Girl Power

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Chansamai, Kingkoulap, Phinseng, and Kounkeo are four young Laotian women who work as data entry operators in DDD’s office in Vientiane. They’re busy girls—working at DDD is only one part of their day–and I asked them what their days look like.

Chansamai, Kingkoulap, Phinseng, and Kounkeo are four young Laotian women who work as data entry operators in DDD’s office in Vientiane. They’re busy girls—working at DDD is only one part of their day–and I asked them what their days look like.

What do you do when you get up in the morning?
Kingkoulap: I get up at 4.30am, and then I go to That Luang market and help my mother carry the groceries she needs for cooking.
Phinseng: I get up at 5.15am, and then I wash dishes and cook rice for my family, before I go to work at DDD.

What do you have for breakfast?
Kounkeo: I eat breakfast at the food stand in front of the DDD office. I eat all the things they have: meat, chicken, fish, chili.

What do you study?
Kounkeo: I study at the English faculty from 1pm-4.30pm and then from 5-9pm I study accounting. I think it is important – a good accountant should have good English. I work at DDD in the mornings.
Chansamai: I study Environmental Science at the National University of Laos. I want to become an environmental specialist and work for an organization, such as UNDP, that pays a good salary.
Kingkoulap: I study at the National University of Laos, at the English faculty. I want to become an English teacher.

How do you spend time when you are not working at DDD or in school?
Phinseng: In the afternoons I stay at home and help my sister with her work. We live together in Vientiane, and we sell things in front of our house. Vegetables, fruit, garlic, sugar. Things like that.
Kingkoulap: I work in my aunt’s fruit stand. It’s not so far from where I live.

What do you do before you go to bed?
Chansamai: I do about an hour of homework, and I go to bed at 10.30pm.
Kingkoulap: Before bed, I do three hours of homework. I go to bed at 11pm.

What is your favorite thing to do on weekends?
Kingkoulap: To play computer games, especially Mario Brothers.
Chansamai: I play Lao folk music. Sometimes I perform at the university. And I play badminton with my DDD friends.
Phinseng: I listen to music and watch TV. I think Thai movies are really good.
Kounkeo: My favorite thing to do on weekends is sleeping.