The Wobbling Sprocket

Joan Oppel wrote this piece which appears in the March, 2010 issue of The Pedal Patter, the monthly newsletter of the Potomac Pedaler Touring Club.  Joan was on Tour d’ Indochine a year ago.

The article had no pics so I’m taking the liberty to add a few from the trip.

Visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi

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The guy who owned this water buffalo could not believe that it would let Joan hop on its back (apparently they can smell people and don't like it). I couldn't believe that Joan even tried it.

Joan on her way to Tram Ton Pass outside Sapa

Joan with Hmong girl in Kiu Kacham

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Joan outside school getting ready to distribute books from Big Brother Mouse

L- Riding pal, Wayne R- Joan

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The whole group at Tay Tran border crossing from Vietnam to Laos. L to R: Clive, Jose, Shawn, Wilma, Me- Bob, Joan, Richie, Wayne, Mark, Graeme and Dan.

A big thanks to Joan for sharing the experience!

Best,

Bob

We try to do something on every tour in Laos to aid the local people.  The truth is they have very, very little.  Schools frequently have dirt floors and the only real teaching aid is a blackboard and some chalk.

Over the years we have been able to do several things.   Last year, with the aid of Howard Stauffer’s Rotary Club connection, a new school building was built in Ban Vangtang.  In Ban Faen, where we usually have a homestay, not only has a new school building been financed from donations, but new bathrooms and a playing field as well.  Last year, Chantal, with the support of the Canadian Officers Club in Washington DC, raised $6,000 to fund the publication of schoolbooks.

This year, on the Tour d’Indochine, we pooled donations from the group and purchased sets of reading books.  We dropped three sets off at randomly selected schools along our route.  We split the last set up and we each gave individual books to kids we met along the road and/or their parents.

There is a strong sense of community and family in Laos.  Perhaps that is the reason that there is always a certain formality that Loatians demand when you make a contribution, no matter how small it is.  It usually goes something like this:  the school people come outside and line up;  you have to formally present whatever it is you are giving by first bowing your head and and then handing the item to a teacher;  then everyone has to shake hands (men shake hands, but for women, you put your hands together as if praying and bow your head).  They then make some speeches that we can’t interpret and then they like to hear us say things they can’t interpret.   As if this isn’t enough, if they have any advance warning, the kids will dance or put on some kind of performance.  Then there are pictures.

We may not understand much of what is said, but the message is always crystal clear.  They are letting you know that they truly appreciate receiving some books.

Here are some pics of what went down:

Lao Kids

Lao Cycling Tour

Lao Cycling Tour

Lao Cycling Tour

Lao Cycling Tour

Lao Cycling Tour

Lao Cycling Tour

Made it back…finally…after being re-routed thru Dallas to DC. Anyway, I put a lot more pics on Facebook….

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