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A rooster crows in the distance. My ears register and turn towards the sound through a sleepy haze. My eyelids flicker, adjusting to the unfamiliar morning light of Luang Prabang in Laos. I splash water on my face, washing away the weariness of the previous day and waking myself up to today’s possibilities. I dress quickly, close the door to my room quietly, and silently kneel on the side of the road. My legs stretch and flex, the flesh settling and absorbing the crisp texture of the gravel underneath. Before me is a small woven basket filled with rice from this community. To my right, the chatter of neighbours trickles and drifts up the laneway towards me, tickling my ears. Then the women themselves arrive in a flurry of morning ritual. Their chatter subsides as they gracefully lower themselves to kneel – baskets of rice before them. We collectively sink into morning’s quiet meditation. The serenity is broken briefly as a late comer clatters up to her place alongside me. Her friends good naturedly chastise her for her tardiness. Then to my left, floating specks of orange disperse the thin grey mist. The monks are coming. They walk quickly but silently, filling their baskets from those offered. As they approach to take my rice, I glance up briefly. He is young- maybe sixteen. Light brown eyes silently acknowledge and affirm my presence amongst the locals. No words – a nod, a flicker of a smile. The line of orange continues to snake past like a quiet respectful conga line, until it dissipates into the distance. A morning routine of humility, offering and receiving, a sharing of self with others. Then the day begins. Later that evening, I cross a bridge over the river. In the half light, I can see a small group of young monks clustered in the middle of the bridge, laughing and smoking cigarettes. In the flare of light as one is lit, I recognize a pair of light brown eyes over the rim of a can of Coke. No words, a flicker of a smile. This time it is my turn to nod and silently acknowledge and affirm this ritual of youth the world over. And the day ends.