More on schools

When I walked around in LB University, I noticed that there were large wooden crates with padlocks lying outside the communal kitchen where the student cook their meals. The dozen or so mysterious crates were standing around like those monoliths in Space Odyssey 2001. Here's one. 5 points if you can guess what the crates are used for.

I thought hilarously to myself that these crates could be storage for live chickens. I asked the people there what were the crates for. They told me that since there are no refrigerators, the crates are to store leftover food which the students have cooked but could not finish. Yikes. Imagine the smell. I opened a crate and lo and behold, was instantly assaulted by a deadly odour emanating from pots of unnamed stew which were fermenting along nicely. Talk about a potential biological weapon of mass destruction. Thankfully, I was on an empty stomach and made of nerves of steel. I pointed to a pot filled with strange dark meat and asked what in the name of god was that. My guide told me that that was "cow womb's soup". Holy shit. Pass.

I also have the chance to visit a secondary school. Since a visitor was in town, the principal of the school for some god unknown reasons, ordered every student to stand at the corridor to show respect. I kept telling the guy that it would be good if we don't bother the students and just let them study in peace. But nooo, he insisted. So we ended up with a student stationed every 3 steps at every pillar greeting us visitors respectfully. I mean, a bit kua zhan (exaggerated) right? When I was studying in primary school in S'pore, I never had to do this sort of extreme respect shit.

One of the most common questions I get from Singaporeans is that what uniform does the normal Lao primary / secondary school student wear. Well, the above pic is a good illustration. Girls have to wear the traditional skirt known as the sinh. I actually like it as it make the girls look elegant and demure. Yeah, I am a chauvinist. Tough beans.

Here is a picture of the students. Students who are wearing blue rather than the traditional white belong to the Lao Revolutionary Youth Union - something like our PAP Youth Wing (except even younger). These are supposed to be model students with good grades and an exemplary record in community services. They are laughing and giggling at us for some reasons. Maybe we looked funny or it could be my zip was undone.