.

What are you most afraid of?

I'm afraid of ghosts (laughs) because they're invisible. I don't know how to explain it, but every time someone shouted "phi, phi, phi*", I got goosebumps.

*Phi in this context means ghost or spectre.

What character in a person do you value most?

For me, it is diligence, especially to earn a living for our family and ourselves. If we are industrious, we will not go hungry in everyday life.

What do you think will happen to you after death?

I've always behaved well and never bothered anyone. I don't believe in the next life. But all we can do is make this life as good as possible.

Are you rather optimistic or pessimistic about the future?

Optimistic, because we do good so that the good comes back.

1/14

Phone

64 years

Vientiane

What are you working?

I sell noodles, desserts and sweet drinks (mainly Lao food) from my motorcycle in the neighborhood.

How long do you work per week?

On average 4 hours a day, 6 days a week. The rest of the day I take care of the household.

Why do you like selling from your motorcycle?

I don't know, but I like it. I was a maid almost 1 year ago in a foreigner's house. But I didn't like it much, so I decided to sell things instead.

What has your path of life been like so far?

I only finished elementary school, and that was the highest level of education at the time. After that, I only planted rice, looked after my children and started selling food.

Are you satisfied with your work?

Yes. I like cooking food, driving around and seeing different places.

What would be your dream job?

I like selling, but I can't afford a bigger store.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

I like Vang Vieng or Feung City or Nongkhai in Thailand because I want to give alms and travel. That's the happiness of old people.

Why there in particular?

Because I'm going to help the temple tonight and I'm also planning to go to Thailand tomorrow to give alms at the Kham Sanot temple.

What do you expect when you give alms to the temple?

I want to achieve a better, healthier life for myself and my family.

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

Is this place [outer Vientiane] called countryside? Then I prefer to live here because I don't want to get used to another place.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

First I save it for the family and something for the construction of the temple like a toilet or a road.

And if you were to use it for yourself?

I want to repair the broken things in the house and buy some furniture, pay off the debts and also buy a new motorcycle for my business.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

I want to travel back in time to spend more time with my primary school friends or hang out with them. Because after leaving school, we had no more contact, almost as if we had never seen each other again.

What is the most important thing in your life?

Siblings and my children, because of the love between us, as we are open minded towards each other. We can talk about good things or even bad things and share happy moments together.

What can someone do to make you happy?

My children, when they help me and spend time with me.

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

I want an easy income because I want to spend it on my family and use it in everyday life.

What are you most afraid of?

I'm most afraid of leeches, especially the big ones, because they suck blood and look scary. Most of the time when I was working in the field, if I saw a leech, I immediately jumped out of the field. I'm also afraid of snakes.

What character in a person do you value most?

Compassion. Because I want everyone to help each other. For example, if we see someone who is helpless, I want everyone to give them something to eat or help in some way to make the world a better place.

What do you think will happen to you after death?

When the time comes, we'll just go. The only thing I know is that heaven and hell are real.

Are you rather optimistic or pessimistic about the future?

I believe it is getting better day by day because people are harmonious and have love for each other to build a better future. Not just in Laos, but in all countries.

What advice would you give to younger people?

I want to warn them and teach them to avoid bad things. Especially things like drugs and theft.

1/6

One Sy (Thit)

75 years

Pak Ou

Where do you get the wood for the instruments?

I usually ask my children to cut them from the forest, but some wood I have to buy to get good wood or good quality.

How many instruments do you sell on average?

Not so much, because most of the customers are foreigners and just come by, on foot or by moped. But it's enough for my daily coffee and medicine.

So building musical instruments is your main job?

My job is to produce and sell these instruments. I used to be a monk and I can also do the traditional things, like leading ceremonies for new houses, teaching, teaching arts and crafts, looking after the farm or the animals, even farming. It depends on who wants to employ me. Sometimes I am asked by locals to celebrate a new house, a wedding or a ceremony. They then put money in an envelope and I think that's enough for my daily life, like coffee or food.

How long have you been doing this job?

For more than 10 years. I started weaving hats, mats and fish traps. I used to be a monk, then I stopped, started a family and grew and sold vegetables and rice. I have 7 children, 5 of whom are already working.

Why did you decide to become a monk?

I was a Monk from 1962 to 1973. To be honest, I was the only child because all my siblings were dead. My family was worried about me because at that time the war was in full swing. So they put me in the temple to study dharma instead of fighting in the war. After the war ended, I had to leave the temple and look after my parents.

Could you choose whether you wanted to become a soldier or a monk back then?

Back then, most men didn't want to become soldiers because it was hard and terrible. That's why my parents took me to the temple. But I was also interested in Buddhism.

That means that all men had to be soldiers to fight in the war, except the monks?

At that moment, they took all the young men from everywhere, such as the workshop, the factory or industry and monks were the exception.

What did you do after 1973?

After Laos became sovereign, I had to look after my parents in my hometown. Here I planted, fed animals, fished and also made handicrafts.

