Weird Little Events

Rebecca is now in the air and on her way home. She should be landing at YVR within the next few hours. She arrived a 44 year old woman and returned to Canada 45 years young. The tropics do that to a person:)

It was a good visit although we didn't get out much, and I think she'd say that being here has changed her perspective on a few things. That's always worth the cost of a plane ticket. When people leave us here I often reflect on how things will be different for them back home, and this time I thought I'd share a few things that happen in our home that are just a little different from what we once knew.

*last Saturday Rebecca and the kids made a few thousand sugar flowers for cake decorating. I

have a feeling that a few of those made their way under the refrigerator, a place that doesn't get swept under daily, because there has been evidence of them found on a regular basis since. There have been little purple and green cicak (gecko) poops all over my house. Normally these droppings are black, and so

I figure the cicaks have been snacking on the sugar flowers under the fridge.

*every morning at 4:30 the Muslim call to prayer occurs. You'd think we'd get used to it, and sometimes we think we do until they turn up the loudspeaker volume. I'm just thankful we don't live closer to a mosque.

*Once or twice a week we hear a man outside yelling "Aqua!" and it's the water delivery truck. For less than a dollar a bottle we can buy treated water that we use for drinking. Because the water in our area is treated, we still use the tap water for cooking, tea, and brushing our teeth. Typically though, in Indonesia one wouldn't use tap water for the latter

three actions. Even in hotels we use bottled water outside of Lippo.

*I have two beautiful orchids in my home right now, and one more outside that is starting to re-bloom. These cost me only $2 each, very different from the $30 I spent on an orchid from Nanaimo Costco a few years back.

*We do not have hot water in our sinks in either the kitchen or the bathroom, so in order for Tris to shave he sprays water from the shower into the sink. In order for us to wash dishes properly we fill two tubs of water from our "powder room" and bring them into the kitchen.

Those are a few things that I realize I'd either miss or at least be aware of their absence if we moved from Indonesia.

Thanks for reading.

Community

Early this morning, around 5:30 am, I received a call from my helper (some call her a maid but I don't go there). She was unable to come into work because, as she said, "there was some excitement in my home last night." Apparently around 10 pm, after her children were asleep, a fire broke out in the home just behind hers. She lives in what I think might be like a quad, where four homes are attached somehow. According to what I understood on a poor phone connection and basic English, the family completely lost their home. No one was hurt, but all was destroyed. There are a variety of types of homes in the kampungs (villages) I've seen, from cement and brick with ceramic roofs, to wood walls and wooden roofs, and the poorer ones of metal bits and cardboard or pressboard. My helper's is made of wood and cement, with a wooden roof, and so that would have been the same of the burnt home. When I asked how the fire was put out, she replied "Lots of water." The whole community got together, gathered water, and threw it on the fire.

I think Ami is extremely thankful for her neighbours, because she said her house would have been next had they not put out the fire. There is something to be said for community.

Just last week two of our staff members left SPH for Canada. They are a young, newly married couple who are an integral part of the teaching staff, and they've gone because the wife has been diagnosed with Hodgkins disease. She's gone back home for treatment, and both leave a huge gap here at SPH. Just before they left, Tris, Matthew and I had the privilege to say goodbye to them in their apartment, and they commented how overwhelmed they were by the sense of community that they've felt since the diagnosis. Students, parents, staff and teachers have showed their appreciation in a variety of ways, and it's good to see. Another national teacher is having to take another leave for cancer treatment as well, and all three positions are being filled by SPH teachers. Classes are being rearranged and people are taking on some areas that they didn't sign up for but they're content to do it, especially because of the circumstances. From my perspective, what I see is a very strong sense of community and I really appreciate it. It makes me feel good to be a part of it, if only as a teacher's wife. I only wish the circumstances were different for those having to take a leave.

Thanks for reading.

Mangga Dua

This visit has been one long shopping trip. One day after another, as long as we're not resting at home (or in a friend's pool) we're shopping. At least that is how it seems. I'm not complaining in the least; in fact I've enjoyed it tremendously, and Rebecca has found some great deals to take home. One of my main objectives with her coming over is that I'd find her a 'to die for' bead store, and we did just that in a large multi-storied marketplace. Absolutely gorgeous beads and stones and pearls, and every possible chain, wire or link you could imagine. We probably spent at least 2 hours in that one particular store. It was kind of like being in a fabric store, where you just walk around touching stuff and dreaming.

I don't have much to blog at this point but I do have two photos that make me laugh. Last week at Mangga Dua we tried on wigs. I kind of like straight, long hair but I don't think I'd like it longer than a few minutes. They were so incredibly hot!!! Rebecca looks so cute she could be the main hostess of a kiddie program. Needless to say, these ones went back onto the reject pile.

