News

We have been in Cambodia since September 8, 2008. We are visiting Canada for the month of August, 2011.

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May 21, 2011 - Return to Phnom Penh

After 6 weeks in Bangkok, first waiting for Aya (1 month) and then waiting for her passport (2 weeks), we are returning to Phnom Penh on May 25. We look forward to developing new routines and getting back together with our community.

May 10, 2011 - Bundle of Joy

May 10, 2011, started out like any day in the past month - getting some breakfast ready in the apartment and bracing ourselves for another day waiting in Bangkok (8:00). There's always the prospect of good street food but the aggrevating potential to be involved with Bangkok transportation and chaos. All at once it happened (9:30) - Amie had a hollywood style water break (big splash, wide open fear eyes). About 5 minutes later Bethany called and we're trying to arrange hanging out (had to postpone). 10:00, we called the hospital and the doctor was busy. We continued to get breakfast ready and the doctor called back saying we should come to the hospital right away (10:00). This was not quite the expected reaction so there was a little confusion as things were flung about into bags (Steve was particularly paniced and scatterbrained). But in a few minutes we were off in a taxi and to the hospital (11:00). A few tests were done and since there were no contractions yet, the doctor was wondering whether to send us home or not (11:30). It was decided that we should wait a bit and see what happens. And something did happen. 12:15 the first real contractions started. Things progressed quite fast then and at 5:40, Aya Kalyan entered the world. She looked quite healthy and it was no-time before our little family was having some bonding time. Follow how things go in the first year by clicking <a href="http://steveamie.com/pages/~aya1year" target="_parent">here</a>

May 02, 2011 - Visiting Canada

We just booked tickets to Canada for a visit for the whole month of August. It looks like we'll be making the full tour - Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Toronto. Would love to see everyone!

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Nov 15, 2010 - We're pregnant! (amie mostly)

Click <a href="http://steveamie.com/pages/~cambodia10c_1" target="_parent">here</a> for some more info. Due date is around May 10 and the current plan is to have Thai birth certification.

Jul 01, 2010 - Interview by Andrew Kooman

Andrew Kooman interviewed us about life in Cambodia <a href="http://andrewkooman.com/archives/4355" target="_blank">here</a>

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Mar 01, 2009 - Amie has full time work in Phnom Penh

Amie starts working today with <a href="http://www.hagarinternational.org/" target="_blank">Hagar Cambodia</a> working in a up and coming communications department.

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Dec 29, 2008 - Christmas Letter (click for PDF)

Jul 17, 2008 - Steve & Amie moving to Phnom Penh, Cambodia (click for PDF)

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Sep 04, 2007 - Amie Starts a new job

Amie is starting a new job with <a href="http://www.samaritanspurse.ca" target="_blank">Samaritan's Purse</a> Canada working in the Operation Christmas Child communications department

May 02, 2007 - Off to India!

We left for India on May 2 - we'll be there for the rest of the month

Feb 28, 2007 - Tickets to India: Booked!

Today we booked tickets to India. We are going to be there for the month of May.

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Aug 26, 2006 - Steve starts a new job

Steve is starting work this fall with a company called Phoenix Engineering (www.phoenixengg.com). Phoeinx is a consulting company in the field of wind energy. Click <a href="~200603#0">here</a> for a tribute to the job I am leaving with Comtech (www.comtech.ca). <img src="graphics/towerp.jpg" align="left"> <img src="graphics/towerc.jpg" align="right">

May 07, 2006 - 1 year and counting!

Amie had our first anniversary today. What a great year - a fast one, but a full one. We had a great supper at the Calgary tower. Click <a href="~200601#2">here</a> for details.

Mar 29, 2006 - Amie scores big time

Today Amie did really well for herself. Firstly, the government funding organization that sent us to Suriname had a contest involving writing about the experience in some form of media. Amie made a newsletter type entry and ended up winning 1st place! So she won a beautiful new video camera! That was just a start. Later in the day, she got a great phone call. Amie had submitted a proposal for a year contract coordinator position in the ASHEN network (youth at risk) program and she got the job! She starts work on April 3

Mar 19, 2006 - Steve's New Job

Today I (steve) started a job with Comtech in Calgary (comtech.ca). They specialize in design and installation of communication systems (microwave, satellite, remote data access etc..). I am starting out doing installation stuff and if that goes well I may move more into the engineering design later when I learn more about all the equiptment and procedures. So it looks like I'll be all over the province visiting sites and getting out of the office a lot. Sounds good!

Mar 10, 2006 - New Home

Today we rented and moved into a nice place in North Calgary. It's perfect for us and we have room for lots of guests so feel free to look us up if you're in the Calgary area.

Jan 14, 2006 - Last Day in Suriname!

Our Suriname Adventure has finally come to an end. As usual, the future looks uncertain past the next month but for now we are off to visit family and friends, work in Cochrane for a month and enjoy the luxeries of Canada (hot showers, salad, cereal, milk products).

