La Sonya

Today we went on a moto day trip outside of Phnom Penh. It was a perfect time to go because the Phnom Penh roads were quite clear. It was like Phnom Penh turned into a sleepy suburban town. We didn't have too much difficulty finding our hill/mountain that we were looking for. On top of this mountain is Prasat Phnom Reap , a local Buddhist temple. It was an interesting feeling being on top of that hill, with those temples, on the day I go to church and the weekend of Easter. I had just last night and this morning read two chapters from a book on the life of Jesus covering Gethsemane and Calvary . So thinking on those things and being in a place that was celebrating Khmer New Year with special religious ceremonies was sobering.  A few weeks ago I was listening to a sermon by David Asscherick  (this one I think) , an American pastor in Brisbane, Australia and he was talking about how the Israelites kept give up on God and worshiping at the holy places of Baal and the other ne...

My brother was born first. He was named Christopher Reaves. A legend of a name and not actually inspiration by THE  Christopher Reeve but I do think my brother is Superman anyway. When it came time for baby no. 2 the fambam was excited. The high-tech sonogram in Thousand Oaks, Ca said I was going to be a wonderful little baby BOY. My parents picked out the name Jonathan Eli Reaves and the baby shower supplied them with many new baby boy things in preparation for my arrival. With the c-section on April 22, 1983 they got a real big surprise--ME! My mom says she was ecstatic with the news of a little girl and she had all along been wanting a little girl. She also says that I was a dream come true, something she had always dreamed of having, a little girl. My parents may have talked about girls names, I don't know, but the name I was given is Sonya Faye Reaves. It wasn't by chance that I was given this name either. My name is the Portuguese verb to dream, sonhar. Here's the ...

My daily job often changes. These last two weeks I was able to work with a team of ladies from Brisbane who came over here to lead classes on women's health in two different villages. It was amazing because they brought Days For Girls  kits to give the women at the end of the classes. These kits offer reusable pads so that the women can maintain normal lives during the WHOLE month. A person starts realizing the necessity of reusable pads when you see how much rubbish the world does use and toss out. The thought of "stinky river" is enough to change a person. It's amazing and painful at the same time. In fact it's one of the many reasons I have switched to using reusable things during my menstruation. This could be game changing for the women of the village of Koki especially because they live out in the middle of nowhere and have nothing available to them. When the price of a package of pads costs more than a weeks income there is a problem! I have three ...

I love having my name rhyme with things. Around all my Aussie friends it rhymes with their encouraging phrase: Good on ya! Tessa and Renee, the two legend I share an apartment with these days, often affirm me with that phrase. Then they immediately apologise because they think I've probably gotten tired of hearing that--to which I let them know I LOVE it and they can say it all they want. To make it even better sometimes Renee breaks out into song. It's the greatest song ever. Please enjoy and feel free to sing along the next time you see me.

When I go to church I have a few things I take with me. I need my dress, cardigan, Bible, water bottle, purse and a possible potluck contribution. That's a bunch to add. This is what I start with: Having a bike basket is like having a car, it ends up holding trash and other rubbish.  It's important that I put the full water bottle closest to the handle bars because of the extra weight shifting around as I turn corners or simply dodge around the traffic. Second I put in the books (Bible and notebook). Then in goes the clothes and purse with the bread on top! This is what I end up with after packing it all it in: Steady as she goes! Keep straight on with the bike not leaning too far to the left or right and she'll be right.

How do I summarize the last 6 months? I realized mid morning that today marks six months here in Cambodia. Should I make a list of things I have seen, done, experienced, thought were crazy? Do I tell stories that show the adventures? Should I just do a pile of photos to recap the time? I left work early today because I am working this weekend and wanted to have some personal time. As I was getting Gertie the Green Slug out of parking I decided I'd "treat yo-self" to a special lunch. I had to think of what was my favorite restaurant I'd been to in the last six months, not many that's for sure. I decided upon Farm to Table , which I had eaten at once with a group during vision week last month. So here I sit waiting for my very American harvest salad with a side of humus. I've decided I will do a top 10 list of several different topics. General Memories Trying to find the red dress I had seen in Russian Market again. It's a crazy maze. I imagine ...