“Slow” Living in Luang Prabang and Reconnecting in New Zealand
My home has been the charming UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Pang, nestled along the banks of the Mekong River in northern Laos. It’s a far cry from the rolling green hills and coastal vistas of New Zealand, although at times the landscape does remind me of NZ. It could be a slow life and for many it is. However, between my seeming need for chronic busyness and a demanding job, life in LPQ is anything but slow.
My journey to Luang Prabang began when I decided to take a deeper dive into volunteer work. I discovered a vibrant grassroots organization here making a real, sustainable impact in education.
But as rewarding as this experience has been, I’ve also found great value in maintaining close ties to my roots back in New Zealand. I make the journey home to reconnect with family and friends, catch up on important life admin tasks that are unavoidable. I am immensely grateful I can do this and to all my family and friends who make time for me. I wished I had time to simply savor the familiarity of my original homeland – one day perhaps (I have done a lot of work remotely).
In Luang Prabang, mornings start with the saffron-robed daily alms-giving ceremony, afternoons for some are spent idling in open-air cafes, and evenings bring the night market’s lively hustle for tourists. In contrast, my visit to NZ is about ticking boxes off my checklist and also having valuable time to connect with loved ones.
This life of oscillating between two vastly different worlds is certainly not without its challenges. But in finding ways to honor both my Lao and New Zealand identities, I’ve gained a profound appreciation for the richness that can come from embracing multiple cultural touchstones, a life that requires me to be flexible, curious and present – qualities I’ve discovered are essential for living a life of meaning and purpose.
Laos, Luang Prabang, New Zealand, Travel
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