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CULTURES - LAOTIAN
Background
After the Vietnamese communist invasion of Cambodia a mass of refugees
from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam began arriving to the United States
between 1979 and 1982. Of the Southeast Asian refugees during this
time, over twenty-one percent came from Laos. These groups of refugees
came from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds ranging from fisherman
to farmers with very little education or transferable job skills.
Many of these new immigrants came without knowing any English.
Language
The national language of Laos is Lao. This language consists of
thirty-three consonants, which are distinguished by tone, either
namely, low, high, and rising, twenty-eight vowel sounds, divided
into short or long vowels, and six total tones used in Lao. It is
a monosyllabic language in which substantial numbers of polysyllabic
words are derived from Sanskrit. Lao is also an uninflected language
without plural, possessive, or past tense endings. Beside this national
language spoken by the majority of Laotian people, there are also
minority languages such as Hmong, Mien, Thai-Dam, and various hill
tribe languages.
Education
Laos public school system consists of: five years that begin at
the age of six, the pathom or primary level, followed by three years
of middle school called mathayon, and three years of udom or high
school. In reality, children receive less than three years of formal
education, the national norm, and frequently leave school to begin
vocational job training.
Religion
For Laotians, the predominant religion is Theravada Buddhism, the
southern branch of Buddhism that is widespread in such countries
as Thailand, Burma, and Sri Lanka. Buddhism is over 2500 years old
today and includes a series of rituals, meditations, and beliefs
that construct the way a person lives their life.
Buddhism
Gautama Buddha, called the Enlightened One, founded Buddhism in
India during his lifetime which spanned from 563-483 BC. Buddha
believed that man was born into suffering caused by craving fame,
power, wealth, which ultimately lead to frustration and disappointment.
In order to prevent oneself from suffering, it is believed that
man must deny all cravings and live a virtuous life. This idealized
lifestyle is called the Eightfold Path and consists of having: right
view, right thought, right conduct, right speech, right livelihood,
right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation. Buddhists
believe an individual's fate is determined by their previous existence
or present life path and that their soul will be reincarnated until
they reach a level of enlightenment. The ultimate stage of enlightenment
achieved is known as Nirvana.
Animism
Another important element of religious beliefs is animism. Animists
believe that spirits inhabit every corner of the universe, even
human beings. Animism is at the root of the Baci ceremony. The purpose
of the Baci is to contact the body; spirits, protect them, and bind
them to a person who needs help since they are likely to leave this
body on important occasions like a marriage, birth, death, illness,
trip, or pregnancy. The Baci is usually performed at home with members
of the family and friends gathering around the altar with flowers,
candles, incense, rice, food offerings, holy water, and strings
for binding the spirits. Normally an elder is invited to perform
the ceremony by chanting from a religious text. The person or persons
receiving the Baci are presented with strings around their wrist
in order to bind the spirits to their body. These strings are typically
worn for three days. Today the traditional Baci ceremony is used
to commemorate family celebrations such as homecomings, weddings,
and festivals. Children, adults, and elders can head the ceremony
for the family and tie strings around family members and friends
wrists. For fun, the strings can include wishes for the future,
good health, money, eggs, or candies.
Literature and Art
Lao literature derives largely from Buddhist beliefs, but a variety
of legends, tales, and poetry are dedicated to the values of Brahmanism
(a form of Hindusim). Most of the ancient Lao literature is preserved
in written form, though the Lao prefer to present their literary
legacy orally. Folk tales, proverbs, children's stories, and poems
are included in the grouping of oral literature. Lao art and architecture
can be very expressive, although limited in range. Typically art
is religious in nature. This includes the pervasive image of Buddha
and the temple or monastery known as a wat.
The Lao New Year Festival
The New Year Festival comes in the middle of April, based on the
old Buddhist calendar. The festivities often take several days and
includes cleaning the house, preparing special foods like barbecue
chicken, rice, and papaya green salad, sprinkling scented water
on each other, performing the Baci ceremony, and going to the temple.
Culture Clash
In Southeast Asia, Lao villagers were able to find a similar geography,
collective responsibility, mutual respect, and closeness to family
members even when they moved to urban places. In an American community
such as San Diego, there are groupings of individuals who live in
adjacent apartments and homes who form a so-called ban (village),
but it does not retain the influence it did in Southeast Asia. The
poban or formal Lao village leader no longer has the power to influence
families, encouraging respect and commitment towards family and
community. Once in the United States, individuals are no longer
dependent upon their fellow community members and more or less go
their own way. Children tend to be prone to disregard the respectful
cultural expectations of elders, which discourages early dating
and staying out of trouble, but instead follow their peer groups
and American cultural trends. This mix of beliefs and cultural viewpoints
between children and their parents can cause an enormous amount
of tension and stress.
Resources
Ima, K. (1988). A handbook for professionals working with Southeast
Asian delinquent and at risk youth.
San Diego: Social Advocates for Youth.
Savada, A. M. (1995). Laos: a country study. Washington,
D.C.: Library of Congress.
Lonely
Planet Publications. (1997). Southeast Asia on a shoestring.
Singapore: SNP Printing Pte. Ltd.
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