Education Pt 1

Of all the topics that could challenge a new life, the one I find the hardest to deal with is Education. As a practice it is widely adopted and recognized for its value, however, there is hardly one that could be as easily contested in terms of approach taken. If we consider healthcare and shelter, the outcomes that are sought could be easily factorized and ranked in terms of criticality. For education it is more difficult, what is the benefit realized in being able to structure an essay or identify different types of triangles.

I'm working class. Education has been taught to me as a means of getting a job: something that pays well and makes your life more secure. But what if I was from a wealthy family? Would education be more of a game or a means of enhancing social status? Would I focus more on the arts and creative endeavors moreover training for a lucrative function? Or is there something more than even that.

In some places, education institutes hold a prestige that works to stratify society. Its not so much about what you learnt than it is about where you studied, and that it turn tells the who you are. So at the end of education, the real purpose (in many societies) is that you've obtained a certificate that will later make you more eligible for employment. The investment of your time and entry into debt allows you to commence a career where you generally then only start to learn how to do your job.

On this note, Laos is a little bit different. Its actually written in their laws that an employer must teach and provide education to their employments in order for them to do their job. Now that doesnt mean an employee can't be selective when they are hiring; however, the extent interviewing and testing candidates is fairly limited anyways. I think its demonstrates a different mindset . An expectation that employers have crucial role to play in the continued education of the people. 

On a cultural note, the Lao have been criticized by many foreigners from french occupation times to today as rather laissez faire or even lazy. I'm one that think anyone that takes the viewpoint of the later has failed to grasp the true ethos, and could spend a year tending to a rice paddy to put things in perspective. I myself, found my time there to be more of an education in life than any other I had experienced. So it goes back to what is the purpose of education? Is it training? Is it to develop generic skills? Is it for qualification? What about language skills, analytical thinking, computer skills? What about older trades like farming, fishing, rearing livestock or woodwork? Or even the contemporary technological advancements in those areas.What about life skills and knowing people and their motivations, when to recognize people that would rather take advantage of you? What about the artists?

The problem that even Laos doesn't escape are those of the dis-empowered. And education can both reverse it and enhance that detrimental condition. If I had to nominate a purpose for education, it would be to empower people to be the best they can be. To supercharge their creativity. To provide them the keys to access boundless sources of information. To give them the means to quickly develop and master new skills both from others and independently. To allow them to communicate their ingenuity and ideas in way that others could really understand. To appreciate the rich tapestry which is their universe and respect the wonderful machine that exists between their ears. 

Outcomes like that would be fantastic anywhere; combined with the good-hearted Lao, it would be a inspirational force of learning of historic proportion.   

 

 

Essentially a home, but so much more

Home

The greatest part of travelling is getting rid of the tethers to a former material focussed life and passing through the world with only the possessions on your back and the 1s and 0s in your bank. It is truly liberating being an observer and explorer in another world but makes you question the necessity of all the other things in life. I much rather have a coffee in a local kadai kopi than whip up a cappuccino on my espresso machine. Talk to strangers on a bus ride than drive my car from point a to point b. Rather jump into the Mekong than hang by the poolside of my exclusive apartment block or hotel pool.

These aspects that promote community and bring like minded people together that walk around with eyes-open taking the whole world is what I've come to value. If I'm planning a new life, it would have to incorporate these elements that have made me love it the first time. Family life needs a bit more security than the backpacker life so I think I'd still want a home to shelter us and provide a fix point we could return to and provide that basis to follow any creative thoughts we want to pursue. So I see that there is this balance, I still feel a need a home but its got to be so much more than what I use it for now: a refuge from the elements and menial existence. So in my mind the design would be best if it blended the bedroom privacy with inviting people collaboration areas and areas for developing and exercising creativity. Amongst the other requirements of toilet and bathing amenities, laundry, food storage and preparation facilities.

Alternatively, a model that has worked well for us an is prominent in a lot of Asia is the merged, home/business, often one level dedicated to a small business with the top level providing those more homely facilities. A lot of opportunities(read into your own disadvantages) exist when you co-locate, including being able to increase retail hours whilst blending into home life. Creating a seamless indistinction between work and life that is more fundamentally human.

Construction 
Construction isn’t a foreign concept on Don Det. It has been evolving from some of the traditional wooden stilts designs to reinforced concrete stilts. More modern structures like shops and some home use brick and mortar and concrete foundations. Restaurants and generally open air style with enclosed kitchens.



A construction style that is originally from South Africa but has spread much farther is sandbag or earthbag building. A labour intense construction with cheap, typically readily available resources with broader climatic properties. They also fare pretty well with earthquakes.

The bags are filled and tamped down between lines of barbed wire. It can be a dome or have a framed roof. A bit of skill is required in the cement rendering that finishes it off.

https://www.pinterest.com/tomviets/sustainable-house-earthbag/

Local Knowledge & Materials
Timber processing industry exists in the Champassak which reduces the cost of timber in the south in comparison with the economic centre and capital Vientiane. The highest quality of timber is generally not available for domestic purchase. Opportunist buy a higher grade of timber from neighbouring Cambodia as the domestic product is reserved for export. Termite and white fly problems do exist which make timber structures more vulnerable in the region. The island archipelagos are susceptible to soil erosion from the flowing stream making overhanging structures with wooden stabilising pillars very susceptible. Lessons have been learnt and almost all structures that now overhang have reinforced concrete pillars. Some of the earlier design structures in this design style have demonstrated vulnerabilities.

Transporting Materials
Quarries exist in the South however the
logistical difficulties of transporting the material to the Mekong islands are significant as the watercraft are exclusively low draught and only rudimentary vehicles exist upon the island to move material. Significant labour is required to transport materials to the construction site.



Erosion
Anti-erosion practices are virtually non existent. There are a few rudimentary retaining walls however they are mostly built to deal with higher water levels. Undevelop areas fair the best with erosion prevention with vegetation growth providing the necessary stability to prevent erosion.

Power
Power distribution is becoming more and more reliable in the area. Not all plots are connected but extending the network to new sites is an achievable practice. Previously generators provided power but have become relied upon less since centralized distribution arrived in the island. Solar power is not prominent in the area. A small private hydroelectric plant has been developed but doesn’t feed into the central system.

Change
Infrastructure development can mean great change. At the moment 4000 Islands is bit like the wild south without much regulation occurring. This will all be set to change and naturally incur costs therein. Roads may be built that may affect your existing structure and I'd hope electrical safety standards improve sooner. Garbage management is a pretty hot topic as well.

Community
So with consideration to building environment its seems definitely doable. The best part is living in a place where you see both new faces and familiar faces everyday. Everyone with a story and most more than keen to share. The community is in continuous flux but thats part of the brilliance of this place. Just like the mekong meanders around bringing fish and water; people always ensure that new ideas are provided to you too. What wonderful resources they both are.