It's been a very long time since I posted to this blog, and I really need to get back on it.
The Right Turn at 40 was nothing compared to the turn at 41. After 19 years of marriage I am getting a divorce. My ex and two of our daughters are returning to the states and our oldest will at least finish the school year with me, in Jakarta. ife never seems to go the way it is planned. Yes, that is a very brief way of encompassing yet another life-event but that's about all I will ever say about it in this forum.
So enough of that.
Most everyone I know is aware of the saying "thrown into the deep end."
As a former swimming instructor and Lifeguard, I know exactly where the
saying came from and how hard it really is. At least so I thought.
Back in October I posted about having my assignment changed while still going to the same post. What I didn't say was that I had been assigned as Deputy human Resources Officer (HRO). What I learned after I got to post was that I would in fact be the Acting Senior HRO.
In a Mission with ~1500 employees.
For 10 months.
That's right, the deep end called and said it wasn't deep enough, and the shallow end was too close for comfort, so please just go ahead and drop him in the middle of the Pacific with a couple of arm floaties.
I survived! What an adventure that was!
I learned more about what I didn't know than I knew I didn't know. And the list of what I don't know keeps expanding. *sigh*
But in November, I finally began the job I was supposed to have and let me tell you, it is fabulous. I finally get to learn all the little State Dept. secrets and procedures and practices and peculiarities, and culture from a senior officer instead of having to run face first into them like I have been. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed myself and have a wonderful staff that helped me through, and great support from the rest of the Mission, but that doesn't change the fact that I was learning a new career and job three pay-grades above mine.
I am really looking forward to this next year, but also to finding out where my next post will be. My bid list is due in 24 hours and then I get to wait for word on where I'm going and what language I'm learning. I know the job, Consular!
So, that's it for today. But I'm back, so will return to boring all of you with my thoughts.
Be well, Neighbors.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
It's Been Awhile
since I've posted, so I thought I had better let you all in on how things are going. I spent the last five weeks in DC going through training at FSI, and while it was extremely valuable, I really didn't like being gone for so long. It turns out that my job in Jakarta is so busy and complex that every issue we were taught in class the first week, I had handled at least once in the seven weeks before beginning training. Frankly, I had dealt with most of the personnel issues that we discussed in class, so it was nice to know that I was on the right track. After the five weeks in DC I began the long trek back to Jakarta.
38 hours of travel!
Arrive early to Dulles. (I do NOT like this airport!)
Fly to Minneapolis, MN (Surprisingly good shopping there.)
Wait five hours.
My jacket was stolen when I wasn't looking. Normally this would REALLY piss me off, but I don't have any use for a heavy bomber jacket in the tropics so it was just one more thing to carry. What really ticked me off was that my headphones were in the pocket so I had to buy a new set while on the airplane since I didn't discover THAT loss until we were in the air.
12 hours to Narita.
Had just long enough to transfer to the other end of the terminal for my connecting flight.
Six hours to Singapore.
Six hour layover.
I really like Changi Airport. Especially the transit hotel where I was able to shower, shave, and sleep before my final leg to Jakarta.
Hour and a half flight to Jakarta.
Walking off the airplane, I was greeted by the warm, damp blanket of the tropics and the smell of clove cigarettes. After those five weeks in DC where the temp got down to the low 30s, I was very happy to be back.
Since being back I was able to go to school conferences, the annual 3rd grade health clinic, put on BY the 3rd graders, and go to the local amusement park, Ancol, where we went to what we thought was going to be something very akin to SeaWorld in the U.S.
WRONG!
What it was, was a rather nice aquarium. There were several excellent exhibits, including a huge seawater tank with walking tubes through it so you could see the animals swim around you, sharks, piranha, a pair of manatees, and several different open tanks where you could handle some of the less dangerous sea life. It took the girls a bit, but they finally were willing to pet the sea turtles, pick up a starfish, and even Ms. K was wiling to touch a ray. The other big attraction in the park was US. I don't think I saw more then five other westerners (read Caucasians) so we stood out pretty well. Especially our giant blonde girl. At one point, a woman turned around and took a picture of her, with her friend standing just behind her so that they could have a picture "with" the big blonde. A and I thought is was funny, but the oldest was NOT amused. :)
It turns out that Ancol is a series of different parks that include the aquarium, a more "SeaWorld-like" park with animal shows, a roller coaster park, water park, paintball, and who knows what else. Each park has its own entrance fee, but none are very much by U.S. standards. $6 to get into the aquarium during the week. $10 for the animal shows. Not sure what the other parks charge, but I doubt it is much more than $10 per person. We will go back another day and spend more time at at least one or more parks. It just means getting there earlier, and staying a bit later, despite the awful traffic to get back home. One hour to get there, two to return!
