Sylvia's Journal

Sita should have arrived back home yesterday from Davos where she rubbed elbows with the high and mighty and drank in some of the doom and gloom by listening to people who are supposedly in the know (or can influence) what will happen to the world economy. Not a pretty picture I gather. I saw some of her amazing artwork and wished I could have only a 10th of her talent.

Yesterday I made a slideshow of the Cambodia trip consisting mostly of pictures. I think that is the only way that I can convey to my colleagues the enthusiasm of this new cohort of facilitators that I left behind in Kampong Cham and Phnom Penh. I cant’ figure out how to upload it here but that was the idea (this is where Tessa’s talents might come in handy).

It has been quiet in the office – many people are travelling and so things are rather low key. This suits me fine as I am trying to get back into the US/East Coast groove.

After work I went to yoga class again, after a hiatus of 3 weeks, and found it rather strenuous. The rotator cuff injury is troubling me more and more which made me a less than stellar participant in many poses that required stretched arms, up, down and sideways. After the accident I never had an MRI done of my right shoulder because just when the doctors thought something was seriously wrong I was suddenly able to lift my arm again and made them think all was well again. What ails me is somewhere in between right and wrong and may well be a small tear that is getting irritated again. One year ago a cortisone shot in the shoulder quieted things down and it has lasted till now. I think I need another one.

Axel too is having a relapse in his arm– as if to remind us that it’s only 18 months since the accident, and what would we expect? We have gotten rather undisciplined about our exercises, me in particular (hence the yoga).

I received a lovely email note from the receptionist in ADRA’s Phnom Penh office to whom I had gifted my Emirates business class toiletry case, full of small (less than 3 oz) tubes of creams and perfumes aside from the obligatory toothbrush and comb. She wrote, “I mostly not often use perfume but now I use it every day since I have gotten from you. It smelled very nice I do like it.” At the end of the message she apologizes for “[…] any mistakes or other tasks that I did not do well.” The entire message signed with a “Miss you.” It melted my heart. Another reason to get back there some day.