"Linda's travelbook" Linda1979's Profile

Veldhoven, July 2004, don't I look serious?

Just an introduction

In 1979 I was born in Tilburg, a city in the south of the Netherlands. I lived there for the next 24 years, with my parents, in three different houses.
I could honestly say that the summer of 2003 changed my life completely. I had planned a relaxed holiday to France and Spain with a couple of friends. But on the way to the Dutch-Belgium border I received a telephone call; if I was interested in a teaching job in Laos PDR, in South-East Asia.
I told the woman that I would think it over, but in my mind I had already decided to go for it. And now I am living up to my wildest dreams....

Travel history.

A statue in a cave in Tomohon, near Manado

As a child I enjoyed our family-vacations in Germany, Austria, Crete, Cyprus, USA, Lanzarote and France.
With my high-school I visited Denmark, Rome and Paris.
After high school I spend two summers working in Gerolstein (Germany) as a kids-animator.
In 2002 I spend 3 months in Manado (Indonesia) where I taught at an elementary school. On my way home I stayed in Singapore for a few days.
In the summer of 2003 I went to France and Spain with a few friends. A trip to Barcelona was one of the highlights of this trip.
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My new home

This is me wearing traditional Lao clothing

The 25th of August 2004, I flew to Vientiane (the capital of Laos) to work here as a Dutch Language teacher. I teach expat-children with at least one Dutch parent. It's only a part-time job, but my salary pays for all the bills, so I still have time to explore the city.
I feel so lucky and blessed because:
- I now have two places to call home.
- I can experience a different culture in almost all aspects.
- I have had a richer youth (and not only money-wise) than most of the children in Laos.
- I can enjoy life in a unspoiled country.

UPDATE Feb 17th 2005

My House in Vientiane

Still living a very hapy life in Vientiane with my dog Kirby and my boyfriend Pany. Last week I moved house to an enormous palace (comparing to my old place that is) close to my old house. I now have palm- and mangotrees in my own garden!!! PARADISE....
Another thing that I am actually glad about is that I finally put on some weight. I've always been realy skinny and now I'm getting shapes.
Lao people are very direct. They just tell me that I'm fat or that I have 'more muscles' (very indirect for a Laotian to put it that way). They all mean it as a compliment, because "you looked to skinny before, not nice". And being fat is good, because it shows you have money enough to buy food.
Some people even think that I'm pregnant, and if I tell them that I am NOT, they say that I should think about getting married and getting baby's. I always reply that my dog is a big baby and that I will get married when I learned enough Lao to understand the ceremony. I guess that will take a while...

UPDATE March 24

My garden

I'm settled in nicely into my new home. We have a gardener staying and working at our house now and he is a big help. It is nice to benefit yourself from helping local people to get a job...
Pany just bought 15 chicken. They are the ugliest ever and are still too young to lay eggs. I hope that that will change soon, because for me fresh eggs are the only reason to keep chicken. I guess I'm just not a bird-person.
I've been to the zoo again last weekend. They are still improving and my guests thought the zoo was even better than some in the U.S.A. I couldn't deny that.

UPDATE July 7

Dropje & Spekkie

I'm in the Netherlands right now to visit some family and friends.
In Lao my "farm" is still growing. We now have 2 dogs, a dozen chicken, a bunch of fish and a pig!
You can admire them all in the album: "Animal Farm".

Please drop me a line, ..........

Kirby & Spekkie

Please drop me a line, so I know people are actually reading this info, and are not just "visiting"....

Intro Updated Jul 7, 2005
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Comments (41)

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ghibli88 Jul 19, 2007 at 8:37 AM

A warm Happy super birthday to you,best wishes from hot and sunny Italy.
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vpeter Jul 19, 2007 at 1:28 AM

Hi, happy birthday to you. Happy travels. Greetings from the Netherlands.
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cuppadamoksha Apr 11, 2007 at 8:53 PM

Vt meet in Srilanka on 26/ 27th Apr. meeting place still tentative. Plz revp if interested on the Meetings Forum on VT. Regds Rowena
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Asyngin Dec 5, 2006 at 3:05 PM

I wish I were as adventureous as you to move to Vietiane. I love your mini farm! I especially find your musing about your life there interesting, as I'd love to return. Thanks for putting up the pics.
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discoem Nov 6, 2006 at 7:56 AM

Linda, Thanks for sharing your experience in Laos. I'm flying into Bangkok in December with intentions of visiting Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Take care! Emily
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etrehumain Jul 19, 2006 at 1:18 PM

Happy B'day Linda ! Enjoy the moment. Cheers from Montreal.
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mturkkan Jul 19, 2006 at 6:51 AM

Happy Birthday to you from turkey
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schlumpf Jul 19, 2006 at 5:48 AM

Happy Happy Happy B'day Linda!!!
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sawaddy Jul 19, 2006 at 3:38 AM

happy birthday.
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mary2u99 Jul 18, 2006 at 10:37 PM

Happy Birthday to you:-)