I would never have imagined twenty years ago, when we opened this tank wash in the sleepy lttle river town of Catlettsburg, Ky, that it would turn into an multi-cultural international experience.

I have met so many truck drivers from so many different countries that it is becoming hard to remember them all.

There have been drivers thru here that were born in Belgium, Holland, Hungary, France, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, India, Pakistan, Mexico, and more that I've probably already forgotten. I personally know more French Canadians than anyone else in the United States. Some become good friends, some I see once or twice, then never again.

The newest addition to this long list is Peng Gao.

Last Friday was his second trip down here from Montreal. He speaks very little English, but he seems to feel right at home here. He also speaks very quickly and very quietly. I am constantly telling him to speak up and slow down, Peng!

When he came back from delivering his load and I was filling out the tank wash paperwork, I asked him if he was born in Canada. I thought he answered Thailand, so I said "Thailand? Cool, I spent a year in Thailand when I was 22!" He said, "NO NO,  THINA, THINA!!!!

So I guess he has sort of a speech impediment too.Hmmmmm

So then he asks me "when you in Thailand, you soldier?" I told him I was in the Air Force and he said "World War Two?"

When I stopped laughing I shouted at him "No No, Peng! Vietnam Damnit, Vietnam!!" He put he head back and actually cackled!! The little bastard has a sense of humor!

I picked up my camera and asked him to stand by his truck so I could get a picture and he balked a little, asking "why, why, why you want", so I raised my voice a bit and told him "stand by your truck, Peng! I have to take your picture!"

He walks over and strikes this pose for me and I take a couple of pics, and he's still asking me why I want his picture?

I point this one out to him and tell him I'm going to post it on the internet and link it to Interpol. That way if your dispatcher doesn't pay us for the work we did for you by the time you get back to the border, I have your name, truck number, and picture and I'll have the border guards arrest you and impound your truck.

He jerks back from the desk and starts this "WHAT,WHAT, WHAT?" til I crack up and tell him I'm just joking! Or at least try to make him understand that I was just kidding!

He's a little excitable sometimes too!

He's also very, very polite. To the point of being annoying. He asks permission for everything.

And, I mean everything. Preceeded by a long drawn out "Hey, Buuuuuuuuuuuud."

Hey, Buuuuuuuuuud, can I get some water?

Hey, Buuuuuuuuuuuud, can I use your bathroom?

Hey, Buuuuuuuuuuuud, I ready to go?

Every time!

And me, shouting back at him, "Hell yeah, just help yourself, Peng damnit!!! Just help yourself!"

I'm looking forward to his next trip down.

Never a dull moment!