Seri Lao: An Anthology of Lao-Australian Refugee Writings

Sumana Viravong BLOW AWAY WITH WORDS

This Seri Lao project co-ordinated by beautiful Sumana Viravong. The idea started back in 2005 when she was invited to join a panel at Sydney Writer's Festival. She is a grand daughter of Lao legendary and historian Maha Sila Viravong. The project was a collaborative process between the Casula Powerhouse, the Lao Community Advancement, and the Australia Council for the Arts. It funded by The Australia Arts Council.

Listen

A tinkle before laughter erupts,
the soft thud of a sigh that lands,
an echoing as memory flickers then fades.

If we listen very closely
while each story unfolds,
We can hear a slight tremor
just before the heart breaks.

Modified Lao dictionary

By www.kpl.net.al

In 1951, the Ministry of Education appointed the Literature Committee to do a Lao dictionary to serve education work and then the Committee assigned Maha Sila Viravong to edit and collect words.

In order to be a reference for this dictionary since 1951, he also composed grammar consists of four chapters, which had had completed by 1961. The new copies are now being availed at libraries for research and study and distribute for people who interested to learn Lao language.

Seri Lao: An Anthology of Lao-Australian Refugee Writings

To be officially launched by Christopher Kremmer, acclaimed author of ‘Stalking The Elephant Kings’ and ‘ Bamboo Palace ’, about the lives of the former Lao Royal Family.

Seri Lao collects shared stories from the refugee community that lived through one of he most traumatic periods in Lao history. The book captures their vivid memories of fears, hopes, disappointments of broken hearts and delights of dreams fulfilled in the new country. It also highlights the impact of the historic changes in Australia’s policy towards refugees.

Through its narratives and displacement, Seri Lao offers a celebration of the lives while acknowledging the grief that still remains in many of the hearts of Lao-Australian refugees.

QUEST SPEAKERS:

Prakiane Viravong, Laos' most eminent contemporary writer and poet.

Mrs Pinkham Simmalavong, former Head of Literature, Dongdok University, Vientiane, Laos.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Prakiane Viravong, Gary Yia Lee, Pinkham Simmalavong, Xim Vichitvongsa, Nadom, Deth Sysengrath, Lasoy Chommanavong, Navarath Manirath, Phovanh, Tack Sirivong, Bousanith Southaseum, Angelique Vongsana, and Sumana Viravong.

WHERE Liverpool Regional Museum , Corner Congressional Drive and Hume Highway, Liverpool

WHEN On Saturday 5 May 07

TIME 2 pm

COST Free event with Lao performance and exquisite snacks.

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MY IMAGINARY LAOS

By Angelique Malikham Vongsaya

It is a warm and humid afternoon in mid-April. That Wat is bustling with celebration. A parade of joyfully dancing women and men lead a colourful display of youngsters dressed in their Lao traditional costume, silk wrap worn by woman.

Further along in the parade, there are specially chosen young women who are role-playing Nang Sanghane and her Seven Sisters. They march slowly to the cacophonous beat, carrying the precious cargo of their father’s severed head. They are fitted with the most glamorous sinh and their buns glitter with layers of gold. Accustomed to dressing up for special occasion like this, their costumes seem to cause little distress.

The parade is one of my favourite parts of the festival. In the moment, I often forget how foreign I look in my costume and get caught up in the magic of the music and beats; it transports me to the small village where my father used to attend such ceremonies as a child himself.

The New Year Festival had started with traditional morning’s prayer and alms-giving ceremony where food, snacks and money were donated to the wat. In the bowls people had placed a mixture of traditional Lao food with sugarcoated treats in plastic wrapping; aer khao of sticky rice, Kellogg’s muesli bars and Pop Top juices.

In the outer suburb of Sydney, we share in celebrations that are also taking place in a similar fashion in Laos. I remember how growing up there were snippets of Lao culture that I used to take part in. Though scattered throughout the year, all the activities and rituals culminated in three-day New Year festival.

Over the weekend of celebrations, the final day is the one most people look forward to. They have come on the last day armed with buckets, Supersoakers, flour and warpaint (lipstick) for the Wetting. It is extremely satisfying to call out “Happy New Year!” to your friend or complete stranger, before emptying a bucket of water over their heads. Besides, it’s supposed to be good luck - a fresh start, or something like that.

For many second generation Lao like me, we have never returned nor experienced a New Year’s festival in Laos, But it matters little after we have made ourselves dizzy from the cha cha cha ride, sick from fairy floss and have burnt our tastebuds on takeaway paw paw salad.

This is edited version of Angelique writing from “Seri Lao” book. To read more stories from Angelique and all writers who contributed in making this book, get yourself a copy of “Seri Lao”.