the last happy few and the next anticipated few

i see i haven’t updated this for quite a while now, so i will do a little rundown now. since my last update, i took a 3 month gig in east timor, working with an environmental NGO and the Ministry of Edn on an environmental edn project. is an interesting place timor … they’ve had a bit of a shocking history with far more than one country’s reasonable share of unfair unjust and grossly damaging history. the result is a country still struggling to get its head above water and a community of people that, from my experience anyway, are often quite wary of strangers and foreigners. and rightfully so. the schools are in a shocking state, with an avg class size of about 75, and barely a single resource to speak of. as has been my continual experience over the last number of years, however, an amazing resilience abounds, and i’m sure i heard barely a complaint. i have to admit to finding it the toughest place i’ve lived in a while, due to the edginess that i felt on the streets, and the random boob grabs while running and various other slightly unpleasant things. anything that impedes my feeling of independence spells tough for me! i joined a running group over there which was fab … lots of runs out and about in the hills and along lone beaches, always followed up by some rounds of cold beer refreshment which is always a pleasure in the sweaty temperatures that were there.

running through and around some villages in timor with my little running group

the local afternoon fish market

a super school that we used for the photography in the final teacher training manual. these little boys won my heart with their earnestness

we spent a number of hours with this school, putting together a variety of photos for the final publication. this is my attempt at keeping small children buoyed up and entertained! and yes i think that is the ticket from my undies hanging out. so culturally sensitive of me!

a proud moment accepting a medal in the “first lady’s cup” from the prime minister’s wife in timor! this is kirsty sword gusmão … a fab lady … an australian in fact. do some research on her. she’s one to be admired. ps my additional prize was a case of orange soft drink!

a little treat weekend on a beach in thailand on my way back through to Australia, with a good mate from Laos

my original semi plan when leaving brazil was to actually head back to aus to get started on my deferred phd in 2012 … and given the proximity of timor to australia, i/we ended up deciding to sell the cafe and to head back there. but in the end, my nervousness of living in canberra soil and a life with my head in a computer and book ended with me (upon the wonderful advice of my phd research brother) deciding against that path. at least for now i do seem to have a habit of going around in circles on this one!

i am currently in australia for 6 weeks, covering the long service leave of a good mate of mine in my old school on the gold coast. she is the art coordinator, so i spend joyful days with paint, clay, dark rooms and all manner of inspiring creative things. quite a pleasure for this short time really! after here ie 07 december, i am heading to buenos aires, argentina, and making there a base for a little bit. no doubt i will pop out for some jobs here and there, but i will try my hand at living there for a bit. since the portuguese is more or less under the belt, i’d like to sort the spanish out, which should hopefully come relatively easily, as well as giving some more time to all things musical and creative … perhaps my only small regret of things that haven’t been paid much attention over the last few years. there will of course be tango and red wine thrown in there plentifully as well

so … if you have any argentina thoughts … you have a place to stay with me! for the first time in a long time, i have actually committed to a rental contract, in a rather super arty loft right in the centre of buenos aires, so you will stay comfortably and well if you come

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