Category Archives: Daily life

Reclaiming the Shire

Posted on November 16, 2011 by

It has now been two weeks and David and I are getting settled into our life back in East Lansing. I LOVE the fall and clean crisp air.  Great for running, biking and walking. This is not Dili, to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Canossians, Daily life, Family matters | 1 Comment

Growing Pains or Worse?

Posted on October 5, 2011 by

I have been interested in development issues ever since high school. A huge book for me was The Ugly American. I went off to Northwestern University in 1968 with the idea of entering the Foreign Service. I was determined to … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily life, Dili, Friends, Timor-Leste | Leave a comment

Counting Down

Posted on September 22, 2011 by

We will be in Dili for 5 more weeks.  I realize how much I have adapted to this strange place and am a little nervous about adjusting back to life in the wealth and comforts of the USA. I remember clearly … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily life, Dili, Timor-Leste | 1 Comment

Who Am I?

Posted on August 29, 2011 by

No, this is not a knock-knock joke. I have found myself thinking a great deal about who I am in Timor-Leste compared to the person I am in the USA. The persons are startingly different, hardly recognizable to each other. … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily life, Dili, Timor-Leste | 4 Comments

Children of Timor, Children of God

Posted on July 17, 2011 by

On any given day in the US, one can read or hear about the declining state of families, particularly children, in our country.  I do not need to remind anyone of the dismal statistics about child suicide, drug use, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily life, Dili, Timor-Leste | Leave a comment

Odds and Ends

Posted on June 23, 2011 by

A funny side note on the topic of Australian slang. We spent an enjoyable morning at the used clothing stores – Vinnie’s, Good Sam’s, and Salvos. Americans might think of them as St. Vincent de Paul, Good Samaritan, and Salvation Army! … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily life, Dili, Family matters, Friends, Travel | Leave a comment

Feast of St. Magdalene

Posted on May 12, 2011 by

Discover the meanings and values that define the cultural context. Recognize their order of importance. These make up a culture’s distinctive character. Study of a group’s history explains why a culture transmits only certain meanings and cherishes particular values more … Continue reading →

Posted in Canossians, Daily life, School, Timor-Leste | 1 Comment

Thinking about water

Posted on May 4, 2011 by

Recently, Rory was asked to write something for the VOICA newsletter. After giving it some thought, she strayed from more conventional topics and decided to explain how our perspective on water has changed. In the States, water is basically a … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily life, Timor-Leste | Leave a comment

Birthday Reflections

Posted on March 30, 2011 by

Today is my 59th birthday, I don’t feel any different than I did at 39, I am wonderously blessed and I know it. I have the three most amazing children, two fabulous daugthers-in-law and two beautiful grandsons whom I shall … Continue reading →

Posted in Canossians, Daily life, Dili, Family matters, School | 2 Comments

Libertarian paradise?

Posted on February 25, 2011 by

 Full disclosure:  I admit that I lose patience with most libertarian arguments. Briefly, this is that strand of American political thinking (are there Libertarians anywhere else?) that hyper-elevates individual freedoms and radically shrinks the roles of government. Libertarian rhetoric … Continue reading →

Posted in Daily life, Dili, Timor-Leste | 1 Comment