Category Archives: Dili

Goodbye, Timor

Posted on October 27, 2011 by

David:   I hate saying goodbyes, especially those that have a finality about them. John Paul told Sr. Guilhermina that he didn’t want to come to the airport because it was too hard to say goodbye.  I understand. Our final … Continue reading →

Posted in Canossians, Dili, School, Timor-Leste, VOICA | Leave a comment

Sister Acts

Posted on October 13, 2011 by

As we near the end of our time here, normal experiences acquire a poignancy that we might not otherwise notice. Sr. Juliana’s birthday celebration is an example. It was a grand occasion, every one of the nearly fifty Canossian sisters … Continue reading →

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Mad dogs, Englishmen and Expats

Posted on October 10, 2011 by

None of the above have the sense to get out of the noon-day sun. On Saturday I completed my third “Dili walk” with a group of hearty, slightly insane, and interesting foreigners, mostly from downunder, who think that fun is … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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

Freedom Day

Posted on July 4, 2011 by

The Fourth of July is one of the more important days in the American calendar. Even for those us who find ourselves outside of the States we take note and think about its meaning. Our family has celebrated it in … Continue reading →

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Friendship, The Great Consolation

Posted on June 28, 2011 by

Because we are members of such a smallish foreign community (malae in Tetun), friendships among this group are surprisingly easy gifts to acquire. While at home, I found it a slow process to cultivate a new friendship. Here, I simply … Continue reading →

Posted in Dili, Friends | 1 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