Canberra is one of the capitals cities of Australia located at northern end of the AustraliaCapitalTerritory. With population over 345,000 it is Australia’s largest inland city and the eight Australian city overall. This was the first time I had been to Canberra.
On the way into the city, I saw Canberra’s Parliament House, it’s tall and on top of the building had display with Australia’s flag.
Parliament house. Canberra 2009.
In Canberra is less nosy than other cities I have been to. Most of people living here are middle class people also government and NGOs people, so that makes everything seems more expensive than other cities I ever been in the world. The positive things I can find in Canberra was the beauty of environment, people look neat, city looks natural full of big trees everywhere, quiet but feel like a lot of happiness that you can not see but you can feel it inside. People seem to live in very peaceful life. A lot of people there are living in big house with nice garden, swimming pools and tennis’s courts. The house that I was staying is Joylon father’s house, and yes it is similar to other houses around here, it is a big old house with a pool and a tennis court.
With PJ and Kirsten at Cocktail party in Canberra 2009.
Lovely people I met, Ema, Hoties,lovely, cuties, sweeties handsome and clover at the 5am party in Canberra 2009
At cocktail party, Canberra 2009.
The first week I’m arrived, I took the children to Questacon. Questacon is a national science and technology center, which provides free games, quizzes and activities to explain science to children and teenagers. When I arrived at the center I went directly to buy the tickets for me and children, Quinn’s entre was free, because he is under age and doesn’t require a ticket, so I paid AU$18 for Elliott and me. The first section we went to Questacon was dinosaurs section. There were five giant dinosaurs and seven little ones. They looked like a real animals, they moved, screamed and open their big mouths with their sharp teeth seemed like they want to eat us. Elliott was scared and he was afraid to pass through the first section. I held his hand and told him that “They are phony” animals don’t be afraid, just kept walking; he laughed and stared at the dinosaurs until we passed through the first section.
With my three sisters, Bobilee, me, Sharni, and Phebe. Melbourne 2009.
Driving Bobilee's car around winery, lucky after I drive we both still alive! 2009
Dinner welcome Nika to Melbourne and good bye to Bobilee leave Melbourne for three months. 2009
After the first section I kept taking the kids around the center to check out the games that they created in the center for children. We stopped at the children’s play section for an hour, because there were lots of interesting games that the children could enjoy and also it was good for them as there were many children play inside. After the children’s section we went to the top of the center to see the clown ball and the other games. We walked until we finished all the sections, and then went to the ground floor for lunch. I ordered sausage ball and big chips to share with Quinn and Elliott. When we were eating lunch, one lady who was sitting next to our table and had a daughter said “Your children are very cute and well behaved, you must be a very good MOM” I replied “ho… thanks, YES! They are… I am very proud of themJ”. After we finished lunch I took the children home.
My Australian's family! Alex, me Bobilee, Nat and Myline. Melbourne 2009
On the way back home I thought, why is it everywhere I have been people think I am the mother of these two children?? Can’t they see my skin color and my appearance? I am very different from them, plus I’m too young to have two children that old. Perhaps, I am looking old enough to be their mother?? I think people are just being silly to think that way, or maybe time for me to have a baby??? Humm... first have to find a husband :o) :o)
I arrived in Sydney on Saturday, June, 13th 2009 with Jolyon, Elliott and Quinn. The plane to Australia was very long. We flew from WashingtonDC to San Francisco, which took five hours, waited in San Francisco’s airport for three hours, then flew fifteen hours from San Francisco to Sydney. When we arrived in Sydney we were all tired, because the flight was so long and we weren’t able to get enough sleep as we had to take care of the two kids… I looked like a 93 year old lady coming off the plane.
The music guy try to make a living in Sydney 2009.
After a cup of tea we went directly to the hotel and arrived there at noon. I was very excited because the place that we are staying is around Bondi Junction and it is very beautiful. The view from my room is wonderful, I can see the Opera House and HarborBridge (the river it really beautiful). Under the hotel is a train station and there also the bus stops that I can take to city or the beaches or to the city. Everything is close by so it is easy for me to travel around the city or get to the suburbs.
