Hannah+F.+&+Cheyenne

===__//Hi Cheyenne! I don't think I know you yet. I'm new here so I don't know everyone's names and stuff. lol! I think we should do our report on Cyprus, Laos, or Lebanon! Those sound like interesting countries!!!!//__===

__//Religion-Hannah//__
Buddhism was the state religion of Laos, it was first introduced to Laos when Mon Buddhist monks in the eighth century.By the 14th century almost everyone knew what Buddhism was. Since 1975 when Communist ways took over, they have not made it illegal or oppose Buddhism but has tried to manipulate it.

__//Government-Hannah//__
Laos used to be a conservative monarchy, ruled by a few small families, in 1975 the conservative monarchy turned into a communist oligarchy. While it was a conservative monarchy the king would rule from Louangphrabang, but did not rule most of the other far away regions. the government in Laos have divided the country into 16 provinces, one municipality and one special zone. The municipality is called Kumpang Nakon(municipality is an area ot town/city usually ruled by the government). The provinces are Attapu, Bokeo, Champasak, Phongsali, Bolikhamxai, Houphan, Louangphabang, Khammouan, Loung Namtha, Oudomxai, Savannakhet, Vientiane Prefecture with Vientiane capital, Vientiane Province, Xaignabouli,X aisomboun and the special zone is Xekong.

__//Food-Hannah//__ Traditional Lao food is very simple. Rice,Vegetables,soup,and possibly dried fish might be a typical Lao dinner. Thai food nd Lao food are very similar. Almost all dishes are made with natural,fresh ingredients. For example, vegetables, chicken, duck, pork, fish, beef. Laab is the name of one of the most common dishes in Lao restaurnts. It is made with stick rice, a Lao sauce, vegetable, and peppers. The main part of the dish is a type of mince meat (fish,chicken,beef, ect.). Lao food is not the same as other Asian countries. Its signature mark on their meals are sticky rice eaten by hand.

//__Clothing-Hannah__// Clothing for men and women in Laos is not the same. In Laos men wear simple clothes such as pants, a shirt, and a vest. Women wear a sarong (a loose like skirt cloth), a shirt and sometimes a jacket, but unlike men, women's clothes are covered with embroidery and designs. Both men and women wear colorful bands around their waist. Traditionally, women wear large headdresses along with the bands. the outfits and clothing is hand woven. the clothing is usually very colorful such as pink, green, and blue, but sometimes it is also colored black and/or white. Lately, Laos people have been wearing western clothes for regular purposes. The traditional clothings are going to be used for festive purposes only.

__//Holidays-Hannah//__ This holiday is celebrated on the fourth lunar month, celebrating the Buddha reincarnation. The Bun Pha Wet is celebrated in different months in different towns. So some people can celebrate the holiday in their home town or in some other town in their country! Some men can also become monks during this time. Wat Phu Festival is held on the third month of the year. Some of the festival activities include Buffalo fight, elephant racing, and some Lao music performances. Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia at this time, ship in different souvenirs, and goods. Also, this time is also when the Buddha gives a speech to 1,250 monks, all traveled there to here the speech. Lao new year is held in April and is 3 days long. during this time the whole country "turns off" to celebrate this holiday. Buddhas are washed and offerings are made at the temple that day too. The people of Laos spray happily spray water on everyone to celebrate. Since it is so warm in Laos during this time the water cools them down. The spraying is the way Laotians call upon the rain. On the sixth full moon of the year, Buddhists all over the world worship the Buddha's birth. This celebration is held in local temples. That day is marked with much chanting and religious instruction. Bun Khao Pansa is a holiday Buddhists equivalent to Lent. It is also the best time for young men to enter monkhood. Before men marry they traditionally wear the monkhood for a little amount of time. For monks, they practice of traveling from temple to temple. It begins on the full moon of July and ends on the full moon of October. Laotians have high respect for their family members who have passed on. On this day Lao people cremate their loved ones and then give presents to the monks who have prayed for them and who came to the cremation. This is the ay that Bun Khao Pansa ends on. During this day monks who return home from the temples receive e presents from worshipful townsfolk. For a whole week monks are given gifts from townsfolk. For the whole week the temples come alive with fairs, contests, fireworks, and music, along with "wein thein",(candlelight procession) around That Luang. In 1975 on December 2nd, communist ways took over.
 * January-Bun Pha Wet
 * February 21-Wat Phu Festival
 * April 13-15-Bun Pi Mai (Lao New Year)
 * May 8-Visakha Puja
 * July 7-Bun Khao Pansa
 * August 30-Haw Khao Padap Din
 * October 14-Awk Pansa
 * November 12-Bun That Luang
 * December 2-Lao National Day

