Eva, a nurse/occupational therapist who is here in Battambang working with a German development organization, invited me out for a St. Patrick’s Day party at a local French restaurant.  (hmm, I never thought I would write such a sentence).

At this French restaurant, I met the Indian physiotherapist I bumped into today while visiting the prosthetic workshop at the International Red Cross rehabilitation center.  I met 2 Peace Corps volunteers and their friend from Hawaii who is currently studying Pacific History and who has a particular interest in Papua New Guinea (what are the chances, no one knows anything about PNG). We watched the Battambang circus act of performers who got their start in the Thai refugee camps.  A table full of European doctors from the Emergency clinic (always nice people to have on speed dial!) bought rounds of Angkor beers (we would have to visit Siem Reap for green Angkor beer).  The young French artists with the traveling performers invited me to dinner Saturday night and I  somehow left with an invitation for a house warming party for (well, I don’t know who, but I am sure it doesn’t really matter as long as I come with a bottle).

Got to love the luck of the Irish…bringing an international community together…and most importantly, dragging me out of this valley!

Now to get to bed for a big day facilitating a workshop on capacity development and linking activities, outcomes and indicators.

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