Sabaidii SJDers, First of all, my apologies for posting this article later than scheduled :( Hopefully, it is worth the wait! =) Let me start with a little introductory incidence, so you know where I'm coming from. For the past three months or so, I've been working with Lao teenagers in a program called "Parent and Family Education". The program's goal is to help parents become aware of social problems that their children are facing on a daily basis, and at the same time, inculcate in the children the different cultural influences in their upbringing. Pretty much a way to bridge a cultural and generational gap between parents and children. Being the facilitator for the youth group, my curriculum was designed to touch on any aspect of family's health. From there I started and even diverged to more art inclined projects to bring out any positive familial experience such as play writing and improvised acting, folk dancing, and my very last project, painting with the topic "My Favorite Place to be"... It was heartwarming to see some of our youth depict their home and family unit as point of focus. 4 out of 10 teenagers, however, painted to my horrifying eyes... a casino... What does that tell me? Or maybe, what does that tell YOU? --------------------------------------------------------- Satjadham presents: "My Favorite Place to be" by Chittraphone Pom Outama I am a child with normal needs and wants. I like to go shopping, hanging out with my friends. I would like to go to the movies and museum of science and industry as advertised in the news. It would be kinda cool to check out the zoo with the new elephant from Africa. But my parents told me that they were too busy to take me. They would tell me that they have to work really hard to feed us, my brothers, sisters and I. And when I seem to not understand, they would tell me that they have "gambled" and risked their life to be here, so that their children, us, can have the very best of everything. I don't always understand what they mean by it, but it seems like a great sacrifice, so I try to. I especially love it when my parents put us in the car on the week-end to go for a long drive. I am always so excited because my parents talk about it with great seriousness. I feel like I am part of a great adventure, because my parents anticipate it to be a LUCKY day! It is a time when our family gets to do something together. We go on a trip together, we eat out, we bond, and our parents seem to be in a great mood. I like it at the casino (that's where we go every week-end) because there's a lot of people, and my parents give us money to play video games, and eat awfully lots of junk food. Everything that we want we get, as long as we don't cry and want to go home. It is a great place! It is a place where my family is together and happy. It is the destination of our weekly trip. People are always happy and excited there, too. I think I would like to go in there once I'm allowed. I can be just like my parents. We can then be together all the time! It really is my favorite place to be! I am a child you see, a child growing up in a society full of choices. My family is my world. I am a child you see, I learn to imitate the ones I love. I want to be just like them. They love me and for sure they will always teach me the very best. I trust them with my needs and wants. I am a child you see, I know that my parents will never "gamble" my life away... I welcome any critique and comment!