Are you satisfied with what you are doing?

Of course I am. Firstly, I can earn money with it. Secondly, I can support Laotian culture and thirdly, I can pass on the heritage to the new generation. I always told my children to learn this, but they weren't interested.

Did you learn it from your parents?

I taught myself because I like it and have a passion for it. In the beginning, it was only my father who could play this instrument. My father played the instrument very well, mostly in drinking circles or for entertainment. I was about 12-13 years old at the time and they told me not to go near it or I would break it. But I did it anyway because I wanted to learn until I mastered it. I always came in secret to play it. I wanted to be like him.

So your father did not teach you anything about it?

Never, he left it at home and I tried to learn it myself. Also, this instrument has no notes, so it's hard to teach. It's become a part of my life, I can even switch off the light and play it or lie down or whatever and I'm very good at it.

If you could travel back to the 1970s, what would you like to be?

I would say I want to be a normal person who looks after his parents, who fishes or forages for food in the forest, who plants and feeds animals.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

My kids have taken me to the south so many times, like Attapeu and Vietnam twice, but I want to visit my cousin in Bokeo and then in Thailand like Lampang and Chiang Mai. We have already planned this but it is rainy season so we have to wait until the dry season.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

(Smiles...) I will be travelling to take care of my health by buying medicine, herbs or whatever is good for my health so that I can stay strong. I also give alms for my better next life as a religious. I would give a lot of money if I won that much (laughs), but I don't buy lottery tickets.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

I want to travel back in time to support my children's education so that they can pursue their own careers. I also want to teach my children skills that they can use to earn money, such as playing an instrument.

What is the most important thing in your life?

My life. I want to maintain my health for as long as possible. I also have a congenital disease such as palpitations when I hear something bad and diseases of the elderly such as back pain. For example, if the doctor tells me not to drink coffee, smoke a cigarette or drink alcohol, I stop immediately.

What are you most afraid of?

I am afraid of living an unhealthy and not long life. Because I want to see the future. Animals or ghosts don't scare me, and fear of poverty no longer plays a role for me.

What character in a person do you value most?

Intelligence and kindness. If we have these 2 characters, we will be a good person and behave well in society.

What do you think will happen to you after death?

I have no idea either, but as I have learnt, we go to heaven when we have done so many good things or given so much alms. It depends on what we have done in our earthly life.

1/11

Xaiyarsan (Ya-Phor)

81 years

Vientiane

When did you decide to become a monk?

I have been a Monk since 2015. That's almost 9 years. The reason was that I am already old and my children can take care of themselves. Also, I want to bless my family and myself. I am the eldest in this temple and ordained here. "Ya-Phor" means a monk who already has a family.

What was the reason for you to become a Monk?

I am old and I want to pray for your family to bless them to be healthy and successful in their things.

Do you live here?

I live here in this temple. I usually hold my own alms bowl every morning to receive food from donors and eat it for breakfast. For example: Every day I have to hold the alms bowl and then receive food (e.g. rice, fish) from other people. Since we are monks, we cannot sell things, farm or do any work. We depend on these people to survive, so they give us food and in return we give them blessings.

What does your normal day look like?

I usually wake up at 3.30 am in the morning. After I got some food from people and eat it up, I start learning from these books (about praying). At 11 am I eat lunch and take a long nap until 2pm. After that I start to do some chores, like cleaning the temple and my own house. I have to clean everything myself (e.g. cleaning, mopping the floor...). We have to pray in the hall every day at 6pm. I go to bed at 9 pm.

What do you like most about life as a monk?

I don't really know what I like about it. Sometimes people invite five to nine or more of us to come and pray or bless them for their health, their success, themselves and their house.

Are you also on holiday?

Yes. It depends on the philanthropist. In some cases, the philanthropists invite us to pray in a temple, to celebrate in their house in another province or somewhere else, it depends on them.

Is there a place you would like to visit?

I am old and my body is not as healthy as it used to be, so I cannot go on a long-term trip like overseas. Because in other countries there are no Tuk Tuks or means of transport. So I have to walk and I get tired easily. But the young monks can go wherever they want. For example, to India, Malaysia or other countries where they need an invitation because we can't earn money. Sometimes people give us some money (1000-2000 Baht) [~25-50 USD]. But we have to save it for our own needs, for example for medicine and medical expenses.

And a trip in Laos like Luang Prabang or somewhere?

Yes, I want to, but it has to be after 'Khao Phansa'*, if my children or grandchildren or my cousin from another country want to take me on a trip to Pakse or Savanakhet province.

* During 'Khao Phansa' period, Monks should not spend the night outside the temple. Buddha also forbade the monks to travel during this time.

What is the most important thing in your life?

If we are already ordained, it means that we have to cut ourselves off from the world. For example, you can need or want something, but for us it is not possible. If we put on these (orange) clothes, it means we cannot think about it.

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

Nothing, I don't want anything (laughs). I have two major illnesses now. I spend a lot of money on them, for example on medication and daily diabetes tests that cost every evening.