Sydney building 2009.
I’m not very stable because of the long flight, jet lag and not getting enough rest. I feel everything around me moving and I’m tired all the time. I feel time here running slower than I used to feel in America. At 8pm I already want to go to bed which is so different from DC. In DC the earliest I go to bed is between 12 and 2am. However it’s just the jet lag that makes me feel this way. I hope I can feel normal soon.
Since I arrived I have been quite a few places in Sydney and have taken the children around with me. The first place that I took the them to was Sydney’s park and children playground. The playground here is beautiful and there are more fun things for the children to play. Also the park is greener than ones I seen in America, in the park here have a lot of big tree and people can ride their bike for fun or go for jogging around the park. I took lot pictures of the children, they seemed to be having so much fun. I have been to visit the Opera House, the Sydney Aquarium, a shopping mall and China town. I’ve just walked around the city looking at the buildings. I took the kids to have lunch at a Japanese restaurant in China town and they had some fun, and I was stressed because they both had jet lag and I tried to keep them awake and make them get used to the time here so. They were not very happy and look tired all the time so do I.
The weather here is a little bit cool and rainy, because it is winter, but at least it is not as cool as DC.
Oprah's House and Harbour bridge. 2009
I find everything in Sydney seems to be better than DC, the food is healthier, the country looks more beautiful, people are friendlier and helpful, etc. Everything in Sydney seems to be positive to me.
With children take the tourist car. Sydney 2009
The Oprah's House 2009.
I met my friend Virginia and we had a lovely dinner at BondiJunctionBeach. We talked about in the past and we worked together for ChildSafe. We talked a lot about our former colleagues. I really had a great time with her. I will leave for Canberra on Sunday for two weeks and will be back in Sydney for another two weeks, but between those times I will go to Melbourne for five days. I would love to spend more time with Virginia and we are looking forward to that.
Elizabeth and Jessie volunteered at Spelling Bees. DC 2009.
After one week in Sydney we drove to Canberra. On the way there Quinn got sick in his stomach and threw up in the car so Jolyon had to pull the car off the road and clean up everything. I just sat in the car listening to my music and didn’t help them, because before we left Sydney, I was in a bad moon and got annoyed with everyone that kept changing the plans, I was running out of patience so I just sat in the car quietly and didn’t talk much, trying to get back my patience while moving on with this trip.
Oprah house on special night 2009.
Water Fire celebration in Sydney 2009
After listening to one hundred and twenty-five songs on my Ipod I fell asleep.
Jolyon woke me up because we had arrived in Canberra and he thought I might want to see what it looked like. When I saw Canberra all I could say was “ ho… it’s ugly, quiet and seems like a boring city” and they laughed.
Caroline and me tried to get photo together. Sydney 2009
I started making more jokes in the car after I woke up because I felt much better after being quiet and having some time alone. I have been trying to think what is the best way to handle being in a bad mood. I’ve always thought that if I am angry or in a bad mood being quiet is best way to be. I find that whatever I say when I’m angry is wrong. People often say the truth when they are angry and it is fine to speak the truth, but often it’s said inappropriately, and often hurts other people’s feeling.
So a small problem becomes a larger problem. Sometimes the way to solve the problem is to drop it and move on to different topic. Another way is to end it with a word or a sentence. As long as one keeps thinking about positive ways of solving the problem everything will be ok, because whatever happens it is not the end of the world.
Funny guy trying to make a living. Sydney 2009
Box light on Water Fire night. Sydney 2009
I have many of problems in life, and I can see that problems are a part of life and happen to everyone. If one lives with friends there will be problems with the friends. If one works there will be problems with works. If one lives alone there will still be problem with things around. It is just the way life is, it can never be perfect for one can’t be perfect for others. As long as one learns know how to manage one’s problems it will be fine in the end.
Happy Quinn in Sydney play ground 2009
Happy Elliott in Sydney play ground 2009
The best thing I can do when I have a problem is to be aware of it and keep an eye on it, try not to allow it go into my heart or my head, because I can always close my eye to things I don’t want to see, but I can’t close my heart to thing I don’t want to feel.
