Dedicated to my Grandpa Pao

He was born in Salavan, Laos in 1937.

Birth

Childhood

He grew up as an only child in very poor conditions. He lived in a village with his parents. Everyday he would work on his family's farm for food. They also sold the vegetables to the people in their village.

School Life

When he was young, there was no school at all. Instead, he learned how to read and write from his friend. As said from my mother, he is very smart and learns things on his own very fast.

Interesting Facts

He taught himself how to play a wind instrument called a khene. If you look up "khene" on YouTube, he'll most likely be the first person to pop up. Some people describe it as a wooden saxophone.

Someone broke into his house and pulled a gun on him and his wife to steal the money they made from selling their vegetables and other farm items.

He loves traditional Laotian music. Music is a huge part of his life. Almost everyone has a musical talent in the family.

Music

He doesn't have a favorite singer, but he likes the singers that his children love to listen to.

Favorite Singers

He loves Laotian food. The foods that he love the most are fish and sticky rice. Nothing is better than a home-cooked meal.

Foods

It started when he moved to Vientiane to live with his friend. He met her one day and after some time, they got married. He was seventeen years old while she was sixteen years old.

Marriage

Kids

They had 12 kids. Only 9 survived. Because they had so many kids, they ended up being poor. The kids grew up working on the farm for food. Some kids had to reuse stuff that the older sibling had grown out of.

He is very impressed with the invention of the camera. He found out about them when he saw his son owned one. He also loves the creation of the farm he has made with his family.

Inventions & Creations

Historical Events

When he was born, Laos was still a colony of France. It wasn't until he was about seventeen years old in 1954 when they finally got independence from them. Afterwards, there were problems with the government that caused a Laotian Civil War.

He doesn't have a favorite movie, but he does like the ones that his children and grandchildren shows him. In Laos, Thai dramas are usually more popular than movies so he would watch those with his grandchildren. He likes the more traditional-looking dramas.

Dramas/Movies

United States of America

He has been to America about three times. The first time he came here was because of the war between the Kingdom of Laos and the Communist Laos. He came again to help his son go to a University in the United States. The last reason is for help with his health. Most of his children have moved to the United States to make money so they can help out the family.

Today

He would rather live in Laos. The family is getting somewhat better because of the money sent from his children in America. He is impressed with how much everything has changed with technology and his country.

What is your proudest moment?

His proudest moment is helping

some of his kids to move to

America. He knew that they wanted to help their family and that made him proud.

What is your biggest regret?

He regrets not being there for some of his children and for letting them live a poor and difficult life. He wishes he got to know his grandchildren more, especially, the ones in America

Any advice to teenagers?

His advice to teens is to work hard and don't take advantage of what you have.