HELP!!

I am a senior University student, applying to Law school next year in Canada. My name is Chantima Oliveira and I am currently a senior
student at the University of Michigan. I am writing in regards to the Laotian language.
I have been in works with the University of Michigan for the past two years in search of an individual who is
able to have a conversation with me in Laotian, in order to determine my proficiency. Unfortunately,
last spring, the Foreign Language Professor with whom I had set up a phone conference with, passed away
unexpectedly.
In sharing my personal experience with Laotian as my first language, my mother and grandmother,
Chanthaly and Dom Phouthongsy, came to Canada through a sponsorship program for refugees in 1980.
I am proud to be first generation of my family born in Canada. My grandmother has lived with me
my entire life and still does so at the ripe age of 89 years young. I spoke the Laotian language well
before I began English in elementary school.

It is my hope that with knowledge of the language, someone would be willing to have a short phone
conference with me in fluent Laotian. The University of Michigan simply needs a letter written on my behalf
from an individual who is qualified in the Laotian language. This is not to earn credits, but simply to character reference my fluency in a second spoken language. If this is a discussion you would be willing
to have,please contact me via email.
Your time and compassion towards my academic career would be greatly appreciated.



Yours in good health,

Chantima Oliveira

chantima_oliveira@hotmail.com

Why don't you ask your husband?

I don't have a husband and it can't be someone of relation.

Hope you don't mind me asking then, why is your last name different from your mother/grandmothers, since it is not a typical Laotian last name.

I also came to Canada in 1980 to escape the war, even though most people think it was by choice. Lived in Vancouver, then later to Ontario where I went to University. Now I live and work in the USA.

What do you mean by, an individual who is qualified in the Laotian language? What qualities or qualifications would you require for this? I do know a few Lao communities in Ontario, mostly from the buddhist temples. There is also a Lao buddhist monk with a PHD in Chicago that I know of. I do speak Laos fairly well for being raised here but I'm not sure what you are looking for specifically.

My last name is different because my mother married a Portuguese man, my father, who also came here escaping a war in Africa. Oliveira is Portuguese. However, my Ama lived with me and raised me as my parents worked. Therefore, Laotian is my first and native language. If you were born in Laos, you would be qualified in helping me! It is simply someone with the ability to speak Laos. This would determine whether we could have a conversation fluently! If you would be willing to have a conversation with me via telephone it would be greatly appreciated!