diet coke

Oriana is convinced that there is an "image" associated with drinking diet coke... here are some pics of diet coke from around the world...and the "image" that goes with it....hmm.. any thoughts?!


Thailand


Taiwan and New Zealand


Well, if that isn't an image... ;)


Mexico

the face of Christ

I spoke with my friend Clare for a few minutes on the phone tonight. I shared a bit about my experiences and struggles being back after spending time in Cambodia. She understands, as she spent a year serving in Ecuador a few years ago. She refered me to the website of the organization she served with (www.rostrodecristo.org)
where a prayer written by another volunteer was written.
It spoke to me even though I am no longer living abroad, as the thoughts and ideas are so familiar and real to me, and I pray they always will be. Wanted to share it here.



Among a people struggling for liberation
of body, mind and spirit...
Let us see Your face

Despite the oppression of corrupt institutions...
Let us see Your face

Within our work, that may feel ineffective
and render us helpless...
Let us see Your face

Within the cycle of poverty that seems to
have no break...
Let us see Your face

When struggling with the distance and
misunderstanding we feel from those at home...
Let us see Your face

When fighting against the temptation
to judge and abandon one another...
Let us see Your face

Amidst the temptations and apparent
solitude of a life of simplicity...
Let us see Your face

Lord give us a spirit of; service, strength, health,
perseverance, humility, patience, love, faith and
hope...
So that others may see Your face in us

2002-2003 Rostro de Cristo community

unworthy

I have felt recently that in many areas, I have nothing to bring to the table. I know that all the Lord requires of us is a willing and open heart, and He can and will do the rest. Still though, it's hard to REALLY remember that when faced with your own shortcomings, weakness, and sin. I smiled and was encouraged tonight when I read this quote by Mother Teresa.

"I am convinced that when I'm gone, if God finds a person more ignorant and useless than I, he will do greater things through that person because it's his doing."

Truly we are unworthy and unable to do anything great by our own strength.

the JOYS of food

Yeah, yeah... so the first blog I write after I have been back for a few days is about the joys of food. If you know me, you are not at all surprised! :)
I am staying with my sister for the next few days, who is happy for me to go to the grocery store for her and even make dinner! I am loving this since I won’t be moving to my own place for a while. Since I have not been to any American grocery store, not to mention the fun gourmet ones in quite some time, this was one of the highlights of my day. I went to two today; Trader Joes and the Menomonie Market Food Co-op, which is the greatest! Not that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy the markets in Phnom Penh...but there is something fun about the variety of healthy and fun fresh food and the many options that come with that at the aesthetically pleasing store with fresh flowers and helpful employees.
Today we left the stores with: vegan chocolate soy ice cream, raw whole wheat flakes (from the bulk section!) dried cranberries, Silk soy strawberry yogurt, pink port cheese, garlic hummus, fresh spinach greens, baby carrots, (in a bag and ready to eat!) and even organic peanut butter puffs cereal meant for five year olds (but enojoyed just as much by one college woman and her post college sister :). It was so delightful, I even took some pictures. Oh, and when we got locked out ot the house and didn’t want the ice cream to melt, Oriana threw it in the snow bank! So far the only advantage I’ve found to living in the Arctic tundra.

Stuck in Seattle...

I left Phnom Pehn on Valentines Day... and now here I am in Seattle, and it's still Valentine's Day! But sadly, I will not get back to see my family until the morning! My flight was changed and I am not leaving here until 12:45am tonight. I have to miss my little "valentines date" with my family at Cafe Latte on Grand Ave in St. Paul, which was scheduled for about.... now! :(

But I HAD to attach the picture my sister just emailed me of the welcome home sign she had planned to display at the airport! What a riot! If you don't know my sister, THIS is one of the reasons she is funny.... :) haha! I love you sisi! I will see you soon! (and I know you have a cool computer, but next time you might want to ask a friend to take the picture for you?! :)

Thoughts from Taipei

I have been out of Cambodia only 5 hours, and even on the plane, I found myself thinking… hmm… this might be harder than I thought! I miss Cambodia!

