| INTERVIEW CONNER | |
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Vongdara, or PYs like to called her Dara, is a very attractive PY in SSEAYP 2000. She had devoted herself to many Lao cultural performances, MC, group discussion and much more...Today, we are proud to present you our PY of March Vongdara |
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Vongdara |
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Sabaidee Vongdara, and welcome back to
Laos. Wow! it is almost about 4 years since we joined this program
together.... time is flying very fast... isn't it? Ok, I think many PYs
want to know more about you...including me....ha ha...
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1) First Vongdara, Can you tell us something about yourself |
| Hi
webmaster and
everyone. I am an ex PY 2000. I just finished my Master’s Degree in
Public Administration from The Maxwell School, Syracuse University in New
York. I just came back to Laos about one month ago
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| 2) During your study in America, How do you find the different between Asia and the American style in terms of thinking, acting, ect. |
| Asian
and American culture is obviously different. I have learned a lot about
American culture and its people. American people are very independent ,
quite straightforward and dare to say what they are thinking and they
don’t care much about what other will think of them. However, it also
depends on the mutuality of that person too, I mean people’s expression is
quite different depending also on their ages and status. Asian people are
more friendly and sweeter. This was the real experience from SSEAYP where
I met with hundreds of Asian friends. So it is kind of more comfortable
and warmer for Asian students like me to live in Asian cultures. However,
it is not big a problem to enjoy those differences when you understand
that culture where you are living.
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| 3) Vongdara can you tell us what do you want to be when you are in your childhood? do you still keep following those dreams or you already have another dream ? Please tell us about your dream |
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Like other kids, I had so many dreams when I was a child. Some of those
dreams have changed by the time goes by and some still remain. For
example I really wanted to be a doctor when I was young but now I don’t
think I could be a doctor since I can’t stand seeing people blooding
J
and becoming a doctor requires much effort, patience and time. I also
wanted to be a superhero like other kids did I guess but that’s impossible
in a real life
J.
However, one dream which is never changed is sightseeing. It could be in
either abroads or within the country. I really love traveling and I would
say that SSEAYP really fulfilled this dream of mine.
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| 4) Vongdara, when you miss SSEAYP, what is the first thing you like to do and why? |
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Very simply, I would just take out those picture taken during SSEAYP trip
and have a look. I can look at them over and over again because through
those pictures, the memories could come back freshly to my mind.
Fortunately and thankfully, we now have this wonderful website which can
really minimize the so-called SSEAYP sick.
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5)
When you had free time on Nippon Maru, what kind of things you prefer to
do? Please tell us more. |
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As we all know that we had all those activities caught up most of our
time, so initially I simply prefered sleeping but then when I realized
that our time on board was becoming lesser and lesser, I prefered
to go out and get together with SSEAYP friends and the staff whenever I
could. This I could spend time eating, chatting or exploring around the
ship with those friends. Another thing I often did was exercising, it
really helped to reboot the energy.
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6)
What kind of food on Nippon Maru do you like the best and why? Apart from
that, what kind of ASEAN Food do you like? |
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Initially, I
really enjoyed most of the food providing on the ship, all of them were
nice. I loved Shusi, seaweed and most of the dessert. However, as you know
that after around 2 weeks, most of PYS couldn’t eat much including me. It
was probably because it was the same type and taste and also because we
missed our local food. So I really thanked that we had brought papaya and
instant noodle. I think papaya salad on board was the most delicious. It
was really tasty and funny, wasn’t it? I think all LPYS still remember J.
Actually, all ASEAN food is great, I remember I always waited for the welcoming
receptions helped in each country because it was the time I could taste
the real local food |
| 7) Did you feel any seasick, homesick or love sick during the program? And how did you settle it down? |
| Luckily,
I did not experience any seasick at all but I did feel homesick and love
sick. The first week was obvious, I really missed my family. However,
after that it was OK because we had lots of activities to do and this time
I already had lots of friends, so I really enjoyed the program. Well, what
I did to reduce my thought was I would call my family right after I
reached each country.
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8)
What SSEAYP means to you Vongdara? |
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I would say SSEAYP means friendship
beyond frontier. |
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9)
Vongdara, what would you like to see the
Ship
for SouthEast
Asian
Youth
Alumni
Association
of Laos
growth in the future? If you have to organize some activities for LPYs to
do together, what would that activity be and
why? |
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I would like to see the association growing within the country and
cooperating with another SSEAYP alumni associations. LPYs have already
done some activities together for example participating in some charities
organized by Lao Youth’s Union. It would be good if our association can
voluntarily work to contribute something for the society especially for
the children and young people in rural areas who do not have an
opportunity like us. I think the current activities we have like the donation
of old books and clothes is great and should be carried on. I also want to
see this association growing in more and more numbers of ex LPYs.
Also, I would like all of us to know each other, no matter what batch we are, so if I could I would like to organize the monthly reunion or occasionally we can get together to participate in some social activities.
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| 10) Please give us some invitation messages to welcome PYs who want to visit our beautiful country |
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Many PYs
missed the opportunity to come to this country while we were sailing with
Nippon Maru. I really welcome our friends, all PYs
from every country to visit Laos and you will be impressed by its
wonderful people, places, food and especially LPYs.
If I have a chance, I won’t miss going back to those ASEAN countries and
Japan again as well. |
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Kobchai Lai Lai Vongdara, I am sure that your words today will make many PYs more SSEAYP sick than before. Wishing you succeed in whatever you desire and long last friendship Webmaster |
