It's Monday, my one full day off of work. I try to keep it Sabbath-like even though I do go to services on Sunday. My teddy bears are ever so grateful for the time to talk and hug. We are all excited about our little trip to Cambodia. Especially since we will get to see our former housemate Tashi Bradford. I cannot tell you what a pleasure it will be to see her, and to associate with the clergy of my childhood, the Maryknoll Fathers and Sisters.

This trip will be much like my trips to Cuba where I was strongly reminded of my childhood in another developing nation, Bolivia. The Maryknoll Fathers and Sisters (www.maryknoll.org) were instrumental in my adoption, taught me from kindergarten all the way to sixth grade along with the Apostolic Oblates and the Caritas sisters of Miyazaki.

I'll be keeping this blog up to date every other day from this point forward. It will contain the myriad meanderings of a somewhat delirious mind. Les agradezco a todos el apoyo que me brindan. Espero poder darles una vistita de lo que quiere ser vivir en Cambodia

Living in the middle of the Pacific One could feel disconnected from the world, but I don't. I am grateful that I can hear National Public Radio programs broadcast and receive Radio Nederlands Wieraltonbruch Spanish language podcasts. They keep me up to date on what the world thinks is important.

I strongly encourage my friends to listen to news of the world from other parts of the world as well as news as the US puts out for the rest of the world. I gain quite a bit of insight by reading:

www.granma.cu (Cuba's government owned national newspaper.)
www.bbc.uk (Great Britain's government owned national broadcasts)
www.vaticano.va (The Vatican City website)
www.laprensa.es (Spain's national newspaper)
www.phnompenhpost.com (The news as written for ex-pats in Cambodia)

Thanksgiving day approaches. But I'm not into it. How can I say that nicely to people? Should I be snide? "American Indians have nothing to be thanksful for!" Should I be subtle? "Well, I'm sure the story about the first Thanksgiving must be quite ahistorical." Should I just ignore the world? "Happy Thanksgiving... Same to you and more."

Here are several generations of returned LDS missionaries who are interpreters now.
I am, the old guy of the bunch, having served 1976-1978. Brandon Arthur, served 1992-1994 (?), James Carpenter (someone I taught in the Missionary Training Center) served, 1981-1993, and Matt Call served in Guatemala 1998-2000 then learned sign language.

Iolani Palace was the home of the Hawaiian royal family before the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom by profit hungry American land barons. In this picture it is decorated for the anniversary of Queen Liliuokalani's birthday.

Soon I will be going on a trip half way around the world to visit my friend Tashi Bradford and her husband Matias Nataludi. I'm jazzed about it.

Cambodia a place that right now, looks and feels like, Santa Cruz Bolivia when I was growing up. I hope that whatever happens there it is positive and to the benefit of the Cambodia people, who I love and respect already.