6th time in 569 days…6th time thinking, “oh, it’s not that long”, 6th time realizing it is actually excruciating… Why do I always convince myself that it is shorter than it actually is? This will be my next to last long haul from SFO to LPQ…Only one more time July 27th. I can’t wait! Why? Because that’s the day we move to Laos. I have been working on this for years. Trying to get some kind of expat role with whatever company I was working for. Thankfully, none of those ever came to fruition. This one, the one that has finally come true, the one that I have been working on so hard for the past year is actually happening. And to make it even better, it is doing something I love doing; developing curriculums for Healthcare Education. I am going to be volunteering with the Swiss Red Cross in Luang Prabang, Laos.
This had been kept secret for such a long time. I didn’t want to say anything until I knew it was for sure. And until Marc had told his work he was leaving. The day our house went on MLS was the day I told Marc I was announcing it to the world, aka posting on Facebook.
At this moment, I am on my third flight. I am on my way to MY HOUSE in Luang Prabang with Ari, Sakai, and most importantly Chua. Chua has been Ari’s Nanny since he was 9 weeks old. I remember the first time I asked Chua about where she was from. She was so shocked that someone had actually asked her. She said none of the other families she had ever worked for asked about her past. I loved hearing all of the stories about where Chua grew up in Muang Sing, in a minority Hill tribe. Her stories were riveting to me. I had really never heard of Laos before Chua. I could only imagine in my mind what it looked like. We have spoken about traveling to Laos together for 12 years. And now, in 30 minutes, we will be landing in Luang Prabang. Together. She will get to come stay at my house. Her brother, his wife, their daughter and grandchild, and a host of others made the 9 hour drive to LP yesterday. They will be at the airport when we land. The last time Chua saw her family in Laos was 10 years ago. She had come one morning and told me she just spoke to her brother and her mom was dying. I told her to book a ticket to Laos at that moment. There was no way that she was not going to see her mother before she died. Never realizing that I would fly to New York and see my mother for the last time not even 12 hours before she and my dad were killed in an automobile accident. I told Chua that I would be fine taking care of Ari. I would fly my mom out from NY to help. And off she went. I’ll never forget the afternoon I walked into my house and there was this little Foo Manchu looking man sitting in Marc’s blue chair. It was Chua’s father. He had never been out of his village. He was a very well known and respected Colonel during the Secret War. Too bad it wasn’t on the “good side”. (But that is not my story to tell) I remember Chua telling me that they were going to take him to Nordstrom for shoes. HA! What? You’re taking a person that has just flown across the world for the first time to Nordstrom? I couldn’t imagine what this cute little man was thinking. But oh how he loved Ari. You could just see it in their interactions. That is a memory I will cherish forever. That was the last time Chua saw her father. He passed a few years after he went back to Laos.
Chua and my mom had a very special relationship. My mom would come out every few months to see Ari, and she would spend a lot of time with Chua.
Now here we are…all that is missing right now is Marc. He will come the next and last time. This time, I had promised Ari that I would bring him after we got our house so he could see it. I though it would be better if Ari actually saw it and knew what he was getting himself into…Or rather, what I was getting him into. He is so excited to see his friends from his school in Laos that he met in February. I can’t wait to see his reaction to the house. He has asked countless questions about it. At this moment, he is passed out sleeping. He has been amazing on this marathon trip to get to Laos.
I cannot believe this is actually happening!!! Quick trip to bring more stuff to the house. After paying a shit ton of money last trip I made end of April, I knew it was best to bring Ari, Chua, and Sakai to help with the baggage fees. My mules. Who also help me bring wine…2 bottles per person adds up…Marc and I love our Napa wine…so this trip is a win win…
Landing…Cannot wait to see Ari’s reaction to the house! And I cannot wait to get back to it!!!!!!
One on, one off, one in the wash... 