Attractions-fun,temples, landmarks Architecture population-numbers & make-up laws climate Food**hannah** Dance Traditions**hannah** Housing-cheyenne Holidays**hannah** Sports Schools-Education-cheyenne Music Clothing**hannah** Families-Cheyenne Economy=jobs, agriculture,poverty level-Cheyenne Natural resources Country symbol, flag wildlife natural disasters arts Social classes/groups
 * Geography**-Cheyenne
 * History**-Cheyenne
 * Government-president

HIIII HANNAH


 * D jerri

__History -Cheyenne__ During World War One the Japanese occupied Laos only to see the French return in 1946. Internal rule over the united Laos was granted to the king of Luang Prabangin 1949. Independence from the French was achieved in 1953. Pathet Lao, a Northern leftist group aided by Vietnam took control of many eastern countries after gaining strength in the 1950's. Prince Souvana Phouma Heading a 1962 coalition government was joined by the Pathet Lao.With drawing from the coalition in 1964, the Pathet now aligned with Viet Minh in the Vietnam war fought against the governments of Laos and South Vietnam until a 1973 cease -fire. The Pathet took control of the country in 1975. Declaring the Laos democratic republic. In an effort to disrupt traffic the United States intensely bombed the Lao territory along the Ho Chi Minh trail.Permanent craters and unexploded weapons were left. Relations with the United States was strained but never broken after 1975, they began to improve in the 1989.

Geography - Cheyenne 91,430 square miles and slightly larger than Minnesota Laos is the only land locked country in southeastern Asia. The Mekong river is a very important part of Lao transportation route although some areas impassible because of rapids. Steep mountains cover the north and northeastern part of Laos. Home to lush foliage and hard woods are the tropical forests. With a tropical monsoon climate Laos has a dry season from October to April. The rainy season is from May to September.January is the is the coolest month of the year, the climate is cooler in the northern mountains the hottest month of the year is April. Economy-Cheyenne Rice is the principal crop,but tobacco, veggies, corn, and coffee are also grown. other wise not able to obtain some items subsistence farmers sell crops and fresh game to buy their basic needs. Opium is the main way of in come for most subsistence farmers, Laos is the the world's largest producers of it. With no alternative income for many farmers the government is trying to eradicate the opium trade. Weapons from the 1960's and the 1970's that have a devastating impact, as they still hold threat of having detonation. Large areas that could have been used for farming is now unusable because of these weapons, and makes death common. Government wanting to tap the nations resources by expanding the industrial activities, this would expand in timber, gold, tin,copper, gypsum, and bauxite.

Families-Cheyenne Three generations usually live in together in large close knit families.More children is common in rural areas, it means more help with crops and farming. The eldest man of the house hold is the Patriach and represents the family at village meetings. parents strive for the children, so children are taught to honor their parents. The daughter is with her husband and children is expected to care for her parents when they age. heavy labor and providing for the families is the mans job. Selling produce at the markets, controlling house hold affairs, and caring for the children is the womens job. At an early age girls start to help their mother with chores.

Housing - Cheyenne A small garden, a bathroom, a kitchen, two bedrooms, and a living space Laos homes are usually one to stories tall. Most urban homes are made of concrete and bricks, although some wooden homes can still be found.Eating on sitting mats on the floors, the furniture is usually heavy wood. The homes are built on stilts with a air flow underneath to keep them cool,and to protect them from flooding.

Education -Cheyenne Rural areas lack many schools and well trained teachers. For eleven years the state provides free school including five years mandatory primary and six years secondary. Children are need to help with the farm and crops so the enrollment list is low. Until recently the schools lacked materials and books. Parents are pressing the government for further improvements.