EAST TIMOR: Goodbye Dili

A beautiful island view in Dili, East Timor.

In a few weeks we will be saying goodbye to our life in Dili. Though I have moved many times in my life – across states, oceans, and time zones – the experience is always bittersweet for me. I feel happy, sad, and a little nervous all at the same time.

We originally thought we would stay in Timor-Leste for 2-3 years, but when a great job opportunity for my husband opened up a year early, we decided to go for it.

Admittedly, when I first found out about a possible move my immediate reaction was PANIC. The change felt too soon, too big, too different. Usually, when it’s time to leave a place I feel ready to go. But this time I had mixed emotions. (more…)

Shaula Bellour (Indonesia)

Shaula Bellour grew up in Redmond, Washington. She now lives in Jakarta, Indonesia with her British husband and 9-year old boy/girl twins. She has degrees in International Relations and Gender and Development and works as a consultant for the UN and non-governmental organizations. Shaula has lived and worked in the US, France, England, Kenya, Eritrea, Kosovo, Lebanon and Timor-Leste. She began writing for World Moms Network in 2010. She plans to eventually find her way back to the Pacific Northwest one day, but until then she’s enjoying living in the big wide world with her family.

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EAST TIMOR: Flying with Kids

We recently made our way back to Dili from Seattle—logging nearly 20 flying hours and two full travel days. It was exhausting, but somehow easier now that the little ones are almost four.

They understand that flying is part of a journey and are usually pretty excited about the destination. They love checking out the airport scene, observing other travellers and befriending  just about everyone they meet, from airport security guards to stern-faced business travelers.

Of course, 20 hours is still a very long time to be confined to a small space—with or without kids. But, it’s not as grueling as it once was. (more…)

Shaula Bellour (Indonesia)

Shaula Bellour grew up in Redmond, Washington. She now lives in Jakarta, Indonesia with her British husband and 9-year old boy/girl twins. She has degrees in International Relations and Gender and Development and works as a consultant for the UN and non-governmental organizations. Shaula has lived and worked in the US, France, England, Kenya, Eritrea, Kosovo, Lebanon and Timor-Leste. She began writing for World Moms Network in 2010. She plans to eventually find her way back to the Pacific Northwest one day, but until then she’s enjoying living in the big wide world with her family.

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Travel Itinerary for the Week of August 29, 2011!

We start off the week in New Zealand with Karyn Van Der Zwet of Kloppenmum. (Yay — she’s back!) Karyn talks about attachment parenting and discusses the direction in which societal roles are changing for mothers.  A very interesting read!

On Tuesday,  we head south of the border to hear from Eva Fannon of Washington, USA.  She tells us about a 24 hour trip to New York — it must have been nice to have some alone time!
Then, board a long haul flight with us to East Timor  on Wednesday!  Shaula Bellour is our mom of twins who has told us before that she has to look out for things like crocodiles in everyday life!
Thursday, we’re in Canada! Here, Robin of “Farewell, Stranger” is our mom who writes inspiring stories about her experiences with Post Partum Depression.  Did you know she was asked to speak at a blogging conference in 2012?  Check out her blog for more upcoming details!
This week in interviews we have new writer,  Salma, in Canada and Maggie Ellison in South Carolina, USA. Come read more about our World Moms Blog Writers!
Our founder, Jennifer Burden, was nominated for a Babble Award. Help support World Moms Blog by voting for her — the prize is $5,000 that we can use to help mothers and children!!  How cool would it be to fund the very causes important to mothers that we discuss, here, on the blog? There’s nothing to sign up for, you just have to click the grey “Like” box.  Please vote here! 
In news, we will be announcing several more writers from the USA these coming weeks!  And, in an effort to try to keep World Moms Blog more geographically balanced, we have already started a waiting list for future USA writers only.  We are thrilled with all the requests!

— World Moms Blog

Our World Moms Blog logo was designed by the creative Erica Joyner Designs in Virginia, USA.

World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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EAST TIMOR: Raising Third Culture Kids

In a few weeks’ time, we will be heading to the US for our much-anticipated annual home leave. Once a year, our organization covers the cost of flights to our “home on record.” Though our last physical address was in Oregon, our permanent address is my mom’s house, in a suburb near Seattle.

It’s the place where I grew up and where I usually say I’m from, even though I haven’t lived there in nearly two decades.

For our kids, home is here, in Dili. This is where their stuff is, where their beds are, and where their friends live. Although they don’t really remember our life before we moved to East Timor, they do know that they aren’t from here and will occasionally ask “Mommy, where am I from?”

I usually tell them that they are lucky enough to be from two places: England and America, just like one of their friends is from Sweden and Vietnam, and another friend is from Italy and Germany. Still, it’s a pretty abstract concept to a three-year old mind. (more…)

Shaula Bellour (Indonesia)

Shaula Bellour grew up in Redmond, Washington. She now lives in Jakarta, Indonesia with her British husband and 9-year old boy/girl twins. She has degrees in International Relations and Gender and Development and works as a consultant for the UN and non-governmental organizations. Shaula has lived and worked in the US, France, England, Kenya, Eritrea, Kosovo, Lebanon and Timor-Leste. She began writing for World Moms Network in 2010. She plans to eventually find her way back to the Pacific Northwest one day, but until then she’s enjoying living in the big wide world with her family.

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Travel Itinerary for the Week of May 30th!

We start this week by learning all about a new writer! Join us in Vancouver, Canada on Monday, as Carol from “If By Yes” introduces herself to us. Although she is fairly fluent in Dog Language, she agreed to do this interview in English!

On Tuesday, we fly south of the border to New Jersey, where Veronica Samuels talks about her daughter’s initiation as a basketball fan!

On Wednesday, we’re off to the remote but beautiful island of East Timor, where Mom of twins Shaula Bellour plays in the sea and has to dodge anything from pigs to potholes on her way to the grocery store.

And on Thursday, we fly back to the United States to hear from Arkansas Mom Margie Bryant. Margie’s life has taken an intriguing series of twists and turns, but she is now in a happy place and has lots of tales to tell.

On Friday Eva Fannon leads us in the Friday Question. Be sure to check it out and chime in with your answers!

We have some new writers profiled in the Writers section – take a moment to check them out!

— World Moms Blog

Our World Moms Blog logo was designed by the creative Erica Joyner Designs in Virginia, USA.

World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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EAST TIMOR: Driving Me Crazy!

Sometimes driving here drives me a little bit crazy.

To be fair, driving in Dili can’t really be compared with most other urban areas in this part of the world. Though it is a capital city, it’s more of a sleepy town than a sprawling metropolis. Traffic rarely moves faster than 35 mph, so it doesn’t feel particularly dangerous or difficult to navigate.

The curious one-way system can make things tricky at times (and the fact that most streets don’t have names), but even the busiest main roads are just two lanes.

However, driving can still be frustrating. According to the US State Department: “Driving in Dili is especially hazardous, with large trucks and military vehicles sharing the streets with vendors, pedestrians, and livestock.” Yep. (more…)

Shaula Bellour (Indonesia)

Shaula Bellour grew up in Redmond, Washington. She now lives in Jakarta, Indonesia with her British husband and 9-year old boy/girl twins. She has degrees in International Relations and Gender and Development and works as a consultant for the UN and non-governmental organizations. Shaula has lived and worked in the US, France, England, Kenya, Eritrea, Kosovo, Lebanon and Timor-Leste. She began writing for World Moms Network in 2010. She plans to eventually find her way back to the Pacific Northwest one day, but until then she’s enjoying living in the big wide world with her family.

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