November and December

I've officially started graduate school, only part time. I'll be
focusing on this for the next couple months. With all of the holiday
events, and the early stage of engagement, this will give me plenty
to do. And of course, there's still trying to stay connected with
you and potentially setting up another trip for next summer.

Awake again at 4 am...

15 hours of sleep. And then a night of none at all. If I could make
myself stay asleep tonight, that would be fantabulous! I got 3 hours
and am wide awake. Thanks jetlag.

I wish I had a clearer picture of the future, but for now, the dream
remains
- to travel
- to various places around the world
- at least once a year
- taking people interested
- to share their gifts and passions
- with others around the world.

Some people call it mobilizing. Some people say connecting.

Kids, moms, artists, friends, teachers. Doesn't really matter to me.
Indonesia, Lebanon, Japan, Thailand, South Africa. Doesn't so much
matter either.

'Mau ikut' (Want to come along/follow/join us)?

Trip Successful

Though we are really only semi-debriefed, we count this quick trip a
success. Ange got to teach. The moms were receptive. The kids got
to explore art with new materials. I saw the house that needs much
repair - the main beam is rotting away. We visited with co-workers.
Met new staff. Caught up with friends. Rode the ankot. Visited the
children's home. Met another Leela in this world (a British girl from
Malaysia). Relaxed a little in Bali. Ate bakso, soto ayam, sate and
gado gado. Went to an Indonesian/Chinese wedding. Shopped at the
grocery store around the corner. And had Avocado/Coffee/Chocolate
shakes, watermelon juice, mango lassie and water from a plastic
wrapped cup.

What to do?

We are in Singapore again. This time for a good 12 hours. Except, the
shuttle and tour into the city have already closed. We are 'stuck' in the
airport. But there's plenty of shopping, restaurants and gardens to see!
We might just splurge and hang out at the transit hotel for one last
shower before our insanely long flight home... It's been a blast to
reconnect with friends, if only again for a few minutes. The whirl wind
trip was definitely every minute, every penny, and all of the adapting.

I had a few great conversations in my final 24 hours here. I know why I
have come. I'll write more when I'm more coherent. Cheers!

Just One Last Creature...

Back at the Richardsons house while they're in Bali. Check out what
Ange and I found today!

community

Saturday morning, we hung out in the 'Desperate Housewives'
neighborhood. Check it out, my paintings have been hung in Clara's
nursery!!! Kaylor and Donny picked out the wall colors based on the
paintings!

The ladies relaxed by getting cream baths, a.k.a. deep conditioning
for your hair plus head and shoulder massage.

We went to Gideon's wedding yesterday.  (The bridesmaid wore white?!)
Saw some friends, co-workers and teachers/staff.  It was
extravagant.  Check out 'cutting the cake" - the cake is fake!  And,
yes, they are pretending to cut it with a SWORD!

I love my community here.  It's so great to be back with them, if
only for a week. Ange and I leave for Bali in 3 and a half hours.

Creating

Te girls are learning to sew various patterns. The boys are making
lamps. All throughout our 2 days of class, music from a wedding
across the street blared. Here is the groom in his processional! I
used art supplies from Yolanda to help the kids make a huge 'Thank
You' sign for the moms and teachers. Lindsay and Ange enjoyed their
packed 2 days with the community of Polehan and the staff of Rujak
Berkah, the after-school program. It flew by, but I know that it was
helpful and effective. Check out Ange's blog for more details.

Around Town

Texting is the most popular way of communicating with people. So, we
sit around and type on our hp ('ha-pay') - cell phone. At Tandon,
the local store, around the corner, Ange, what are you shopping for?
Clara just turned 8 months old! She's a flying astronaut in this
picture. We went out for Lalapan - fried eel. Only the guys and I
ate eel. Most of our party ate fried chicken instead. And Terang
Bulan (Moonlight), a popular cake dessert with cheese, chocolate and
peanuts inside. Though, I'm not sure how this one's from Texas.

Transportation

The kids learned about transportation this week. We played a game
pretending we were motorcycles in traffic. It was fun! They are
learning about various vehicles and their parts. Here are Ange and
Merro riding the angkot/mikrolet/public transportation.

