arriving in battambang, i was struck by the relative clean and quiet of this fast-growing city, compared to the smog-laden haze of phnom penh. the paved main road wound through sleepy neighborhoods, the residents understandably hiding inside from the heat of the day, before depositing us, dusty and travel-worn, at the jesuit center. a seeming oasis of closely-clustered buildings peeking out from behind grand, green trees organized along a central, dirt road - i breathed deeply for what felt to be the first time in a long time.
being sunday afternoon, we had time to wander. meg gave me the grand tour of the various buildings, describing their individual purpose, creating in my mind a complex infrastructure of community services offered to everyone but especially targeted at the marginalized - children victims of polio or land mines, the elderly, and women. i marveled at the scope and breadth of work as well as the pervading sense of calm, peace, community. i can see how people come to visit and end up staying...
and here i am, sitting in the office meg shares with her staff at the women's health program. taking a break from chopping large, shiny sheets of what seems to be wrapping paper into squares small enough for origami folding. tomorrow is international women's day, and there will be a grand event here at the center. an estimated 200 women are converging from surrounding communities and villages to celebrate being a woman, standing for women's rights, and protecting women's health. we will share the task tomorrow of folding the individual birds, and i feel so blessed to be able to throw my wishes in with these wonderful women.
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