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 * Interim 2010 - Laos: Service and Culture **

Interim Leader: Joe Nolasco //(Email: jnolasco AT hkis.edu.hk)//, Shirley Wan //(Email: swan AT hkis.edu.hk)//



Laos is a fascinating country, once part of French Indo-China. It borders China in the north, Thailand in the West, Vietnam in the East, and Cambodia to the south. This Interim takes us to the UNESCO world heritage township of Luang Prabang. This ancient royal city is surrounded by mountains at the junction of the magnificent Mekong River.
 * __ OUTLINE __**

During the 1960s and 70s Laos became the most heavily bombed country per head of population in the history of warfare, and this continues to have a devastating impact on its population. Laos contains a number of minority tribes, and so has enormous ethnic diversity.

This interim experience provides students with the opportunity to connect first hand with a number of Non Government Organizations (NGOs) in Laos, and witness first -hand how people are helping each other to make life better in Laos for everyone. We will also have the opportunity of a unique experience of living with a family in an ethnic minority village, away from all of the usual comforts of Hong Kong.


 * __ LAOS INTERIM ORIENTATION __ [[file:Interim Orientation - Laos 2010.pdf]]**

Visas:** Most nationalities will require a tourist visa for entry to Laos, except for passport holder of Japan, Korea and Philippine. More information will be announced on arranging visa as a group. Please make sure passport has a minimum of 6 months validity at time of travel in March 2010. Land Operators:** Green Discovery [|www.greendiscoverylaos.com]
 * __ TRAVEL INFORMATION __**
 * Vaccinations: ** Please obtain specific information and advice regarding suggested immunizations from your family physician no later than Jan 2010.


 * Accommodation:** For the first and last two nights we will be staying in a comfortable guest house. Students will share twin room. On March 8 to 10, we will be staying in groups of three or four with a traditional Laotian family. These conditions will be clean and safe, but very different from our HK lifestyles, so students need to be prepared for this.


 * __ PACKING LIST __** [[file:Packing List for Laos Interim 2010.pdf]]

__** TENTATIVE ITINERARY **__ //(revised on Dec 10, 2009)//


 * __ IMPORTANT INTERIM DATES __**
 * Wed, Nov, 11 || Meeting # 1 ||
 * Tue, Dec 10 || Meeting #2 ||
 * Tue, Dec 15 || Interim Parent Night 6:00 - 7:00PM ||
 * Fri, Jan 22 || Meeting #3 ||
 * Tue, Feb 9 || Meeting #4 ||
 * Fri, Feb 12 || Interim Half day ||
 * Mon, Mar 1 || Meeting #5 - Final Meeting before Interim - ||
 * **Sat, Mar 6 – 13 (Sat) - ** || **Interim Week in LAOS ** ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Wed, Mar 24 || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Meeting #6 - Prep for Exhibition Night ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Tue, Mar 30 || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Interim Exhibition Night 7:00 – 8:00 PM ||


 * __ NGOs VISIT & DONATION SUGGESTION: __**
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Big Brother Mouse [[image:BBM.jpg width="64" height="62" link="http://www.bigbrothermouse.com/index.html"]]**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**My Library, Luang Prabang***

**Free the Bear***


 * __ EMERGENCY CONTACT __**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;"> Name || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">** Contact ** ||
 * ** HKIS 24 Hours Emergency Contact

Ms. Anna Nunez ** || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Office Telephone: +852 3149-7192 Mobile: +852 9102 3992 Office Fax: +852 2813-7300 <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Email: <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">anunez@hkis.edu.hk || Office Fax: +852-2813-7300 <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Email: <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">jlin@hkis.edu.hk ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">During Office Hours throughout Interim Week - **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Ms. Joanna Lin - **<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Interim Program Coordinator || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Office Telephone: +852-3149-7153