Year in Review: 2007

Sometimes it is fun to look back and see where we have been and how far we have come. More often, it is fun to dream of what will be. That said, in blog meme world, it is the looking back that is most doable.

2007 was a great year for me, one that was full of fun and travel. Major accomplishments included: completing a 6 month practicum in Cambodia, graduating from my Master program, getting accepted by Fulbright Chile to do research (and bringing Harley with me), traveling (Cambodia, Chile, India, and Japan), the birth of my godson (as well as multiple other births and marriages), 2 relationships (ending in 2 breakups), and, of course, the birth of this blog (along with the moving of all archives from Coming2Cambodia.wordpress.com, my old blog).

Having pointed out the most important events, let’s look at the first line I wrote each month. I have excluded posts that were simply videos with no words or newspaper articles.

January- Just to help orient those who are unsure of where exactly Cambodia is, here are two maps:

February- There are a lot of things that I don’t understand here, but one law in particular stands out: it is illegal to drive in the daytime with your headlights on.

March- Although this is neither work nor Cambodia related, I wanted to say congratulations to Carla and her beautiful newborn son Agustin!

April- This weekend was the commune elections here in Cambodia.

May- http://claresays.wordpress.com/2007/06/01/blogging-for-lgbt-families/

June- Once again, I am posting a non-Cambodian, non-human-trafficking post; but it is none the less important.

July- A while back I read a piece called “Why men suck (and the women who have to)” in The F Word, Contemporary UK Feminism.

August- Hola from Chile where it is winter.

September- I am not endorsing this as I have not attended nor do I know the organizers; however, it does look interesting.

October- Waking up to middle school marching bands.

November- Harley has never figure out many of the things that most dogs know, for example, she doesn’t realize that cats are the enemy and she doesn’t seem to know that when one goes for a walk on a leash, the correct action is to run ahead and pull at the leash.

December- One weird fact about me is that I am almost 11 years younger than my only sister.

Before and After pictures

Haircut, originally uploaded by coming2cambodia.

Harley got a haircut. She got a really really big haircut. She is almost unrecognizable. Now she can pretend to be a Chihuahua.

Last night the owner of the house I live in came home. Harley and I have lived here for over 5 months. Francis didn’t recognize her. Not only did she not recognize her, but her husband convinced her that he had bought a new dog for the house! He had her going with this story for over 5 minutes; all the while Harley was doing her I-am-happy-to-see-you dance.

Does she really look that different?

O’Reilly Factor– Look I agree with him

Okay, admittedly, I do not watch The O’Reilly Factor much.  I believe my grandfather might have.  However, I did want to share this clip as 1) I think he has a point, 2) I hope it will lead you to watch the enddemand.com video, and 3) I know people who work on this project and I think that is pretty nifty.  Not to mention, a great cause and organization.

Final thoughts for today:

1) The video is only 45 minutes and well worth your time. Please. Educate yourself.

2) If people (men and women) would stop buy children for sex, I would be out of a job. I can’t imagine anything that would make me happier.

Photo Wednesday: Cheers!

Marisol’s 50th birthday party!, originally uploaded by coming2cambodia.

Taken: September 2007
At: Marisol´s house while celebrating her 50th bday
Who: Clare, Kim, Joaquin, Ashley, Gilda, Marisol, Skarlet, and Camilo

I plan to spend New Years 2008 at this house, with many of these people, and a perfect view of the fireworks. Here is to wishing you (my readers and friends) the best this holiday season!

