"So are ya Chinese or Japanese?"
"I live in Illinois last 20 year, but, uh, first come from Laos."
"Huh?"
"Laos. We Laotian."
"The ocean? What ocean?"
"We are Laotian. From Laos. It's a landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It's between Vietnam and Thailand, okay? Population 6 Million."
"So are ya Chinese or Japanese?"

(Adapted from King of the Hill with thorough apologies!)

June 22, 2005: Phet.org proudly announces the photos from the Elgin, IL Lao Culture Night held in conjunction with the first ever International Conference on Lao Studies at Northern Illinois University on May 21, 2005. Phet co-chaired the organizing committee for the Culture Night with Aloun Khotisene with help from a tremendously talented committee! See more info about the Lao Culutre Night. Or see more info about the Conference. The video from the Lao Culture Night professionally produced by Bake Phouikham will be available soon!

Photo By Prof. John Hartmann
at Wat Thammarattanaram in Broussard, LA where 118+ Lao and Cambodian Evacuees from New Orleans are making their temporary homes.