A few week a go, So-thy and I went to New York City for holiday. This is my second time that I going to NY, but it is the first time for Sothy. I invited her so that she can see more places in America. I told her not to worry too much about finances and safety, and that I will take care of her and we both will stay in Andy’s (my friend) house.
The photos of immigration to U.S photos history in Elli Island. Now York 2009
We arrived in NY at 12:15am. It was very late, I took Sothy to Andy’s house. We arrived at the house at 12:35am, Andy’s called and asked me to come out to join the party at his friends’ house, and he asked me to wait for Jacky (his roommate) to pick me up, and we all went to party together. After the party at Andy friends’ house, three of us ( Sothy, Andy and me ) walked back home, but on the way home we went for another drink at Andy’s favorite bar. After the drinks we went home, and then went to bed at 5am. It was very late for Sothy and me, but it was also fun…
Andy, me and Sothy! 2009
We both woke up at 11am, and then I woke Andy up to get ready to go out. We had brunch at a restaurant on Eighth Street, then went to have a coffee at Jimmy’s (Andy’s friend) shop. Sothy and I had hot chocolates, after the hot chocolates. After the hot chocolate, I had to go back to Andy’s home, because I forgot that I cannot drink orange juice or coffee. Since, I did drink it at the restaurant, my stomach was in trouble and I needed to run to the toilet, and stayed at home rest for one hour.
Andy and his friend! 2009
After I rested, the three of us went for walk and did some shopping. I bought a few things and Sothy bought a bag, but Andy got nothing, because it was a lady shop and he went out side the shop did his phone call. After that we went to Andy’s friend’s house to have a drink on a roof top and enjoy the New York City view.
Enjoying the view from the roof top in New York City. 2009
At 5:30pm we all went back home to changed, then went for dinner with my friend Christ and his family who came to NY to join the wedding party. We went to Giano Italian restaurant close to Andy’s house. The seven of us had dinner and we really enjoyed the food and conversation. I was very happy meeting Christ, his girl friend and his family, because it was been one and half years since I saw him in Cambodia.
Don't be afraid I'm not trying to kill myself, I just having fun!! 2009
After dinner we all went to have a drink at sports bar because Christ and his girl friend wanted to watch the Chicago baseball team play. When Sothy and the other people watched the baseball, Christ’s brother in law and I played pool. We played two games and I won both games. I was very good at pool when I was working in the bar in Cambodia, but I had not played for long time so, I though I couldn’t play well anymore. Well, I won those games twice. It was fun night that I had with my friend and Sothy, but I ended up very drunk. Everyone walked Sothy and me home then we said goodbye to everyone.
After said good-bye to everyone I went straight to bed with Sothy, because it was late. That night Sothy and I had a good sleep, as we both felt drunk. The next day was Sunday and we both had to go back to D.C. Before we went back to DC, I took Sothy to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. I thought it was important for her to visit the big history of America as she was in New York, so when she goes back to Cambodia, she can show everyone that she been to the most wonderful places in America.
We took a lot of photos but it was not very nice day as it had been raining whole day, I got wet and dried up many times. However we were had a lot of fun walking around in the rain.
With Sothy on the roof top in New York 2009
Having a beer with Andy on the roof top in New York 2009
Three sweet people 2009
After we visited the Statue of Liberty, Sothy and I went to have brunch with Andy and his friends at China town… On the way to Chinatown, Sothy keep complaining about being hungry and saying “you don’t give me food” Sothy is very funny I made fun of her the whole time. We both made fun of each other. I had a really great time with Sothy.
With PJ and Kirsten at Cocktail party in Canberra 2009.
Lovely people I met, Ema, Hoties,lovely, cuties, sweeties handsome and clover at the 5am party in Canberra 2009
At cocktail party, Canberra 2009.
With my three sisters, Bobilee, me, Sharni, and Phebe. Melbourne 2009.
Driving Bobilee's car around winery, lucky after I drive we both still alive! 2009
