Happy Turkey Day!

Maybe not so surprisingly, I had a more "American" Thanksgiving here in Laos than I often have back at home in the U.S. Ambassador and Mrs. Huso had a quaint dinner party for about 40-50 on their spacious front patio. Guests were mainly folks who work at the embassy and also a group of old friends and visitors from the Husos' native Hawaii.

The ambassador's residence, like most official residences here, is set in the French colonial style. Since it was my first time really spending time within an American presence abroad, I had never heard of the ART in Embassies Program. The new ambassador starting his/her tenure may choose from a collection of American art to exhibit in the residence to share a bit of American culture with guests. The Husos' collection features all Hawaiian artists.

Here is the painting Luana (Giclee print) by Pegge Hopper flanked by Pair of Whiskey Jugs (glass) by Mark Mitsuda who was the Husos' daughter's art teacher.

We had turkey and all the trimmings, plus sweet hibiscus tea. Dave was my +1, and I guess like attracts like because our dinner table became the "health" table with, among the Hawaiian visitors, a Japanese-American pediatrician, a Vietnamese-American biochemist/public health person who leads medical missions to Southeast Asia, and a fellow who had worked with the Hawaii health department.

The Hawaiian visitors were all en-route from the East-West Center alumni function in Bali, but got stranded here because the Thailand airport closed down yesterday. That has really caused a raucous here. Tons of stranded people, and the alternative flights out of Laos to Hanoi and Kuala Lampur are packed.