Lao is still very Lao

A week after arriving in Laos (the 4th of August) we packed our bags again for a four day excursion to Da Nang, Vietnam to join in the annual South East Asia MCC Retreat. We took a series of two flights before arriving at our destination. The trip began with an unfortunate episode, which turned into a window sheading light onto Lao culture.

A realization came to me just after passing through emigration while standing in front of the metal detectors that I had not put my Leatherman in the checked luggage and it was still on my belt! I ended up leaving the multitool with one of the Lao security officers before proceeding through security. One of the MCC staff helped figure the whole thing out, in Lao of course, and took down the man’s name and phone number. The officer would hang on to my Leatherman until we returned from Vietnam in 4 days. I asked the staff member later what he thought the chances were of finding the officer again and picking the Leatherman up. He smiled and replied, “Lao is still very Lao. Everything will be ok.” Sure enough after a wonderful time in Da Nang, meeting the MCC staff, attending sessions and enjoying the South China Sea we returned to Vientiane to have my Leatherman waiting for us at the airport.

Posted by Jeffrey