How has your life changed in Laos

42358POSTS

9 years ago

Hello everyone,

Has your life changed since you moved to Laos? If so, in what way?

Tell us more about all the changes in your life regarding your family, job, or friends. What about your frame of mind? How would you define your mood?

Leisure activities improve our health and social interactions. How much time do you dedicate to leisure activities and networking nowadays?

Would you say that your standard of living has improved in Laos? What income differences have you noticed?

On a scale of 0 to 10, tell us how much your expatriation to Laos has transformed your life (0 = no change, 10 = dramatic change).

We look forward to hearing from you!

Priscilla

The Laos expat guide

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Cereal Active member

30POSTS

9 years ago

I'm a nomad and have been all my life. It started growing up as an Air Force brat. Then working at jobs which required travel: yacht delivery skipper, flight attendant

I left Canada in 2005 and moved to Korea. While there I visited Laos and fell in love with it. I had been to some 40 or 42 countries by then and Laos was unique among them. Much of the strangeness and beauty was intangible, some was surreal, all of it was fascinating and at times frustrating.

I moved here permanently in August 2006. I married a local girl and bought land and built a house in her village. We were surrounded by her family and I was the first falang ever to live there. Eleven years later and I am still the only falang in the village.

My standard of life is effectively the same as it was in Canada. I have most of the 'stuff' I had there.

The largest change in my life by far is much more esoteric. For the first time in my life I truly understand what it feels like to be loved, accepted, wanted and be surrounded by friendly people.

Don't get me wrong. I had all of that in Canada, but the typical Canadian version of the above mentioned emotions can't hold a candle to the depths to which the Lao live them.

Life transformation level: 10

2 members reacted to this post

S_vora Member

1POSTS

9 years ago

Hey,

Great story i am in the process of moving back to Laos after being in Canada for 30 years. I feel the same way

1 member reacted to this post

Cereal Active member

30POSTS

9 years ago

Very nice, keep in touch.

kbarn389 Member

13POSTS

9 years ago

Cereal wrote:
I'm a nomad and have been all my life. It started growing up as an Air Force brat. Then working at jobs which required travel: yacht delivery skipper, flight attendant

I left Canada in 2005 and moved to Korea. While there I visited Laos and fell in love with it. I had been to some 40 or 42 countries by then and Laos was unique among them. Much of the strangeness and beauty was intangible, some was surreal, all of it was fascinating and at times frustrating.

I moved here permanently in August 2006. I married a local girl and bought land and built a house in her village. We were surrounded by her family and I was the first falang ever to live there. Eleven years later and I am still the only falang in the village.

My standard of life is effectively the same as it was in Canada. I have most of the 'stuff' I had there.

The largest change in my life by far is much more esoteric. For the first time in my life I truly understand what it feels like to be loved, accepted, wanted and be surrounded by friendly people.

Don't get me wrong. I had all of that in Canada, but the typical Canadian version of the above mentioned emotions can't hold a candle to the depths to which the Lao live them.

Life transformation level: 10

i really like your post. very insightful. you kind of anwsered some of the things i was going to ask. you said that you were a nomad. were you in the army?

kbarn389 Member

13POSTS

9 years ago

after living in canada for 30 years, what are the main reasons you want to move back to laos?

some coming from a western perspective would like to know the motivation. they might say, you're moving from a 1st world to a 3rd world and you might lose out on the "quality of life", etc etc. lol

i don't believe that that is true, but i'd like to here your thoughts

ecoheart New member

6POSTS

8 years ago

Hi Cereal

I'm Gregory. I am a dual South African American. My parents were career foreign civil servants. It was an interesting but stressful and somewhat lonely life. I was educated in several countries and worked in others. I learned smatterings of many languages because I have been to about 69 countries. Next, I need to learn some Lao and Chinese.
I also live in a small village in Xithany but keep a tiny apt in town to facilitate the completion of my book about Holistically Sustainable Design and job prospecting .
My Lao wife, Poy, of 10 yrs and I are developing a Tropical Forest Food Garden for self-sufficiency purposes. We hope to incorporate a solar herbal sauna, small detox retreat, a fresh additive-free food cafe with a salt water lap pool and a Gaudi-type sculpted edifice from plastic and glass bottles while converting our existing home nearby into a village guest house for people who wish to experience Lao Village life. I worked at a graduate school of design in Seoul and lived in ROK for 20 yrs. My background is in Architecture and Urban Design. Let's try to hook up sometime. Until then, cheers ~Greg

stumpy Laos Expert

18028POSTS

8 years ago

Sorry for the late reply.
How are you going with your project. Would it be suitable as a tourist attraction for the area.
Looking forward to an update.

Cereal Active member

30POSTS

8 years ago

#10

Hi Greg,

Sorry for the late reply but I haven't checked this site for a long time. Yes, I think your idea is interesting. If you want to meet and have a coffee someday, let me know. You can find me on Facebook. Look for Phil ***. There are 2 pictures: 1 of me and a young soldier and 1 of me and a friend golfing in my profile.

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