Published in About Me Stories·PinnedAbout Me — Katherine“What should I call your mother?” I asked my Cambodian boyfriend over the roar of the motorbike. I probably should have asked this before we left the city and started on this three-hour ride into the countryside. “How old is your mother?” he asked. “Huh? I said what should I…About Me2 min readAbout Me2 min read
Published in Found In My Journal·PinnedWhen Your Blender Breaks…AgainWith or without you — See the blade twist to a stop See the smoke rise after the pop And I’ve broken another blender Blenders keep breaking; I can’t bear to get another one. Is it that I keep buying low-quality blenders? Or is it the power surges and dusty, tropical environment? I can’t remember…Prompt3 min readPrompt3 min read
Published in Found In My Journal·PinnedFallingFear poem — Terra firma vanishes Suspended over everlasting emptiness Terror Katherine Katherine is an Australian living in Asia writing about invisible things such as chronic illness so she (and her readers) can see what they look like. https://foundinmyjournal.com/papering-over-pain-with-thankfulness-6e896e193464Fear1 min readFear1 min read
Published in Chronically Cross-cultural·Oct 31, 2021Sunset for nowHope to see dawn soon I’m going to have to take a Medium break, have not been able to access the internet much since 16th September. So paying $5 per month is a waste. And I live in a non Stripe country. Sad! It's been so fun. Also, more than…1 min read1 min read
Published in Found In My Journal·Oct 6, 2021From Disconnection to ProtectionTrauma healing and friends — I was in danger and disconnected. But then the serendipity of the right people, in the right place, at the right time flipped danger to protection and disconnection to connection. Like a bridge between my past and present between my amygdala and the rational part of my brain between my worlds which normally feel 7000km apart. A bridge-like skin growing back over a wound. Not smooth skin like before, a scar nowTrauma Recovery1 min readTrauma Recovery1 min read
Published in Found In My Journal·Sep 25, 2021Red ZoneLike normal, but without food or the internet — T’was the day before Red Zone And all through Siem Reap People were panic shopping Even though it wasn’t cheap It felt surreal on Saturday to hear a loudspeaker from outside telling us to stay in our houses. We already knew we were in Red Zone so it wasn’t a…Prompt3 min readPrompt3 min read
Published in Know Thyself, Heal Thyself·Sep 22, 2021A Familiar Plot TwistIt was a surprise the first 2 times — Many years ago we found a group we wanted to be part of, so we started making plans to join. Meetings, forms, interviews, checks(2009). But then when we were on the eve of joining we parted ways for a time (2012). For practical reasons, and also I felt misunderstood. We…Life2 min readLife2 min read
Published in Chronically Cross-cultural·Sep 21, 2021Quiet, Intention, Explore, Serendipity, Hope5-day writing challenge from hope*writers QUIET Roaring pain? No. Obvious disability? No. Fatigue is quiet and invisible. Silently stealing energy, focus, friends, plans, and more. Looks like laziness and apathy. The post-trauma response also feels quiet and invisible. Silently stealing safety, connection, friends, plans, and more. …Chronic Illness2 min readChronic Illness2 min read
Published in Chronically Cross-cultural·Sep 6, 2021Storm At Angkor Wat, Cambodiaon this day 3 years ago — I was enjoying a nice peaceful read by myself near Angkor Wat, engrossed in a description of monsoon rain in Pakistan when suddenly yellow dust clouds started running along the road with the tourists who were hurrying out of the wind. The ancient temple had been glowing golden in the…Storms2 min readStorms2 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Sep 5, 2021Between Seasons, Between WorldsComfortable in both, uncomfortable in both — Looking outside causes me to squint. Sun is reflecting off water covering our yard. Although it's been raining for a few months here in Cambodia last week felt like a key change. We are heading into the serious half of the rainy season now. …Expat4 min readExpat4 min read
