Mid-Year.

Hello from Chiang Mai, Thailand! I'm sleeping in a comfortable bed in a high-rise hotel and my shower this morning had both hot water and high water pressure. This can only mean that the mid-point of my Vietnam experience has arrived.

But before this, I had the opportunity to cross the border into Cambodia for a few days, staying in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. I quickly fell in love with this nation and the Cambodian people. It was hot, which was a welcome change from the cold and rain that has seized Hanoi, and the tropical culture was refreshing - from the coconuts, mangos, and curry to the even more relaxed pace of life. The dark faces of the kids smiling as they laughed and played (or tried to sell you things) will remain with me for a long time. While I was surprised by the development and beauty of these two cities, I suspect that the depth of these people and the tragic storylines they've experienced in Cambodia's dark, genocidal past cannot fully be known in a one-week tourist excursion. I hope to have the chance to see this place again...

And now I am here - in Thailand - at our organization-wide conference. Remember me as I don't enjoy long talks and PowerPoint presentations as much as the others seem to. Still, it's great to be here with my team and with a lot of good-hearted people.

More to come! Please e-mail and touch base! jfitzgibbon@elic.org