Open to The World
“You can’t learn anything from someone who only knows what you know” Tony Stubblebine CEO of Medium
I’ve learned a lot from my adventures in many countries. In order to really understand and learn about the people you are living with, you have to fully accept their lifestyle. This assimilation process can often take years. This is particularly true when you are unable to speak their language. I’ve never let the lack of language skills be an obstacle, eventually people will get their message across to you and you will be able to make yourself understood. Many of the misunderstandings will often be humorous and are fondly remembered. The retelling of these stories over and over makes you a part of village history.
Once accepted into the community, the real learning begins. Fortunately, in the small isolated village of Kengmaihia, Champasak province, Lao (pop. 400) there was one person who spoke a little English. Now the entire village knows a few words and I have developed the ability to correctly pronounce a few Lao words. The kids are the first to learn. In my daily walks along the dirt path to the river, I’m accompanied by several kids who follow me. Smiling faces reciting the alphabet or counting in English and proud of themselves.
Even the youngest children can teach me the simplest of things. How to tie knots using thin bamboo strips, how to use a leaf as a drinking cup. Which plants are edible, when to eat the wild fruit and a host of other valuable information that they grew up with. Just about every adult in the village is the designated expert at something. Without much in the way of modern tools and materials, their ingenuity is amazing. A pointed rock and string, clear plastic tubing filled with water served to construct a perfectly level fence over uneven ground. One young Lao (man or woman) with a machete can build a suitable farm hut in a few hours.
Even the youngest children can teach me the simplest of things. How to tie knots using thin bamboo strips, how to use a leaf as a drinking cup. Which plants are edible, when to eat the wild fruit and a host of other valuable information that they grew up with. Just about every adult in the village is the designated expert at something. Without much in the way of modern tools and materials, their ingenuity is amazing. A pointed rock and string, clear plastic tubing filled with water served to construct a perfectly level fence over uneven ground. One young Lao (man or woman) with a machete can build a suitable farm hut in a few hours.
I would like to thank Medium for the addition of Laos as an eligible country for the Medium Partner Program. I’m an American citizen, but plan to stay here until my work is finished.
I agree with the Tony Stubblebine quote shown as the subtitle:
“You can’t learn anything from someone who only knows what you know.”
I would like to add my own quote to compliment his:
“You can learn anything from someone who knows things you don’t know”.