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Dec 06, 2005 - A month in Cochrane

As part of our job requirements with CCI, we are volunteering for a month after our Suriname stint with a company called Four Worlds (fourworlds.ca) based in Cochrane, Alberta. It was kind of a blessing in desguise that we were placed there because many of Amie's relatives and friends who she hasn't spent time with for a while live in the area. So we will be there from mid January to mid February. Four Worlds is involved in local and international community development so we are looking forward to learn what we can from them as well as help out wherever possible.

Nov 07, 2005 - Married 6 Months

Wow, time flies! Amie and Steve are married 6 months today. Tonight we are going to an Indonesian restaurant in West Paramaribo called Serinas. Heard from many locals and foreigners that it has great food!

Sep 16, 2005 - Settled in Suriname

We are finally settled in Suriname. We just finished a little trip into Guyana before we returned to Suriname to start work. We moved in with our host family today (actually our host guy named Regilio). The 4 other Canadians on our team are arriving tonight from a layover in Trinidad like we had (yay!). Tomorrow, we are having a little orientation and then we are going to jump into things on Monday. Things are pretty laid back here and we aren't completely sure what is going on most of the time but we are having a good time despite the uncertainty.

Sep 01, 2005 - Off to Suriname

We are off to Suriname! We leave Calgary on Sept. 1 and then have a layover in Toronto and Trinidad & Tobago (woohoo!) before arriving in Suriname on Sept. 3. This is a couple weeks early for starting our work so we will be checking out a few places before we settle down in Paramaribo. Click <a href="~surtrip">here</a> for fall updates, pictures, and adventures from Suriname.

Jun 22, 2005 - Steve and Amie get a place in Humboldt and Steve gets a job!

We came up for the day to Humboldt to check things out. We found and moved some stuff into a small place near downtown and Steve got a job with a company called Earthcare (<a href="http://www.earthcare.ca" target="_blank">earthcare.ca</a>) - involved in innovative sustainable agriculture projects.

Jun 17, 2005 - Amie accepts a job in Humboldt, Saskatchewan for the summer

Everyone keeps laughing that we´re moving out into small town Saskatchewan. We think it is the funniest and greatest adventure we´ve heard in a long time. Amie is the intern newspaper reporter and Steve just wants to work on a farm (his dream) but will pretty much take anything that'll pay something half decent.

May 18, 2005 - Steve and Amie both accept volunteer short term positions in Suriname for the fall

Where in the world is Suriname - I wasn't sure either after my second interview (Steve) but eventually I got a job and then Amie got a position with the same company (Canadian Crossroads International). We leave in September and 6 months later we will be on the hunt again.

May 11, 2005 - Steve and Amie head to the Cook islands and New Zealand for Honeymoon

Read stories <a href="~honeymoon">here</a>

May 07, 2005 - Steve and Amie are Married in Regina, Saskatchewan

<img src="support/picresize.php?path=blogpic&helper=null&file=blogpic00289.jpg"> ...more pictures <a href="~wedding">here</a>

Apr 24, 2005 - Steve and Amie leave Humboldt

We have had a great summer. Amie has had a great experience with the Humboldt Journal. She worked as one of the main reporters and gained lots of experience writing and taking photos. Steve learned a ton about sustainable agriculture working several projects with Duane Guina. Alas, we are off to Regina to move our stuff into storage. Then it is off to Montreal for training and then to Calgary to visit Amie's Family. We will be leaving for Suriname on Sept 1 and that will leave us 2 weeks of siteseeing before we start our positions in the capital, Paramaribo.

Apr 23, 2005 - Amie and Steve both finish all University requirements

And just to prove it, click <a href="~200501#10">here</a>

Apr 12, 2005 - Letter from Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco

We're not very sure how the Mayor of Regina found out about us but somehow we got a very personalized letter in the mail from him! Click <a href="#" onClick="NewWindow('/pages/support/imagepop.php?path=blogpic&helper=null&file=blogpic00643.jpg&width=510&height=700&title=Picture','_blank','510','700','no','no','no');return false">here</a>

Mar 05, 2005 - Steve's Graduation Banquet

That's it! Steve will probably miss his convocation on June 1, but only if he is in a better place. The iron ring ceremony was today as well so Steve is formally marked as an Engineer. Click <a href="~200501#5">here</a> for a picture.

Feb 21, 2005 - Steve's 4th Year Engeineering Project

This semester Steve is pretty busy with his engineering 4th year project. The goal is to develop an web based system that would track the locations of Regina busses using GPS and wireless transmission. The project is definitely frustrating at times but will be all over in a month! Click <a href="~200501#4">here</a> for a picture.

Feb 18, 2005 - Ballroom Dancing Classes

We are about half way our 10 week ballroom dancing course. I think we have found something we really enjoy. The favorite dances so far are definitely swing and the tango. <a href="~200501#3">here</a> is a pic.

Jan 11, 2005 - Wedding Date Finally Set!

We are getting married on May 7 in Regina, Saskatchewan. The process for getting this date was an adventure in itself. Click <a href="~200501#0" class="redlink">here</a> for the story.