International Friendly

What started as small soccer contests after work grew into an invitation to play in Laos. A few dozen of us had competed against each other locally in a round robin tournament among parts of the U.S. embassy community. Last weekend we combined forces to challenge our counterparts in Vientiane. I was one of three to make the trip from CDC.

The gung-ho hosts at the embassy in Laos had thought of everything. We were met on the Thai side of the bridge by a caravan of vehicles with bulletproof windows. Though the vans had just come from the Lao side minutes before, a crew sprayed the hubcaps with disinfectant as we came into the country. (No telling what strains of bird flu and other pandemics-to-be might be lurking in Thailand.)

Soon we were lunching with the ambassador, a pleasant and athletic 50-something. He revealed no secrets about his team’s strategy for the match that afternoon. Later, we wished we’d had better intelligence. Though badly outnumbered on the bench, they forced a tie after 90 minutes of regulation.

The senior diplomats from each side conferred. A growing crowd roared for more: cheerleaders, family members, and people who had heard there would be a party afterwards. The decision was made to play another 15 minutes. When that overtime period ended with the score still 2-2, another one was added.

Each team wangled one more goal. Having played for two hours, a draw seemed more appropriate than it had seemed thirty minutes earlier. Besides, the buffaloes were done roasting. Handshakes were exchanged. All agreed that the cause of international relations had been advanced.

(A bit more detail about this junket appears at hipbelt, a sister blog where travel tales get told.)