"Sabaidee. My name is Khen"

When we were met at Luang Prabang airport yesterday our guide introduced himself as Ken. "That's nice and easy to remember", says I. "Probably not his birth name", replies HRH who, from experience knows that (certainly in China) many from the East adopt western names. "No, truly", says Ken, "but I'll tell you the story of my name tomorrow". Intrigued? We were ....

Ken's parents tried for many years for a baby, with no success. They adopted four children but still yearned for their own child. Being of the Hmong ethnic group they believe in spirits and so visited caves and forests etc to ask for the blessings of a child. One day, whilst at their temple, a monk gave them a bowl of water, told them to drink it and if they were not blessed within three months, to return. Sure enough they got "a pregnant" (so cute when he said that with a big smile on his face) and so, because they believe he was a gift from the holy man they named him Khen (which means gift). Furthermore, three days after he was born his parents gave their baby back to the monk for three days, before they returned home together, promising that he would return to the monastery before he married. 

As a growing child Khen was lazy, by his own admission. He didn't enjoy working in the fields, and was often berated for being slow. One day it was decided he should go and get an education in a monastery. Before he could go he had to complete a registration document and was asked to enter his age. He had no idea when his birthday was - his people live by the seasons and do not observe a calendar like we do. "You must give your birthday!" he was told. All he knew from his parents was that he was born in the hot season. So he chose May. "And a day", said the registrar. Khen told us he thought of a number in the middle, but then wanted to be higher - so he chose 25. Thinking that would do, he handed back his paper. "You must put which year!" They weren't giving up. Khen looked to the boy on his left who had written 1988, and to the boy on his right. 1986. And so he wrote 1987 ... And to this day he gives his birthday as 25th May 1987 and he really likes this date, because he chose it himself!

Meet Khen, or Ken - our gift. 

Khen thought he would stay in the monastery for maybe 10 days. In fact he remained for two years. "What made you decide to stay?" "Good question - I tell you". 

One day, after prayer Khen saw one of the monks talking to white people. When he approached he realised they were talking in a different way. "Why are you talking to the white people in this way?, asks Khen. "This is English". "What is English?" "It's a language people speak in other parts of the world. It might help you to get a job". "What is a job?", asks Khen. And this conversation went on ... "What is a salary?", "What is money?" And so on, and so on. Eventually, the penny dropped that if Khen could speak English he would not have to work in the fields but could spend his time being paid to speak  ... And so that's what he does. True story.