As a result of participating in this Discovery Week course students will:

• Gain a knowledge and understanding of authentic Laotian culture.
• Learn more about construction with earthen materials.
• Gain an understanding about the Laotian education system.

Course Description/Itinerary:

• Day 1: We will arrive in Luang Prabang late in the afternoon and will be met by our guides at the airport. After settling into our guesthouse, we will have dinner in a Laotian restaurant and enjoy a walking tour of the downtown of Luang Prabang.
• Day 2: Early to rise in Luang Prabang as we enjoy breakfast and then head out to the countryside for a boat ride and then a hike to the village. We’ll hike through jungles amongst the butterflies and greenery of tropical Laos. At the end of our journey, we’ll arrive in the village and meet our homestays.
• Day 3 & 4: In the village we will participate in the construction of a dormitory for student-boarders from nearby-villages. In addition to working in the village we will participate fully in village life - living with our homestays and participating in the traditions and customs of the village.
• Day 5: Our last full day in the village. We will visit the local school and participate in activities (soccer, rugby, frisbee, etc.) with the students. In the evening we will attend a traditional Baci ceremony with the village elders as we have the opportunity to show our mutual appreciation for our experiences in the village.
• Day 6: Early to rise as we hike through the jungle out of the village to spend our afternoon at the picturesque Kuang Si Waterfall - a fantastic hike through lush jungles finished up with a refreshing dip in the beautiful waterfall. After swimming at Kuang Si, we’ll visit the Black Bear rescue center and finish our day with a BBQ on the banks of the Mekong River in Luang Prabang.
• Day 7: On our final day in Laos we’ll tour Luang Prabang - seeing the historical heart of the city (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and then taking a boat ride up the Mekong to the Pak Ou caves - a majestic Buddhist site carved into the limestone cliffs alongside the Mekong river. Upon our return to Luang Prabang, we will head to the airport for our return flight.

Requirements/Considerations:

• A willingness to participate in invigorating hikes through jungle terrain.
• An adaptable nature and compatibility with rustic living conditions.
• An interest or curiosity in Laotian culture.
• An adventurous spirit and an openness to different cultures and ways of living.
• A passion for serving others.
• Able to live without access to the internet for much of the week.
• Sunday to Sunday

Approximate Cost: $1,500 - $2,000

Sponsors: Mr. Callaghan and Mrs. Seewald

Course Location: Laos, Luang Prabang and a village in rural Laos

Course Category: Culture, Education and Service

Student Leaders: 2 (one male, one female). If interested, please send an email to andrew.callaghan@seoulforeign.org by May 1st.