Yao....check.

Okay, 5 down, 41 to go.

I interviewed a Lao Yao woman for a visitor visa yesterday, the Yao being one of 46 ethnic groups living in Laos. She didn't speak Lao, so her son did a Lao to Yao to Lao translation.

Now I have interviewed Lao, Hmong, Khmu, Akha, and Yao applicants. Frankly, I've probably interviewed many more applicants from other ethnic groups, but if they come in speaking Lao, I probably didn't notice.

For more on the ethnic diversity of Laos, click here for some information helpfully titled "Ethnic Diversity"

It's the beginning of Tet/Chinese New Year, so y'all know what that means. You guessed it, everyone from Ho Chi Minh City is coming to Laos, where the small Vietnamese/Chinese communities means that it won't be as crazy as in Vietnam or China. Tonight a guy I met in HCMC named Noah Littin is coming in with his wife, then they will head to Luang Prabang tomorrow.

In another episode of 'It's a Small World,' Noah and Katherine went to high school together at Midwood High in Brooklyn.

The Sunset Bar awaits.