Project Phongsali 2011: We return to Sop Houn and share videos with villagers who helped make them

Noi, a grandmother injured twice by American ordnance helped us make an educational video. Here, she previews the video with members of her family.

Week Two

Day Nine:

Having chosen to work along highway 2-E this season, we decided that we should begin with a visit to Sop Houn, the town where we lived and worked last year. It’s a place best described as a village of 500 people, 96 houses and 58 bomb craters. Given the level of contamination that we found last year, we assumed that villagers must have uncovered new stuff during the months of our absence.

What a joyful homecoming it was! People flocked to greet us, and it seemed that the head of every household wanted us to toss back a couple of shots of lao-lao (home brewed rice whiskey) in celebration of our return.

Last January, when I arrived in Sop Houn after a brief visit the year before, an elderly woman named Noi walked me through the village proudly telling everyone, “This falang [foreigner] told me he would return to take the bombs away, and he did. He’s the real thing!”

This year, when Noi saw me she gave a hearty laugh and declared, “You told me you would come back some day, and here you are again! You always keep your promise!”

The highlight of my day was showing villagers the video interviews that I conducted last year. Every time I fired up my DVD player I drew a multi-generational audience that marveled at seeing their friends and neighbors on screen. I was especially touched when Noi, who has twice been injured by American ordnance, gathered her extended family for a viewing; with characteristic grace she accepted compliments from everyone in the audience.

What a welcome — beyond anything I could have hoped! I’ve completely put to rest my fears of a “You Can’t Go Home Again” disappointment.