Photo Friday – Friday the 13th

We had a busy week around the globe and here are some of the highlights:

Nicole Long/Laos Director/Luang Prabang, Laos

Nicole says, “Here are two pictures from a small celebration our small office had this week.   This week the office celebrated a successful end to the high season and also Woman’s Day, which is a national holiday.  First is a picture of Phaeng saying nyok (cheers in Laos) to me first as his boss and secondly as his adopted sister for Woman’s Day.  We were sitting at a local goat restaurant  on the Mekong.  If you can believe that the image behind him is the Mekong!  It is the dry season so where you  see sand is usually water.  Actually last year the Mekong River was almost flooding the restaurant where we were eating!  It’s amazing the difference!”

“The second picture is of me and one of our beloved and top guides, Somphone.  He came out as well to celebrate the occasion.   He is a person that goes far beyond his duties as a guide.  Last week he went along on a tour to visit JWOC project work in the countryside as a guide for FREE!  He also begs me to let him help teach at the JWOC language school when he has free time in the low season.  Of course you can Somphone!  We LOVE volunteers! ”

April O’Connell -Cole/Tour Consultant/Truckee, USA

April says, “This weekend my little brother John came to visit from Seattle. So we packed up the car and headed down the mountain to my mom’s house to visit with Uncle John and have a fun-filled-family day. We played cards (hand and foot is the new “it” game to play) and went to John’s favorite spot for lunch, Maria’s Tacos in Auburn. I love getting to hang out with my family, they rock.”

Andrea Ross/Director of Tours/Siem Reap, Cambodia

I say: “When we moved to Cambodia six years ago our then-landlord negotiated our rent-to-buy lease on the fact that our dirt road was going to be paved the following month. In fact, every six months or so for the last six years we have been told by someone, whether it be a government official or random signs that keep appearing, that our road was going to be paved. At first I looked forward to it, but somehow the dust in the dry season and the pot holes the size of VW Bugs in the wet season, started to grow on me and eventually that red dirt road became a part of us. I think it was that after driving down that potholed dust bowl turning into our driveway you had an even greater sense of an oasis.  Whatever it was, I followed the red dust road home and well, there’s no place like home!

This week is the end of an era. After all the promises and signs and gossip we actually have a paved road! Though it is nice to have less dust and a smooth road to town, everyone seems to think the smooth surface is the Indy500 track and they are driving too fast! For the sake of Tuna and the kids I am yelling at them…it’s okay, it’s one of my strengths.”

Before:

And After:

Philippa Nigg/Tour Consultant/Truckee, USA

Philippa says,”So here is my Friday photo – I spent the week enjoying the snow – not always this deep in it!”

Narla Phay/Cambodia Director/Siem Reap, Cambodia

Narla says, “This week a donor came to Cambodia and met her student she had sponsored to university through JWOC. I’m very glad that I had a chance to meet the donor and introduce them to the student that they sponsor. On that day the student showed them the university that she studying at and the house where she living. She a little shy to speak in English but she brave to speak Khmer then I can translate to her sponsor. I wish I will have this opportunity again, it’s fun and feel like I helping someone and changing some body life to be better in the furture.”

JWOC photo of the week:

Andrea says, “Se (JWOC Scholarship Student and Clean Water Project supervisor), Narla (JWOC board of directors country advisor) and Andrea did a conference call with a great high school class studying the global water crises in Washington DC. Narla and Se talked about the JWOC Clean Water Program and the reason it is so necessary in Cambodia. It was great for all the students to be able to connect and talk even while they’re a world apart.”

Kwanchanok “Jeab” Meechai/Thailand Director/Bangkok, Thailand

Jeab says, “This is Wong Duean beach located in Samet Island, Rayong, Thailand. I went there for away from the noise of the town with a buddy. This beach called Wong Duean because the shape of it looks like the moon curve, so Wong Duean in Thai means the moon curve. There were so lovely and nice dogs aswell. Oh, I miss them already!”

Thanks and see you next week!