Grand Finale #1

This is going to be short and sweet. Basically because there are so many emotions spinning through me right now, that it is going to take 20 hours in a plane to put them into words.

I have been in Asia for 6 weeks. This is the longest I have been away from home.

I have visited 3 different countries. This is the biggest adventure I have ever been on.

I have made new friends (lifers, for sure). This may be my favorite thing to do in the world.

I have supported, cared for, and praised others and I have been inspired, loved, and encouraged. This is proof that the power of positivity is real.

I have experienced overwhelming feelings of excitement and pride, invigorated by this incredible work--the achievement it allows for and the challenges it presents me. This is why I love my job.

I have gained new perspectives and connected with people from all different backgrounds. This is the beauty of being human.

I have laughed, cried, and sweated record amounts. This is better than it sounds :)

I leave Asia, a continent I never thought I'd visit, with a new sense of purpose, a rekindled love of humans, greater independence, and a whole lot of happiness to share with this world!

Spreading my love,
Mary

PS the photo is of my first solo facilitation at leadership team training in Vietnam, a personal magic moment.

Final days in Vietnam

After completing a most successful week of leadership team training with our super impressive, high capacity, thoughtful Camp Colors of Love team, our little SeriousFun team is enjoying our last day together doing a food tour and some site seeing. We've stopped at a cafe with wifi (which is free everywhere here) so I thought why not update the blog...
Here is a top 10 list of the past week:
1. The CCL team shared some wonderful TLC and deep thinking this week, as well as crazy fun (pic)
2. I don't fit in bathroom doorways here (pic)
3. The camp site is a beautiful resort, with some nice landscapes by the river (pic)
4. This week we have consumed more than a dozen cafe su das each, and we talked about it all the time...leading to an amazingly thoughtful gift from the CCL team, a coffee filter and special coffee to make cafe su da at home! (Pic)
5. Sally sells...sea snails by the Saigon roadside (pic)
6. Saw my first real scorpion...fortunately it was dead (pic)
7. With the incredible support of teammates Chrissie, Haley, Petra, Sofi and Tim over the past several weeks, I facilitated my first leadership team training session all on my own! Thank you all for helping me check that off my fellowship bucketlist! (2 pics of the teammates)
8. I can't believe I've been in Asia for 6 weeks! (Pic)
9. I've gained so many new perspectives, realized I CAN travel for weeks and weeks, and made many new friends, connecting with people all over the world :) #lifeisincredible
10. Looking forward to reuniting with friends and family back home in the states and catching my first Sox game of the summer...

Lots of love
Mary

Cambodia in a nutshell!

I'm realizing that I haven't been very good about blogging from Phnom Penh--there's been a lot of catching up with 'office work,' some exploring and some relaxing! During the past few days, we have had an inspiring visit to New Hope for Cambodian Children's Village, where we hold Camp Lotus, including seeing many of their sustainability projects (and piglets!) and on Thursday and Friday we had planning meetings for camp. Friday afternoon we made a trip to the killing fields and the genocide center. It was heavy but I'm glad we went. The adorable place we stayed at was very relaxing and the afternoon refreshers in the pool were always welcome! The hotel also had some friendly kitties. On Tuesday and Friday we went out with a few members of the camp team and it was wonderful getting to know them as I'll be back for camp in July! Throw a couple massages in the mix, some great meals at training restaurants for youth, and a trip to a Cambodian discotech, and the trip is complete :) enjoy the visual blog!
Off to Ho Chi Minh for the last leg of the Amazing Asian Adventure! Lots of love
Mary

A goodnight from Vietnam

We arrived safe in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) around 4 or so and were greeted at the airport by Letter from our camp leadership team (and her precious little nephew). Then we went to the hotel and were there barely 5 minutes when Quyen, camp director, called from the lobby. This camp team makes you feel like a camper when they welcome you to their country, leading to instant love!

Next up, iced cafe suda (sp?) which is coffee with condensed milk aka coffee magic. We had great talks about camp and such, didn't take long to realize how smart, mature, and impressive Quyen is...im.press.ive. For dinner I had my first bun cha experience, amazingness in the form of noodles, pork, and fresh greens. Tim and Hales really talked it up, for good reason!

Sleepy time,
Mary

Day 2: Cambodia

It was a productive day and a day of firsts in the Kingdom of Cambodia. We started the day with a fabulous breakfast at the hotel including pancakes which I've been craving for weeks...not dosa or idly, real pancakes :) Then we got some work done and banged out the schedule for leadership team training in Vietnam next week. We grabbed lunch in the middle and then took a little rest later in the afternoon. At night we went to dinner with Vuthy, Thnou and Phorn, the camp director and 2 LT members from Camp. It was so so nice to meet them and I'm so looking forward to coming back and working with them for camp in July! The night provided my first ride in a moto and first dinner at a real local joint...where I didn't know what anything was! After dinner we got a little tour of Phnom Penh and some stares--tall white girls on the back of motos aren't an everyday occurrence here. Surprising, right?! ;)
Enjoy the pics of the crew...
Love from the travel bug

Cambodia!

Sunday was an emotional day saying bye to Sofi and Chrissie (our SeriousFun teammates) and sending the bus of staff off to camp. I'm definitely missing the Camp Rainbow team but with a new adventure awaiting in Cambodia, there is plenty of distractions. Tim and I left India around midnight and arrived in Phnom Penh at 1030 am local time today. The people are so so friendly, there are beautiful green spaces, and though I love India, the extra space here is a nice change. Most exciting was reuniting with Haley and feeling a little bit of home in her presence. Part 2 of the Amazing Asian Adventure is well underway and here are a few photos to go with it:
1. This is how excited we are to not be sweating like we were in India
2. Beautiful sky
3. Fireworks show during dinner

Lots of love
Mary

Happy Mother's Day!

Here is an exclusive edition May 12th blog dedicated to all the moms near and dear to my heart! 'Mothers and their children are in a category all their own. There's no bond so strong in the entire world. No love so instantaneous and forgiving.' Enjoy one of my favorite paintings below, Mary Cassatt's La Toilette. To my mom, nana, godmother, Aunti Patti and Auntie Barbara, thank you for being you and making life so special. I hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day :)

On a travel note, today is my last day in India and Tim and I fly out to Cambodia tonight. Its emotional leaving the team here, our little SeriousFun crew and the Camp Rainbow folks. At the same time I am excited to see a new country, meet more amazing GPP people, and see my colleague and friend, Haley!

Before signing off, a huge shout out and massive hugs to my friend Amanda Weaver who gave the last boot to cancer with a successful surgery this past week. I am so proud of you Weave!

Hugs,
Mary

Day 15: Pondicherry

With no schedule to follow and a breeze from the Bay of Bengal, we were able to relax today. My day included a morning walk along the beach and Rue Suffren, croissants with orange-ginger marmalade, some much needed quiet and meditation at the Sri Aurobindo ashram and touching a real live elephant. It's late and I doubt I'll be able to form any more complete sentences so enjoy the photos!

Day 14: Pondicherry

Greetings from Pondicherry! After a successful week of staff training at our site, we are taking a weekend holiday to relax, sleep in, eat non-Indian food, and see the elephant temple here (and celebrate Tim Sir's birthday!) Sofi found a classy and adorable boutique hotel called gratitude on rue rolland romain (for future reference if life ever takes you to pondi) with a courtyard, rooftop deck and simple, elegant rooms. Upon arriving yesterday evening, taking a shower, eating cold food, and drinking cold water were the highlights for me. These trips certainly remind you to appreciate the little things :) I went for a walk this morning but didn't take many pictures, I will when we venture out! Below are a couple from our digs!