More Cambodia pics

I have decided that I have WAY TOO MANY Cambodia pictures. Therefore I will devote 2008 to visiting more SE Asian countries. I have my eye on Laos and Burma (Myanmar). I think Burma will early next year with my friend David but Laos evades me. I have no idea when I will have the time to fit it in! Plus Lisa wants to meet up somewhere "different" for her spring break. Perhaps Kiribati, outter islands of Japan, Manado, I just don't know! God help me when I get a job. I will be so miserable:(


Some Wat in the middle of nowhere




















Bai! Or rice to the white folk.














Typical house in the countryside














Hashers! Those crazy people:)

What I will never become

A mother who hangs out with her baby and other "mommies" at the mall during lunch time. They drive me CRAZY and crowd the Starbucks!

and I am home again...

So nice to be home! I am relaxing to Thelonius Monk and trying to procrastinate a little longer. My trip was a success and I want the high to last, but I know that reality is going to set in soon enough. I had a reality check the other day when I realized that in order to gradute in Dec 2008 my dissertation needs to be submitted by Oct 13 2008. That gives me about one year to write up my thoughts. Folks, I have A LOT of thoughts. However, I have much planned for the rest of the year so I think I will start Jan sometime. I will be out of the country starting Oct 2nd and not coming back until Jan 3rd so the idea of starting something only to put it on hold seems foolish.

Anyway, here are some pictures of my last trip.

Women in my focus group














local kids















me on my hash run



















common running obstacle
















My friend Ian and I next to our ghetto broke down tuk-tuk














Favorite pic from the zoo

More updates

Well...let's see...what have I been doing? Actually, best to ask "what haven't I done?" I am exhausted from all the work. Seriously, I want to go home and rest. The data collection is really in full swing but the days are long and the heat is punishing. I spend most of my time hiding from the sun or wiping my face. Seriously, Cambodians DO NOT SWEAT. It is the most amazing thing to me.

I have been engaging in some runs with the Phnom Pehn Hash House Harriers. The runs have quenched my appetite for rice paddies. If I see another rice paddy I will vomit. They are so lovely though and the kids LOVE to chase us through the fields. Cambodians are FAST! My social calendar has also never been more full. That could explain a lot of the late mornings:/ I have also enjoyed hanging out with my friend Ian, from England, who makes PP so much better! It is really the people around the place and not the place itself. Actually, PP is a dump and few people would argue with me. However, I have had a better time socially here then in the US or Australia but the living is hard.

I did receive good news that my abstract for the 4th Annual Conference on Reproductive Health and Sexuality in South Asia was accepted for a 30 min oral presentation! I am super excited and this will be the largest (and most significant) presentation yet. It is in Hyderbad, India in October. All I need now is $$$ to go...but I am working on that.

I will post pics when I get home. I am working off my very old lap top and I am afraid that if I hiccup the thing will stop working. Come on baby, hold together for a few more weeks!

It looks like I will head home next week, which is good. I miss my boy, dogs and bed!