Today we went back into Jakarta with two other friends, and went to One Pacific Place, a very decadent shopping mall (just to say we did), and then to a great outlet store. After a run around there we headed to a place that sells a variety of Indonesian gifts, fabrics and clothes. It was a very well-rounded shopping day. It's good to be able to say that Rebes has seen a lot of what Jakarta has to offer, and some of Lippo, too.

Tomorrow is Rebecca's birthday, and we're heading to bible study in the morning, so maybe we'll do a little celebrating there. She's been allowed to open one gift a day, starting Sunday night, until tomorrow.

If you want more details about what's been going on around here, check out Rebecca's blog to the right (Twisted Heirloom).

Thanks for reading.

My Two Cents

The other day someone commented that my blog reads like a travel blog. It's funny because blogging is just like any other area of your life; you learn what to do and what not to do over time and there's an 'etiquette' involved. What I've learned over the last year and a half is that this little bit of writing is available to all the world at the touch of a button, and so I have been careful to write with an 'informative' style. The problem with writing and then publishing immediately is that without a 'cooling period' there is the chance that the emotion that was written into a blog at say one o'clock has mellowed by 5 o'clock.

I realize that I have to use wisdom. If I had written about my emotional state on one of my homesick days, people back home would have taken up a collection and couriered me a ticket home. However, that's not why I'm here. I'm here to support my husband while he pursues a dream job in a place where there are palm trees (his personal dream for years), to encourage my kids in their education and personal development, and to find a niche of my own while I am here. On most days, I love it here. There are some times when I don't understand the cultural aspects around me and if I blogged about it I'd sound like a complaining whiner. I am a guest in this country, and if I was to write about all of the negative aspects of living here, what good is that to me and to those who are hosting me? Granted, I have shared a variety of stories, some funny, some sad, and some even kind of gross, but those go with the adventure of living here. Sometimes I neglect to write about the homesickness, the smells, the disgusting habits of some, and that's on purpose. I have chosen to keep some of my opinions to myself. I do realize though, that I need to continue to be honest and when it's necessary, share that through this blog.

People ask if I like it here. Yes I do. Will we be here a long time? I don't know. We're here until June 2011 for sure, and we'll take each year as it comes. Do I miss Canada? You'd better believe it. I miss the grandeur of BC, I miss quiet roads, I miss walking through cool trails and even cooler lakes. I especially miss my family and friends, sometimes to the point where I shed tears when no one is looking. Am I content? Yes, I am content in that I am where I am supposed to be. I am not always happy that my life takes these big turns and sometimes leaves me spinning, but I am learning through it all. This new life has been a huge learning curve and I am thankful for it. I'm curious to see where I'll be in a year from now, and what I'll be doing.

Chances are the next blog post will read like a travel blog, but I'll try and include some emotion in it now and then. I promise that I will always try and include photos...they say more than any words I could put together.

Thanks for reading.

A Week in Review

Rebes as been here a week already and time has flown by so QUICKLY! Unfortunately for her there aren't any trips to Bali, Lombok or Jogja, and due to driver-sharing we've even cancelled a trip to the mountains (and zoo and waterfall) but we've had a great time together regardless. A few days ago, during a school day, we spent the day in our friend's pool, worked on our red (tan just doesn't describe how we looked afterwards), and then went for manicures and pedicures. I've tried to talk Rebecca into another cream bath, but I think the bruises all over her body have discouraged her a bit.

On Tuesday we went into Jakarta to Antique Row (Jalan Surabaya) and I loved watching Rebecca gathera crowd with her bartering. Each vendor was eager for her to see what they

had to offer and, after a while, needing a breather, she deeked into the car for a bit to sort her thoughts and rupiah. When she drove away she had less rupiah but lots of bling in her bag. Not once did I intercept or interpret, and she came away with the goods we'd hoped she'd find for her jewelry making (and a few things to wear just because...). It was a good day!

Yesterday we spent at my Wednesday bible study (the photo of all the girls gathered...including brand new baby Keira), which included a trip to the new Burger King in the mall, and a later trip to the mall to find a few things for Abby. Tris is off to Puncak at a school retreat for a few nights, and so we just ate dinner around the tv and watched American Idol; it was a day of rest that was much needed and appreciated. I have to admit that we did take a few minutes in the quiet of the afternoon for some laughs. What do you get when you take two women who are sweltering hot and looking for something to do? You get two silly, grown women sitting on the cool tile floor making faces at the camera.

What I shouldn't tell is which floors we're sitting on. Let's just say, what do you think of my batik shower curtain?

Today we're heading into Jakarta in search of clothing outlet stores and bead stores.

Not sure which direction to head but that's all part of the adventure. Tomorrow we head to a school in Cikarang to watch Abby in a Spelling Bee. Twenty four students from our school are headed that way and so we'll go and give our support.

Thanks for reading.

POOP!!!