I am surrounded by Asians, but no one speaks Khmer. It makes me sad. I said thank you to the stewardess in Khmer, and she was Taiwanese. Oops.

I miss the children chanting, “ma… ma...ma gesin! Soam oowp muie.”

It may be strange to note, but my feet are still clean. This is not normal, because I haven’t showered since 9:30 am, and I am wearing flip flops. I suppose this is a good thing.
But sometimes change is hard.

I am not sweltering hot, and haven’t been all day. The only time I was even really warm was when we struggled to get my gigantic suitcase down the stairs of my house this morning. It was 34 kilos, and bigger than me…but we managed without breaking too much of a sweat. As dusty and sweaty as I always felt, I think I miss knowing that I won’t feel like that again for a long time. I am chilly just thinking about the weather at home. Brrrr!

Mary, I miss your house! (aka the PPHFSW ;) I miss the convos on the stairs and the diet coke and snacks in the kitchen. I hope that I can stay again next time…please stay open for your favorite American guest! (or maybe guest isn't quite an accurate term?! :)

However, as I am now a step (or a few countries!) closer to home, I am even more excited for some things. I can see it now: riding down the escalator in MSP and being greeted by my mom, dad, and miss sisi boom…probably with some embarrassing sign in hand. I can’t wait to arrive in rainy Oregon, and finally get to see my friends there…after WAY too long. To go to sleep in a cozy warm bed and use lots of blankets because I have to, and to drink hot coffee because it’s winter and there is no need for ice. I can’t wait to eat breakfast and watch Anne Curry and Matt Lauer on The Today Show. Can’t wait to put on a sweater and a scarf… and to straighten my hair and wear perfume. Sisi, I can’t wait to watch you kick some butt on the track this weekend. And I can’t wait to tell everyone about the amazing beauty of Cambodia. Even if living there meant that my feet were always dirty…

Despite it being difficult to leave, I think I am ready to come back.
I will see you guys really soon!

laugh of today

Spending time in Southeast Asia, I have seen some pretty funny clothing. Many sweet, naive young women wearing shirts with English words that they are unable to read, and so cannot be found at fault for the inappropriate but hilarious messages that they display unassumingly.
Today one of the women I know wore a shirt that said:
"Stop staring
They don't talk"
I couldn't help but laugh the minute I saw her.
She smiled, gave me a hug, and told me proudly that her friend gave her the shirt,
and went on in ignorance as I thought, "I have to blog about this... "

goodbye Asia, hello America...

goodbye heat and damp sweaty clothes
hello wool sweater, jeans, and the fireplace.

goodbye flip flops, and the dirt that runs off my feet
and colors my white bathtub brown
hello Uggs, slippers, and socks.

goodbye mosquito bites and itching
hello dry skin and face lotion.

goodbye 35 degrees C, and running 13 K.
hello 10 degrees F, and running 8 miles.

goodbye finding change for the moto that drives me around
hello polly (my saturn ;) and my visa card $45 later.

goodbye “work” in the village; 2 hour breaks for lunch, and hot, relaxed days
hello 12 hour night shifts, stress, being on my toes,
and maybe 10 minutes to have a snack.

goodbye Australian slang
hello American pop music.

goodbye children; with your high-fives, hugs, kisses, and little notes
hello grown up conversations.

goodbye using the bathroom without toilet paper because
I have forgotten to bring my own
hello toilet paper I didn’t have to plan ahead to use.

goodbye morning run to Independence Monument
hello run through Washington Park.

goodbye ceiling fan which makes it possible to sleep
hello down duvet and extra blankets.

goodbye women in pastel cartoon pajamas at 2pm
hello women in J.Crew and Citizens.

goodbye Asia
hello America.

Thursday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ORIANA!

My beautiful SISI BOOM is 22 today!!!
Where does the time go?!
I LOVE YOU SISI!!!
A real hug in 4 days.... ;)

s'mores in Poipet

Not bad for "An American Tradition" in Cambodia!
Poipet, Cambodia, Feb 3, 2008
More about Poipet in future posts... :)