Daniela Papi's Blog

It's late, 1:17 AM, or so my computer says. Pretty late, but not as late as I was working til at home I guess. I have been pretty relaxed, for me, in terms of working hours, these past few weeks since arriving in Cambodia. (I can just see the interns' faces now, "She calls THIS relaxed?!")

Maayan, from Israel, and Doug, a Yankee, have arrived to complete our team of 5 here. Perfect number really, as we all JUST fit on one tuk tuk, when we're not riding our bikes of course. We have PEPY orientation tomorrow.... man, WHO would have thought that I would be here, in CAMBODIA, doing an ORIENTATION for an educational non-profit/voluntourism project.... not me I tell you, not me.

Adam joined us here after 2 years in Japan, and he was saying how he can't really remember what he, and his life, were like before Japan. I feel the same way about PEPY. What did I DO before PEPY? Relaxed more, probably. I really can hardly remember and can't imagine a time when I didn't feel like I had things to do and deadlines to meet and an organization to grow.... But, with 4 amazingly talented teammates, an office, and a printer, I'm starting to feel a bit more settled and capable of all the high expectations I have set out for myself, my team, and PEPY.

I'm also feeling more settled in my expat life. This is my 5th year abroad (WOW!) and I used to feel a very strong pull homeward whenever there was a birthday, a birth, or a family holiday that I missed. This past Saturday was my high school 10 year reunion. I knew I would be sad to miss it, but I was worried I would feel crushed when I heard all the great details of who declared their 10 year undying love to whom, who proved everyone wrong and made it big, and all the fun gossip and catching up that comes from going to school in a small town with the same kids from kindergarten through 12th grade. I did feel sad, and as always I wished for a teleporter (Get ON it scientists!), but I felt really content in my life too. I was happy to hear the stories, and of course wanted to be there, but when I weigh the choices, I'm glad to be here.

This is the first time in a long time that I have been in one place for a few weeks and I'm looking forward to LIVING here, not just passing through from here to there and everywhere. There still will be some of that of course, but I feel much less of a pull to travel right now. PEPY won the CIMPA Humanitarian Travel Award which will be presented at a castle in Prague.... I have always wanted to go to Prague... but the thought of flying there, and back, and yikes! Nope. Can't do it. Need to plant myself here for a bit a just be for a while. This coming from the girl who did 150 million things at once as a kid before today's age of over-ADD-diagnosing everyone. Wish me luck :-)