Are you here because of the title? Good. It worked; I got your attention. Last night we had the funniest experience in our home and I'd like to share it with you.

Yesterday was a typical Saturday. Chores in the morning, errands (or massages) in the early afternoon, head to church at five. After church we headed to American Grill (great salad bar) and then home. We arrived to a very 'stuffy' smelling house. It almost smelled like urine, and I announced exactly that. On his way into the kitchen Tris noticed some disgusting little balls near the refrigerator, all stacked nice and neatly as if put there on purpose. Almost, actually, as if some large creature had intentionally backed up, lifted its tail and left a rather impressive 'deposit' for us. I was sitting at the table and could see the pile he was checking out, and just in case the 'depositor' was still in the house, I made sure my legs were up around my neck. We've been hearing

some rather disturbing noises in our roof again, very similar to a rat's version of WWF (that would probably be WRWF...World Rat Wrestling Federation), but it would have to be a VERY large rat to leave something so ... large.

It was hard not to laugh when Tris, bent over at the waist and intently inspecting the pile, let out a "what the heck (or some such word) is THAT???" The look on his face was truly priceless. Later he explained that he had "komodo dragon, monitor lizard" and such racing through his brain. Both kids were called to the scene to bend and inspect as well. Rebes was no where to be found. I got over my 'fear' of whatever had been in our house and went to inspect as well. Looking at my kids, I got down on my hands and knees and gave the poop pile a poke. That brought some good 'ewwww's from the kids, especially Abby. It wasn't until I picked one up and popped it in my mouth that the screams of laughter started, and Abby yelling "she bit one! She put it in her mouth!!!" The look on the kids' faces and the laughter was worth every rupiah (a whole $2 worth) and then some.

On Friday Rebes and I were grocery shopping and decided to check out the Chinese New Year food section. We came upon these GREAT looking dried prunes that were covered in some kind of long, grassy spice. They looked like miniature horse poops, and that gave us an idea. We got a WONDERFUL, AWFUL idea. Just before we locked the door on our way to church, Rebes planted the pitiful pile of poop next to the fridge. What a great end to a wonderful day. Laughter. Tears. Both related.

Thanks for reading.

ps. for Rebes' version of the story, check out her blog (click on Rebes with a Twist...to the right)

Happy warm, lazy, sunny Saturday morning! It's 8:24 am, everyone here seems to be asleep (Tris is at the gym) and I am enjoying a little quiet time. Great time to finish up the last of a few books and to check out what's going on in the lives of my friends/family via blogs and Facebook. I love updates and finding out what's going on in the lives of those I love, whether it's good or bad.

Rebecca arrived safely on Tuesday, a little tired but ready to enjoy her Indo experience. Two days earlier I arrived safely home from Jambi and am so very thankful that I went. I enjoyed meeting a variety of women from the Jakarta area, all speakers at the seminar held in Jambi by an incredibly brave Australian woman named Jenny. People keep asking why I went, and really, I just wanted to see the area and to

be able to say I've been t

o Sumatra. During the semina

r on Saturday I was blessed with a hospital car and driver, and although

there is very little to see in Jambi, according to the locals, just shopping in the traditional market and driving alongside one of the largest rivers in Indonesia was a treat. I was able to haggle down the price of a great wicker

picnic basket (long search finally ends here) in the market, and to practice my language skills because NO ONE spoke English during my excursion. I love the pressure of having to speak Indonesian. The photo is of an incredibly ancient charcoal-heated iron being used to iron newly made pants. This was a bit of an assembly line held in a very dark, dingy little alley. "Sweatshop" is not an inappropriate name by any means.

During one ironic moment at the end of my trip, Jenny, our hostess, commented on my time away from the rest of the girls and told me how "brave" I was for going out alone (yeah, alone with the driver along by my side). I shook my head, because here is a woman who has moved alone (kids have moved back to Australia) to a city where very few people speak English and even fewer are foreigners. She's taken on the task of heading up the hospital and all of the changes, physical and intellectual, some even cultural, that need to take place. SHE called me brave! There were so many heartbreaking stories of people choosing not to get medical help simply because of a lack of money, lack of knowledge or poor choices made by families regarding an ailing family member. To do all that she does and also have to face the realities of human beings in pain and sometime dying is incredible, and I think she deserves a medal. A really big one.

I would return to visit Jambi in a heartbeat, but there are so many other wonderful, in

triguing places in Indonesia that I also want to experience. Right now, while Rebecca is here, I'll try and show her all of my nearby favourites. We have no plans to travel anywhere via airplane or train, but I do hope to stick her in a bajai (a little tin can on wheels) in Jakarta, maybe a becak in a nearby village, and at least one trip to the local salon on an ojek, the motorcycle-taxi that everyone needs to take at least once.

Thanks for reading.

photo: Janet and I leaving Jambi with our new friends Rose (pink) and Erin (black)