Hello, dearest friends, family, and random readers
It seems this will be my first blog post from Indonesia. I hope it works!
Right now it is the end of the day in our FAO HPAI PDS/R program office housed in the Ministry of Agriculture, a.k.a. Deptan. (Quick acronyms: FAO = Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, HPAI = highly pathogenic avian influenza, PDS/R = participatory disease surveillance & response). Stacie - the other new field facilitator - and I will take a taxi, taksi, back to the house where we are staying. It has been another somewhat frustrating day of waiting around without much to do. We attended two meetings, one at the main FAO office, a.k.a. Thamrin, and another here. We also finally received our Blackberries! Thus, I now have phone and SMS/text message contact but still can't use email unless I am here at Deptan. Neither Stacie nor I can travel into the field until more paperwork has gone through. Lots of practice in patience dealt out by this project. I hope it comes in handy someday.
Otherwise, things have been really quiet. We did a bit of shopping this weekend and had a nice BBQ on Sunday night. I never would have imagined that I would grill salmon over the coals here in Indonesia. However, Eric & Dale, our hosts, have a lovely gazebo with orchids, mynah birds, canaries, hanging vines, geckos, a pool, and a BBQ behind the house. Mosquitos are included, of course. It turns out, though, that Avon's Skin So Soft is not only useful for repelling mosquitos, but also for lighting the charcoal. We have recently purchased two mosquito-zapping rackets. Think toy tennis racket with the electrical power of a hanging bug zapper. Loads of fun when you fry the miserable things - you get a spark, a loud snap, and sometimes a puff of smoke. As a bonus, Eric's exuberantly out-of-control pitbull, Sheena, doesn't like the rackets, so they act as Sheena repellant, too.
I blew my chance to rent a really fabulous apartment I had seen last Friday. What a mistake! We will go to look at apartments again tomorrow, but I'd be surprised to find anything quite as good as that one. Maybe I'll just have to hone my own decorating skills and try to cover up the standard bland decor and/or tackiness. I have seen some wonderful furnishings here... Shopping, anyone?
I hope to start uploading photos soon. Thanks for your patience!
Hugs,
E
4 comments:
Hi Edie, sorry for totally missing your departure (I must have been in a parallel universe). By the sounds of it you seem to enjoy yourself. That's good - Indonesia is an amazing country, particularly if you are into outdoor activities. I am looking forward to reading many exciting tales from afar.
Good luck with your adventure and hope to see you again one day (over here or over there).
All the best,
Mario
doggone, i am just too far west to be the first commentator in your new blog -- but then, you know i've never been a morning person anyway. life is still dreamy here in kaua'i -- my biggest pain so far has been running out of guava juice...
went hiking up Nounou ridge yesterday -- and lo! cleverly hidden near the north summit, there was a geocaching box. aha! you should have been here with your GPS. heck, your hiking partner ALWAYS misses you --especially when in the high country.
aloha nui loa!
-- ever the loquacious one
Edie,
I can't believe you got that bug zapping racket. My mother gave Jody one for his b-day. The dog has good sense to be fearful!
I'm glad you set up this blog. Now I can keep track of you!
Mom said...
Hi Edie, we are so enjoying your newsy accounts. The Cahoons received your first email, either via you or forwarded from Dad. Barb is living vicariously through you and thrilled to read of your adventures. Said she could just picture it all.
Carolyn is coming tomorrow, so I have been busy "sprucing things up". It will be a busy weekend with traffic as this is Seafair. I am trying to stay put on the island as much as possible with all the bridge closures. Rob had a successful check ride yesterday. He spent today with his kayaking friends at a special place off the Outer Banks. Said it was awesome and the perfect way to close his time there with them. He has decided not to take the cat, but instead to leave it at the shop where it can be adored by many. Tomorrow he will start driving back to New Mexico.
Time to hit the sack.
Lots of love to you...Mom
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