Another 10

It’s still a fun project, even late, so here are the next 10 states:

1. Hawaii: I lived on Red Hill for a summer with my sister and her family.  During that time I learned to surf and waited tables. It is actually the only point in my life when I have waited tables.  I also took my niece (then 2ish) to see fish at different aquariums and stores.  One store in particular had a fish tank you could walk through. At one point Mc noticed a fish and pointed at it and followed it with her finger while chanting “fishyfishyfishyfishyfishy” until the fish swam over her and she fell backwards trying to follow it with her head.  Its funny.  She started to cry (which was not funny), but then she spotted another fish and did it again.  This time I caught her.
2. Illinois: Most of my memories of IL are driving through the state on my way to and from grad school in MO.  It is a long and monotonus drive.  ALso, one doesn´t realize how big a state it is until you have driven in… perferably after a final at 8pm while exhausted and with a dog next to you. But– my best time in IL was in Chicago with my parents.  I had to go to the consulate to get a visa to Chile and my mom´s calender was not full.  We took a family trip, bought shoes, went to the consulate, and saw Wicked.  BTW, if you haven´t seen Wicked and have the chance, please do.  I loved it!  Also, I keep meaning to post about it but haven´t. Alas. Someday.
3. Indiana: I have to admit, Indiana has mostly been a drive-through state for me. But, Amy lives there and she is awesome– we went to grad school together. And, yes Mom, Amy the Hairdresser.  
4. Iowa: I agree with Liza´s answer on this one: Even though Iowa shares a border with Wisconsin, I never thought of it as nearby. 
5. Kansas: Hmm. I figure I have to have been here. But I am not really sure when.
6. Kentucky: I really suck at this game. Also, I don´t even associate something or anything with this place. Except perhaps Kentucky fried chicken– which I can´t remember eating, and highly doubt its authenticity.  Which reminds me, I really dislike chicken fried steak.
7. Louisiana: Never been here. However, when I lived in Dallas, Diane, my best friend, lived in Baton Rouge.  She was with Teach for America and I had just left Peace Corps.  We would play a little game: Whose school is worse off.  In this game we would compare her inner city school in Baton Rouge to mine in rural Moldova (poorest country in Europe).  Sadly, I often lost.  This really says a lot about the state of public schooling and its inequalities in America. If this appauls you, or even if it doesn´t, I would encourage you to go to your local library or bookstore (perferably the independent one) and pick up a copy of any of Kozol´s books on education in America. Good read and very insightful.  
8. Maine: I was interested in Colby College, which is in Maine; however, they got taken off the list after repeatedly not sending me admission materials and viewbook stuff to my home in Chile.  Also, I had a good friend in college who was from there.
9. Maryland: I was born here!!! That said, I moved soon after (4 months).  I did, however, years later go back to help my sister move to Baltimore.  This was not one of my better trips with my sister.  Here is what I remember: It was 140 degrees, her car had no airconditioning, she had a gazillion plants and one large tree that had to sit between my legs to fit in the car and I wasn´t allowed to open my window because her precious plants might get hurt.  Here is what she remembers: Clare was a brat.  In our defense… we were probably both right.
10. Massachusetts: My sister went to college here and Boston is a city I would seriously consider living in.  I love the rights.  I think I could survive the winters. I have never driven in Boston and it kinda scares me. But, I do have an uncle and aunt there.  So on me to spend more time in list.

PS Just so you know Kyle over at ohquepasa.blogspot.com is playing along too!

Full House

No. Not the show.

The one I live in.

When I moved into this host family in high school, the house was pretty full.  The house itself is a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom.  Except, the 0.5 of a bathroom is really just used as a closet.  The house isn´t big by any means, but it is cosy and it is home.  My host parents have three children, so with me there were four of us in the house: 3 girls and 1 boy.  Each bedroom held two people.  A tiny outdoor patio held a tiny dog who neiter endered the house or roamed in the slightly larger back patio.

Time has moved on and we have grown. The house has not. For Christmas we are: the parents (2), one daughter and her husband, one son and his girl friend, one younger daugter, one American (me), one dog of the house (a cocker with full run of all patios and rooms), my dog (who bosses around the other dog), Simon (the son´s girlfriend´s dog), one rabit (who along with all the dogs has free run of the house and all the patios), and a hamster (who sleeps all day and lives in a box). Yikes! Now the house is really full! 

And for those worried, yes, the rabbit is fine. The dogs have not tried to eat him, but do like to chase him if he obliges and runs.  He rarely obliges anymore.

