Students' visas refused

Date: Jul 8, 2011

Will you proud of being Lao after read this article ?

NangDarling · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:

Students' visas refused

Sir, – Not many readers may have heard of the tiny landlocked country of Laos in southeast Asia. It is a truly beautiful place with dramatic landscapes and home to some of the gentlest and happiest people I have ever encountered.
I have been living and working in the capital city Vientiane for the past five years. Every summer I travel back to the quaint little town of Caherciveen on the north shore of the Iveragh peninsula in Co Kerry where I teach at a family-run English language summer school for teenagers, The Asana School of English.
This summer I endeavoured to bring a small group of Lao students to Ireland for four weeks to enjoy the unique experience that only The Asana School of English can offer. Everything was going swimmingly. I had a nice group of 11 students ready to go.
On Tuesday, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service informed me that it had refused visas for all of my students because the “need to undertake the course in this State is not warranted”.
After my initial shock and disgust had diminished, I asked myself two things: 1. Why does a second language learner need any more reason to visit (what was once) a marvellous country to study English? and 2. Why are they turning us (and our money) away? I thought our country was broke.
This is yet another case of this country being its own worst enemy. It is embarrassing to the point of being physically sick.
My oldest student Souliya (16) and his sister Katen (11), had said they couldn’t wait to see Ireland and the Atlantic Ocean. I am still thinking of how I am going to tell them that Ireland does not want them to come here and spend their money because they cannot “warrant” it; but that extreme level of being “pathetic” does not translate into Lao so easily.
Another of my students, Amala (13), born in Laos to an Australian father and Laotian mother, carries an Australian passport and does not require a visa. Just lucky, I guess.
My Irish passport is already in the mail. Keep it. I have no need for it any more.

SEAMUS O’GRADY,
Kiettisack International School,
Lao-Thai Friendship Road,
Sokpaluang Village,
Sisattanak District,
Vientiane, Laos PDR.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2011/0708/1224300302237.html

Your question is:

"Will you proud of being Lao after read this article ? "

my question to you is do you fully understand the whole article? I didn't think you are and to answer your question it makes me even more proud....

Date: Jul 8, 2011

Anonymous wrote:

Students' visas refused

Sir, – Not many readers may have heard of the tiny landlocked country of Laos in southeast Asia. It is a truly beautiful place with dramatic landscapes and home to some of the gentlest and happiest people I have ever encountered.
I have been living and working in the capital city Vientiane for the past five years. Every summer I travel back to the quaint little town of Caherciveen on the north shore of the Iveragh peninsula in Co Kerry where I teach at a family-run English language summer school for teenagers, The Asana School of English.
This summer I endeavoured to bring a small group of Lao students to Ireland for four weeks to enjoy the unique experience that only The Asana School of English can offer. Everything was going swimmingly. I had a nice group of 11 students ready to go.
On Tuesday, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service informed me that it had refused visas for all of my students because the “need to undertake the course in this State is not warranted”.
After my initial shock and disgust had diminished, I asked myself two things: 1. Why does a second language learner need any more reason to visit (what was once) a marvellous country to study English? and 2. Why are they turning us (and our money) away? I thought our country was broke.
This is yet another case of this country being its own worst enemy. It is embarrassing to the point of being physically sick.
My oldest student Souliya (16) and his sister Katen (11), had said they couldn’t wait to see Ireland and the Atlantic Ocean. I am still thinking of how I am going to tell them that Ireland does not want them to come here and spend their money because they cannot “warrant” it; but that extreme level of being “pathetic” does not translate into Lao so easily.
Another of my students, Amala (13), born in Laos to an Australian father and Laotian mother, carries an Australian passport and does not require a visa. Just lucky, I guess.
My Irish passport is already in the mail. Keep it. I have no need for it any more.

SEAMUS O’GRADY,
Kiettisack International School,
Lao-Thai Friendship Road,
Sokpaluang Village,
Sisattanak District,
Vientiane, Laos PDR.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2011/0708/1224300302237.html

Your local government(Caherciveen, County Kerry ) has been run by the extreme Right-Wing repulican guards that's why. and they had refused to issues the Visa for Lao kids has nothing to do with a Question either I'm pround to be Lao or not, Anyway, all you have to do is: just tell your Students forget about those beautiful farm houses, forget about Cajon, Trad, Rock, and all of these Celtic music....So thankyou very much for trying to help those Lao kids.....

Nia · Senior Member

It make's me even prouder to be Lao after reading this journal.

Anyways who in the world would ever talked about there trip to Ireland? I rarely hear anything about that country anyways. Which is why vacationing/tourism there just seem to drop every year. Hopefully the Lao people will remember this journal news about this article that denied Lao from visiting Ireland. Just because of some stupid disgusted policy restricted for certain people and country.

Perhaps there are other country in Europe that welcome Lao people instead...

Date: Jul 8, 2011

I am so sorry for those kids and Ireland's Gov. should not discriminate them.

Date: Jul 9, 2011

This is totally stupid and out of wax, the Ireland's mindless government refused to issues a Lao kids the visa has nothing to do with Quote''( Will you be pround of being Lao after reading this article'' ) Who ever came up with this Question I think He/she is totally disrespected a Lao races, and totally looked down on Lao people. Lao people with very good in english know that this is separated issue, this question not only make our lao stronger. it' will wake up all lao to be a stronger in a new generation to come.......

Date: Jul 9, 2011

Anonymous wrote:
I am so sorry for those kids and Ireland's Gov. should not discriminate them.

We should understand their point of view . IRLAND it's bankrupt nation they can afford to feed or reliable for the guess well being while stay in their country .

Date: Jul 9, 2011

Anonymous wrote:
This is totally stupid and out of wax, the Ireland's mindless government refused to issues a Lao kids the visa has nothing to do with Quote''( Will you be pround of being Lao after reading this article'' ) Who ever came up with this Question I think He/she is totally disrespected a Lao races, and totally looked down on Lao people. Lao people with very good in english know that this is separated issue, this question not only make our lao stronger. it' will wake up all lao to be a stronger in a new generation to come.......

it looked to me that the top poster does not know how to state his/her question conserning this matter that's all!

eg: He or she should have said, " After you've read this topic, how would you feel as a Laotian?"

Date: Jul 13, 2011

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
I am so sorry for those kids and Ireland's Gov. should not discriminate them.

We should understand their point of view . IRLAND it's bankrupt nation they can afford to feed or reliable for the guess well being while stay in their country .

Sir, Lao kids travel with their own money and they dont need any help from Ireland government.

Date: Jul 15, 2011

yes i know they travel with their own money but special circumstance example in the case of accident who will responsibility for that ? for me i fell bad too i wish they can go visit anyplace as they wish . i have experience with one case that involve the visitor from Lao ,that person have serious accident and the hospital bill over $100.000. they try to collect from his relative but they can't afford to pays ...

Date: Jul 16, 2011

The caption should have read Will you still be proud of being Irish after reading this article ?

footballer · Senior Member

I AM PROUD TO BE LAO, BUT NOT PROUD TO HOLD A LAO PDR PASSPORT, DO U GUYZ THINK LIKE THIS??

-- Edited by footballer on Saturday 16th of July 2011 02:37:54 PM

Date: Jul 16, 2011

YES, ABSOLUTELY!!! I'm proud of being Laotian!, but feel ASHAME of being an Irish!!!!!!!

You should have asked " Are you proud of being an Irish after reading this?"

Date: Jul 16, 2011

I though I've read somewhere that the Irish authorities did approved their visa recently. Ireland is a wonderful place to visit and learn english. In fact some of the finest english literature were writen by the Irish.