Vientianne, Laos

Across the road from Vilayphones families house is the Mekong river and this tree...the place Mom and four kids entered the water in the middle of the night, leaving all they had behind.








Vilayphone and cousin Boop...we love her!

Starting clockwise with Vilayphone, cousin Boop, brother Kittisack, our driver (cant remember his name), cousin Ba'et, cousin Vilaysak, brother Boon, Dad Vithoune, cousin P'oui

There are so many stories...emotions...its hard to know where to start. Vilayphone doesn't remember a lot from her childhood days in Laos, other than the stories her family tells. She didn't know what to expect or think on our way there. While on the plane I asked her what she was feeling, thinking..."excited, nervous, anxious, happy."

Its impossible for me to portray her thoughts and feelings properly so I will stop trying. I can however offer some observations.

FAMILY

Having meet my family in Spain and Brazil I know what its like to instantly connect with someone you've never met. Meeting Vilayphones family in Thailand and Laos was no different!

P'oui was the first cousin we met. He was at the airport very early in the morning to help us get to our hotel, that he also arranged. It was easy to see that he is a good and loving person with a deep feeling of duty and connection with family.

After crossing the friendship bridge from Thailand into Laos and slowly churning through immigration, Boop, Vilaysak and others were there to greet us. Their beautiful smiles and laid back way made it instantly apparent this was family! We stayed at their home, ate their food and enjoy their friendship!

People are different but family is family and that bridges culture, language, food, climate and racial gaps. I (kohn cow, white people) felt accepted and part of the family. It didn't hurt that I jumped with both feet at any kind of food they through at me...from the dancing shrimp to the duck blood soup...so I got sick from the soup...but it was a small price to pay for admittance into the family.

LOVE

One of the my favorite lessons on love is that there is no one way to give or receive it. Love can be subtle and obvious, quite and loud, surprising and expected. But one constant attribute is its never ending ability to stretch, to include all people willing to receive what you are willing to give. Even though I couldn't communicate with my new found family and friends more than grunting and pointing (like after thanksgiving dinner when you are so stuffed you cant speak but want the remote that's on the other side of the room, to change the channel because you just can't take watching the Lions take yet another beating) the love imparted both ways was sufficient to tell our feelings. Come on, I couldn't be SO serious.

Regardless of my observations, the one thing that will mean the most is what do we do from here.? Do we file the experience away in the that was cool draw or was the experience enough to change our life? Or has it already?