Photo Wednesday: Cerro Polanco

Cerro Polanco, originally uploaded by coming2cambodia.

Taken: August, 2007
Place: Cerro Polanco

I decided to put this photo up as I spent this morning touring the hill with people from the municipality and Senatur (the Department of Tourism in Chile) for work.

Last minute holiday gift idea

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Again, thank you for your ongoing support. Best wishes to you and your family in 2008!

In Freedom,

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Communications Director

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Liza’s Meme (aka places I haven’t been)

So Liza is doing a great new ongoing meme in the spirit of those “where have you traveled” memes, she is going to spend the next few Fridays making lists of places she has traveled and some specific memory or association I have with each place. I, then, am going to take her list and add in my memories.

I hope some of you will play along too. (It doesn’t have to be on Fridays.) If you haven’t gone to all of these places, say something about why/why not, what you hope to do if you do travel there, or what you associate with the place. No 2 word cop-out answers, please!

Today, 10 states, plus a bonus — the District of Columbia, in alphabetical order (considering how much I have traveled, I think this first week is especially funny):

1. Alabama: I have never been there. I can’t actually think of anyone I know from there. Obviously, I am not off to a good start with this meme type thing.
2. Alaska: Never been there, either. However, I really want to go. When I was little, my grandmother lived with us. She took trips with an elder travel group; of all the trips I think that Alaska was her favorite. This in itself is funny because she hated the cold. That said, it also speaks to how beautiful Alaska must be.
3. Arizona: Ah, Arizona, I am coming! I am coming. I don’t have any memories here yet– but I will soon. In April I am going to Mer and Rick’s wedding here. All I know is that I will wear red.
4. Arkansas: Again, haven’t been here. Or at least, not that I remember. My peace corps group did have a kid we called Arkansas– that said, I didn’t like him.
5. California: Ooo. One I have finally been to. I was here once last year for a conference. The conference was only okay– but I had great company (Kelly, Kheli, Kelsey, and Sharyn). Also, the best part of the trip was getting to go out with Dan and Helen, friends from WI who were in town that weekend for a wedding.
6. Colorado: Again, one trip and one trip alone. Also, was my weekend to try and learn how to ski. Sadly, it didn’t really work. I did however have fun trying and I do like hot chocolate.
7. Connecticut: I feel like we went through on my college visiting trip; also perhaps on the way to visit my sister when she was in college. But I don’t have any specific memories. My host sister lived there for a year through. So when I think of Connecticut, I think of her. Also, I never remember what the two letter abbreviation is; I still want to write conn. Isn’t it weird how some two letter abbreviations come so easily and other states we (I) hold on to the old way?
8. Delaware: Hmm. Yet another place I have no memories of. I can name another friend who lived there– Jo, one of my roommates from Chile, ended up following a woman (now his wife) to the states and graduated from the University of Delaware.
9. District of Columbia: If I were to move back to the states, this would be my first choices for places to work. I went to school at Georgetown so I have so many fabulous memories: from life on campus, to breakfast or drinks or both at Kramer’s, to walking from Georgetown to the Washington Monument to watch the sunrise.
10. Florida: Again, another place I have only been once: for my sisters wedding. It was fabulous, she was running 45 minutes late, my host sister from Chile was there as was the one from Turkey. She had all of her bridesmaids wear green and I got to sit next to Liza.
11. Georgia: Again, I have never been there. I suck at this meme (so far… wait until we get to really random cities most people have never heard of, then I will be all over the meme)

Define “productive”

collage, originally uploaded by coming2cambodia.

I am debating if I can call yesterday productive. On one hand I did absolutely no work at all. On the other hand, I:

• made 4 jumbo loafs of banana bread (and taught Lady how to make them)
• made 3 batches of Orange Nut Pinwheel cookies (and taught Lady how to make them)
• went to the grocery store
• made tomato, basil and cheese salad
• made three types of hummus: traditional, three pepper, and lemon dill (and taught Francis how to make them)
• made 3 litters of spiced lemonade
• bathed the dog
• put big purple bow on the dog
• curled my hair