Greetings everyone! This morning as we awoke there was a real sense that we really are leaving tomorrow. And, unbelievably, it seems as though the 6 weeks has gone quickly. At the beginning it felt as though time was very slow. I guess we have finally somewhat adjusted and we REALLY like the people here..both the staff and the patients. They have been the source of the beauty of this place. We said our goodbyes at the 8 AM meeting and surprisingly I had to work to not get choked up. This does not mean that we are not looking forward to Bali and after that home, just that we have been in the company of great people with a vision of working for the conservation of the rain forest and its inhabitants which is really working for all of us.
So at the meeting we announced that "it is our birthday" and that dinner at the local noodle place tonight is on us. The tradition here is that on your birthday YOU treat. Jim has been having birthdays basically every afternoon which explains how is is so "old" :>) and the medical staff has been enjoying the iced cappuccinos Today it is my turn with the dinner invite. We will take our head and tail lights as it will be pitch dark as we head home on our creaky bikes. And as we ride we will hear for the last time "Hello, MR"...rarely Hello,Miss from basically everyone we pass.
There was lots of talk (when we had some translation) this am about various meetings in Jakarta this month between Hotlin and Kinari (the founders here) and various possible founders for the ASRI program in general as well as the proposed building which is now being called a Community Health Center. This new designation is in part to increase the potential for funding as well as probably allot more accurate as there will be a limitation on what services they can offer. There is no X-ray here and getting it here, I think, will be a major challenge.
I have continued to assist in the dental office and am almost an expert at handling the suction. So far I have only gagged one patient one time so Monica keeps saying that I am helpful. I am learning the set up for the different kinds of procedures and am an expert at drawing up lidocaine/epinephrine for all the tooth extractions. Jim continues in his consulting role and has seen a number of very interesting medical cases lately. The doctors have really appreciated his down to earth experience and ability to teach procedures. They have had a really good time together and I believe he will miss the camaraderie HOWEVER, we are both ready to be done with ants. They continue to plague us, although they haven't been in the bed since we returned from the park . Interestingly, the Indonesians do not have much arm hair while our supply is functioning as an early warning system for any unwanted movement on our body. And then, of course,there is the paranoia If you catch us suspending our dishes of food on little pedestals set in plates of water, you will know that we are confused about where we are.
So, we will be picked up at 5:30 AM tomorrow by a taxi which will beep outside the house and travel the 1 1/2 hrs to Ketapang for our 9:20 flight to Jakarta. We have about three hours at the airport and then on to Bali. We have learned that while we are in Bali there is a major Hindu festival called the Day of Silence. This day lives up to its name with everything closed including the airport, everyone stays home, and is not supposed to use electricity etc. BUT at the hotels it is different and we can eat in the restaurant, swim, and have electricity. This day is preceded by an event which sounds somewhat like Mardi Gras with huge parades with lots of constructed figures of some sort which are grotesque so that the evil spiirts are scared away. It should be really fun!
Rakus, the cat, is doing well and can jump amazing heights with her three legs. She didn't appear this AM so perhaps that means she is straying further from the house. Kinari arrives on the 17th and will take over care while Julia, next door will help in the meantime. Cats here have learned to eat spicy food at least to some degree...and my Norwegian ancestors would be surprised at what I can handle now. I think there have only been two meals when neither of us could manage the "heat".
We will miss the monkeys on the roof although not the resulting dust/debris from that thatch, the sound of our friendly gecko - even during the night- the early morning ride to the clinic with a clear view of the national forest - the cheery voices of the kids and the adults greeting us as we ride by and the great people we have met. We are over ready to not be dripping sweat most of the day, to have sit toilets and real showers, and for a change in food (especially Jim),and, of course, no ants (at least until summer). Snow is sounding very good to us!
I have also been somewhat of an English tutor and am helping two of the staff with their essays for applications for Fulbright scholarships. One of them asked me as I was preparing for the earlier English class if I was teaching the current progressive tense. The what?? I've had to think about conjugating verbs etc. Who would have thought....
Thanks for taking this part of our trip with us. Next stop, Bali
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