Baby, its cold outside.

For these past few days, the temperature outside has been pretty brutal. I woke up yesterday to walk my dog at around 6 am. It feels as if my legs are about to snap and my face is being numbed away. I tell my mom my mom about my chilly encounter and she says " Suck it up! We are lucky compared to Alaska!" This gets me thinking. Around the world people have adapted to the cold enviorment and here I am complaining. This lead me to google search the coldest day in history. After searching, the coldest day record was said to be on July 23 1983, in Antarctica. It was -129 F degrees! After that I researched the coldest temperature in Virginia. I found that in Mountain Lake VA, it was -30 F in 1985. After searching I realized that my mom is right. I am going to suck it up and thank the clouds it isn't that bad.

Laos

“Sabaide everyone.” This is how you say hello in Laos. The Laotian culture is one I hold close to my heart because I am half Laotian. Laos is located in South East Asia and borders Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. In the 14^th century Laos was known as a kingdom called Lan Xang, which translates to land of a million elephants.  The Kingdom of Lan Xang included most of Thailand and someof Cambodia. This is why the Thai/Laos language is so similar. In the 1800’s France took over Laos but after 50 years, Laos became independent (CentralIntelligence.) “1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam” (Central Intelligence.)

Laos is the official language in Laos and French is thesecond. The climate in Laos is hot and tropical. The scenery and landscape is mostly untouched and pure. Due to the hot climate women wear skirts called  “sinh”, which is made of silk.  Laos is a very mysterious country that has not been industrialized due to the communist government.

67%of Laotians practice Buddhism. Here in the U.S Laotians go to what we call the“ Wat Lao.” It means Laos temple and it occurs a few times a year. There’s abig temple and inside is a gold Buddha shrine. There is not only a temple but we put up tents and cook a whole bunch of food to sell to one another and there are also tents that sell clothes, accessories and even plants. During April13-15 we celebrate Laos New Year and at the Wat Lao we spark illegal fireworks,which are imported from Laos, to celebrate. The main thing we do on Lao new year is participate in thingyan, where we throw water on one another, which symbolizes the cleansing of last years sins and impurities.

The Laotian people are known for two things, talking loudly when in actuality, they are having a regular conversation and long last names. A few times my friends have come to meet my family and they thought my family was arguing but they were not. To Americans it seems very taboo but to Southeast Asian countries it is normal. Laotians are notorious for having long last names. My last name is Nanthavongsa and 12 letters in a name is very unseen. 

I have a lot of pride in my heritage because my family taught me strengths from their stories. The prime minister of Laos adopted myGrandfather as a son, and then my grandpa joined the military to fight for his country. He fought for independence against the communist party, but when they won, he took his family to the U.S. Here is where we all reside now. In the end I still consider Laos the Mother Land.

Reference

"Central Intelligence Agency." CIA. Web.30 Jan. 2013

My sinh ;)

The appetizer

As an "appetizer " to my blog, I want you to get a feel of what is about to come. I have always had an infatuation with the worlds cultures and their practices. I have this unrealistic dream of being the new spokes person for no reservations. I envy Anthony Bourdain, because is gets to travel the world, experience cultural tradition, and eat amazing food. In my blog I will show you the beauty of the world and will teach you, as I teach myself, different cultural traditions.

Welcome to my wonderful world.