What if you wished you could be cured?

Impossible, you can't wish for that. You have to take medication to cure it.

What are you most afraid of?

Afraid? (is laughing...) I'm not afraid of anything any more. I have seen a lot. At the moment I live here alone, not like the other monks who sleep in a dormitory.

How about fear of certain animals?

For me, this is normal. If we don't harm them, they won't harm us. Sometimes the snakes just pass by the temple. But if we hit them, they also bite us.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

I will give it all away to my children or grandchildren, for sure. I have no reason to keep it, and if I have that much money, someone will surely steal it (laughs).

And also donate some money to the temple?

Yes, it could. I would spend some of it to decorate this temple by buying house paint to paint some parts that are already faded. But I would rather give most of it to my children, because they are my family.

What character in a person do you value most?

In my opinion, it is generosity. For example, if you come to me and want me to bless you healthy, successful or wealthy, then you must give alms to the temple. My duty is only to bless you or the person who comes to give alms to the temple. Sometimes after a person has given alms to the temple and I have blessed them and they are really happy, their life gets better or they win the lottery, then they come again the next day to give more alms.

What do you think about foreigners who visit temples but do not respect the rules of the temple, for example by wearing shorts or t-shirts?

It is their business how they think and what they wear. I have no right to tell them what is wrong or not. Because I have already ordained and given up all rights to do so. For example, if someone who is not well dressed visits the temple, I think it is up to them to think if it is beautiful or ugly, good or bad. It is not the monks' job. Monks have no right to talk about it or even to warn. All we can do is look and appreciate, like "Oh, he/she is very well dressed today", because if we condemn it, it means sin for us, because God (Buddha) stays in our heart all the time. God stays in us.

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

I would like it if my illness was cured and I was healthy again. But for the past I can say that I don't think about it at all. I am really happy with the present or what I am now. I am on the right path. For example, who will be rich or good-looking depends on the angels. If you did so many good things in your previous life, you will only earn good things in this life. For example, I was born poor, which means that I did not do so many good things or give alms in my previous life.

What do you think will happen to you after death?

I really have no idea what will happen afterwards. I don't worry about who will collect my bones after I die or whatever, because death means an end. Heaven and hell are still not understandable to me. Someone says this about it and another says that, there is no proof. But all the kindness you do is real. Because when you give alms and come home, your life really gets better, I have seen it with my naked eyes.

What would you like to do if you were not a monk?

If I didn't ordain, I would stay at home and look after my grandchildren or take care of the house, or maybe they would order me around like a servant. That's why I decided to ordain, to live my own life, which is happier and less stressful. For example, if I stay with my children and they sometimes fight, I could be the one who gets upset with them too.

1/6

What are you working?

Why did you decide to study International Relations?

Why are you interested in this topic of disability policy?

Do you 'only' work for deaf people?

How many days a week do you work as a sign language interpreter?

Would you rather become a sign language interpreter in the future or work more in deaf politics or both?

How would you evaluate this situation for disabled people in general?

Are you satisfied with your current job?

Do you also have your own workshop or do you teach sign language to other people?

Where would you like to go on holiday?

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

But what if you can change the past?

What is the most important thing in your life?

For example, the job as a dentist?

What can someone do to make you happy?

What are you most afraid of?

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

What does friendship mean to you?

And what does family mean to you?

What do you owe to your parents?

What character in a person do you value most?

What do you think will happen (to you) after death?

What are you working?

What did you do before?

What did you do after graduating from school?

Do you plan to stay in your current job for the short or long term?

What do you want to do afterwards?

Why?

When will you apply?

What would be your dream job?

Where would you like to go on holiday?

Have you ever been outside of Laos?

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

What would you do if you won the lottery?

What kind of beauty surgery?

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

What is the most important thing in your life?

Is there nothing more important for you?

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

What can someone do to make you happy?

What are you most afraid of?

What character in a person do you value most?

Why empathy?

Would you like to know the date when you will die?

What's on your bucket list?

What are you working?

What does your work look like?

How long do you work per week now?

How long have you been doing this job?

What did you do after graduating from school?

Why did you study German?

What did you do after graduating from school?

What made you decide to work as an apartment manager rather than a guide?

Why do you want to be a businesswoman?

You mentioned you have 2 jobs at the moment, what else do you work?

Which job do you like more, selling jumpers or being a housing manager?

Is it generally difficult to be a businesswoman here?

Where would you like to go on holiday?

Which country would you like to visit one day?

What comes to mind when you think of Germany?

Do you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something and why?

What is the most important thing in your life?

If you had one whish, what would you wish for?

What are you most afraid of?

What character in a person do you value most?

What do you think will happen to you after death?

Will your spirit stay there forever?

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Why your cousins in particular?

Would you rather travel to the past to change something or to the future to learn about something?

Why?

What is the most important thing in your life?

If you had one wish, what would you wish for?

​

What are you most afraid of?

What character in a person do you value most?