At the airport(s)

Filling out immigration paperwork, the exquisite bathroom sinks in
the Singapore airport, Ange drying off after 24 hours of not being
able to wash her face, free internet at Singapore, I'm in the...
airport! That's right, they had an indoor, tropical garden.

Coming and Going

This morning started with class at 8, a bit earlier than yesterday.
It's been a full day. I'm now exhausted. It's only 11.

We spent a good 6 hours at Rujak Berkah, the after-school program in
Polehan. A wedding took place across the street. Music blares for
about 24-48 hours before and after the ceremony. It's the
neighborhood's invitation to join. They had a processional for the
groom in the middle of class. We all went out to watch. We have
pictures to post later.

I made cards with the kids. They've been working on them and I have
about 50 to bring home. All hand made, hand drawn. $5 each in case
you're interested. All the proceeds return to Rujak Berkah, helping
these kids and their families.

I was a little confused to have to say good bye again. I don't think
we realized that it might just be a long while until I return again.
These kids will be taller when I return. I'm 160 centimeters tall.
We all measured ourselves today. And, since I can anticipate some
confusion, I'm 54 kilos.

Classes went well. Ange said she nearly cried when she was presented
with a little thank you gift.

We had a team dinner for Sharon's birthday. It was so great to hang
out with everyone all together! I already have conversations to
continue! Good thing we will see each other again tomorrow and
throughout the coming days!

After a few hours of girl talk, it's time to sleep. We're getting
cream baths tomorrow. Cream baths are very inexpensive ways of
getting pampered here. They soak your hair in 'cream' - it's like
deep conditioning. They wash and style your hair. Viola! Perfect
for going to a wedding - which, by the way, we will be attending. My
friend Gideon, the computer teacher at Charis, is getting married at
3! We will sit in on the ceremony and join the reception at 6. They
anticipate 800 people. It will be the first Indonesian ceremony I
will attend.

It's a bit surreal to 1) be in Indo and 2) be engaged. But I'm
loving both!!!

I'm really back!

Kim and Ethan were on the same plane landing in Indo with us. Kaylor
and Clara came with Pak Anugerah to pick us up. We sat through
traffic from the mud flood. The dirt walls are built higher than
when I left since the sulfuric mud continues to flow uncontrollably.
We stopped in the humidity to eat lunch at the Palace, KFC. We came
home to Totok and 2 dogs. Showered and refreshed, we met with Merro,
Juliana, Wenny, Pak Bambang and their 3 girls, Gabriella, Karen and
Renee. It finally hit us that we were here/back. Kaylor Selfie and
Nat joined Merro, Totok, Ange and me for dinner. We had gado gado
for dinner - delicious!!!! We fell asleep by 7 and woke up about 12
hours later.

Simply loving it. It's 2 weeks out of town, but really only one week
in Indo after all of the travel days. So that's a bummer, but we
will maximize our time.

We study Bahasa (language) at 9:30-11. Get picked up at 11:15 for
Polehan. Eat lunch with the staff. We have 2 hours with the kids'
regular program. From 3-5, we're on. It's super exciting to see
Ange's face light up as she hears about these connections and the
potential that it has in lining up with her passions.

Dinner with Kaylor, Merro and others. Then, we'll have a movie
night! We will need the down time. It's already Thursday here!

Still Awake

1:49 AM - 10/15, Wednesday. We've landed in Singapore. We met Daryl on the plane - she is traveling to scuba dive in Bali with 9 friends. Her son lived abroad in Germany for a year. Now, it's her turn to explore the world.

The Japan and Singapore airports are amazing! Ginormous and all lit up. Definitely aesthetically pleasing.

We are exhausted and still have another flight to catch - after about 4 and a half more hours.

We are safe.

Touch-A-Ray Bay!

Lori, Timothy and I spent the weekend in Gatlinburg. A highlight,
the Aquarium! We spent about 3 hours there, and about 2 of those
hours standing around, petting sting rays! The diver came around
during feeding and there was a swarm of them. It was so fun to watch
kids splashing fish water at their disgusted parents. No worries,
they shortened their barbs so we couldn't get stung. Though, they
had little sharks swimming by too.

Gatlinburg

Heading off to Gatlinburg today!!!!