Have you ever reflected
on idea that when you were younger the year seemed to draggggggg on but as we
grow older the year seems to just fly by?
The saying is true,
there is always “an app for that” and the TimeHop app illustrates just how
quickly time can fly. Or…remind you what happened so long ago. The TimeHop app
pulls images and posting from social media and your phone to let you know what
you were doing a year ago on this date, two years ago, three years ago, and so
on. Last year (in 2014), I spent the first two weeks of the new year in Vietnam and
Cambodia with a group from Methodist Theological School in Ohio. It wasn’t a
mission trip, but a mission of being, learning, and experiencing another
culture and context.
Learning this practice
in high school, I’ve been conditioned to find those one or two Kodak moments to
share with others when I return. The term “Kodak moment” I’m realizing is
starting to become obsolete as we aren’t taking pictures on Kodak cameras
anymore or using their 35 mm film, but just go with me. Perhaps a better term now would be "Insta moment." What I’m really saying is with a Kodak/Insta moment it is an experience that needs to be
preserved to memory and shared with others. It isn’t usually just a moment, but
this story that starts to unfold…so you can’t get out your camera or smart
phone to take a picture, because you're just so engaged and wrapped up in this
experience. Instead of having a picture to show others, it will forever be in your memory and a story that you can tell
until you are gray. Reflecting back on some of my favorite Kodak moments from
traveling they happen because I’m willing to say “yes” or I’m not afraid to ask
the question. I live by the rule “The answer is always “no” if you never dare
to ask.” And it’s worked out pretty well for me.
This morning, my TimeHop
app reminded me of one of my all time favorite and memorable Kodak moments.
One of the things about
Vietnam that stuck out to me right away was the crazy amount of scooters that
filled the streets of Hanoi. They were everywhere, weaving in and out of
traffic and if that wasn’t enough the amount of things and people that they
would pile on these scooters was impressive; it was as if physics was being
defied in Vietnam! On the first day, I remember telling one of the friends,
Mark, on the trip that before we left Vietnam for Cambodia I would be on the
back of one of the scooters. He thought I was crazy and didn’t think there was
any way I could pull this off. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I was going to
make it happen, but I was just so curious and anytime someone tells me I can’t
do something I immediately go into John Locke (from the TV show Lost) mode and
think (sometime say) “Don’t tell me what I can’t do!” What would it be like to
dodge in and out of traffic in a big city like Hanoi, Vietnam? I just had to
know.
So I finally got the
nerve to ask our host for the week, Hai Ahn, a woman who is just a year older
than me if she had a scooter. Well, what do you know, she did! I then went on
to ask if she wouldn’t mind taking me around the block one night after we got
back from our excursions for the day. If it wouldn’t be too much trouble of
course…She lit up, she said she would be happy to do that, I could meet her
family and she could show me what a real night out in Vietnam looked like. So a
ride around the block turned into this incredible experience I would never
forget.
The next night, the crew
all piled off the bus and Hai Ahn and I stayed back to get dropped off at her
scooter. I strap on this helmet (any time a helmet is required for an activity,
I know it’s going to be a great time) and we are off. I had waited this whole
trip for this moment and it turns out…I was terrified.
The first three minutes
on the back of this bike left me with white knuckles and a feeling that I had
made a terrible mistake as we weaved in and out of traffic, just a few inches
from other scooters and cars. Being from Ohio, I had this real fear that we
would hit a pot hole and I would be thrown off this bike into traffic. It took
a little bit, but I finally was able to breathe normally, my heart stopped
racing, and my death grip relaxed and I was able to truly take in my
surroundings as Hai Ahn shared personal stories as she zipped in and out of the
night traffic effortlessly. While I prefer the driver to look straight forward
while driving, I was able to gain candid thoughts and insights that Hai Ahn had
of her family, the United States, our group, and the Christian faith that she
was learning about as she yelled over her shoulder.
The goal of our trip was
to be culturally immersed in a different context than the United States.
However, reflecting back on the trip, the true immersion experience happened
when I got on that bike and was invited into the home of Hai Ahn’s family. Sure
we can see all the sites, eat the local food, and have conversations with
people in their office, but something really special happens when you are
invited into someone’s life like I was on our last night in Vietnam.
The apartment was cozy
and full of life. My hosts consisted of Hai Ahn, her daughter, husband, two
brothers-in-laws, and her husband’s parents. They were all gracious and made a
fuss over me as they scrambled to show hospitality in the way of making room on
the couch, preparing tea, and offering a table full of fresh fruits. Her
nineteen month old daughter continued to show me hospitality throughout my stay
by handing me fruit when my hands were empty. We continued to talk about the
topics we discussed on the motorbike but with a wider audience. It was
interesting getting their perspective on a variety of topics. I really could
have stayed there all night and I think the family was half expecting me to,
but I didn’t want to over stay my welcome so I suggested we should head back to
the hotel. Before I left though, Hai Ahn’s in law’s made sure to tell me that if
I ever found myself in Hanoi, Vietnam again that I must stay with them. It was
truly a humbling and eye opening experience.
As we were walking back
to the motor bike from the apartment, I asked Hai Ahn how many guests like me
had visited her house. She simply shrugged her shoulders and told me that I was
a first. I told her she had given me a great gift to meet her family, open up
her home to me, and share her history and stories. Hai Ahn simply smiled and
said that since I was curious enough to want to experience life on a scooter,
she didn’t just want to drive me around the block but to really experience her
country and she was happy to have introduced her family to me. I continue to
replay that last interaction as it serves as a daily reminder of the power of
being curious, of not being afraid to ask the question “Can I?”, and the chain
reaction of saying yes.
This picture is not of
myself and Hai Ahn from Vietnam, but of our host in Siem Reap, Cambodia and I
before we explored the city. When I found this picture on my phone this morning
I was stunned by the mixed feeling of “that seemed so long ago” and “I remember
that experience like it was yesterday.” I think that is what happens when you
get the “back door tour” while traveling. You don’t get the pre-packaged
generic tourist sites, shops, and people. You really become immersed in the
culture, with the people, and it offers a deeper understanding a broader
perspective.
So the next time you are
traveling, I encourage you to be creative in finding ways to take the unbeaten
path, interact with local people, and have a “back door tour” experience that
will surely be a Kodak moment you can share with others.
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