Traffic is its usual nightmare but you just have to sit back and either sleep, look at the people, or veg out with a book, or one of the many electronics at your disposal. It is still the rainy season here, so most every day between two and four it starts to rain, often with close lightening and very loud thunder. I love electrical storms.
Needless to say I am happy to be back and am trying to fit back in to my job and the routine at home. My jet lag is over, my sleep schedule is mostly back to local normal, and things are good.
Be well, my friends.
38 hours of travel!
Arrive early to Dulles. (I do NOT like this airport!)
Fly to Minneapolis, MN (Surprisingly good shopping there.)
Wait five hours.
My jacket was stolen when I wasn't looking. Normally this would REALLY piss me off, but I don't have any use for a heavy bomber jacket in the tropics so it was just one more thing to carry. What really ticked me off was that my headphones were in the pocket so I had to buy a new set while on the airplane since I didn't discover THAT loss until we were in the air.
12 hours to Narita.
Had just long enough to transfer to the other end of the terminal for my connecting flight.
Six hours to Singapore.
Six hour layover.
I really like Changi Airport. Especially the transit hotel where I was able to shower, shave, and sleep before my final leg to Jakarta.
Hour and a half flight to Jakarta.
Walking off the airplane, I was greeted by the warm, damp blanket of the tropics and the smell of clove cigarettes. After those five weeks in DC where the temp got down to the low 30s, I was very happy to be back.
Since being back I was able to go to school conferences, the annual 3rd grade health clinic, put on BY the 3rd graders, and go to the local amusement park, Ancol, where we went to what we thought was going to be something very akin to SeaWorld in the U.S.
WRONG!
What it was, was a rather nice aquarium. There were several excellent exhibits, including a huge seawater tank with walking tubes through it so you could see the animals swim around you, sharks, piranha, a pair of manatees, and several different open tanks where you could handle some of the less dangerous sea life. It took the girls a bit, but they finally were willing to pet the sea turtles, pick up a starfish, and even Ms. K was wiling to touch a ray. The other big attraction in the park was US. I don't think I saw more then five other westerners (read Caucasians) so we stood out pretty well. Especially our giant blonde girl. At one point, a woman turned around and took a picture of her, with her friend standing just behind her so that they could have a picture "with" the big blonde. A and I thought is was funny, but the oldest was NOT amused. :)
It turns out that Ancol is a series of different parks that include the aquarium, a more "SeaWorld-like" park with animal shows, a roller coaster park, water park, paintball, and who knows what else. Each park has its own entrance fee, but none are very much by U.S. standards. $6 to get into the aquarium during the week. $10 for the animal shows. Not sure what the other parks charge, but I doubt it is much more than $10 per person. We will go back another day and spend more time at at least one or more parks. It just means getting there earlier, and staying a bit later, despite the awful traffic to get back home. One hour to get there, two to return!
Traffic is its usual nightmare but you just have to sit back and either sleep, look at the people, or veg out with a book, or one of the many electronics at your disposal. It is still the rainy season here, so most every day between two and four it starts to rain, often with close lightening and very loud thunder. I love electrical storms.
Needless to say I am happy to be back and am trying to fit back in to my job and the routine at home. My jet lag is over, my sleep schedule is mostly back to local normal, and things are good.
Be well, my friends.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
I'm Baaack
Yes, that's right, I'm back in DC or a few weeks of training. I can't say that I am too thrilled about it, no matter how necessary it is. I arrived Friday night after 34 hours of travel, way too little sleep, and some seriously cramped legs. My favorite part of the trip was definitely the 11 hours from Narita to Atlanta, and the woman in front of me who spilled her drink off the armrest of her chair and onto my laptop, and continued to put her arms behind her head and reach over the top of the seat back and cover my tv screen. Yeah, that was special.
Oh wait! Not!
For all that I love traveling, and Id better since I took a job that requires world-wide travel, I am not a fan of these long haul flights. The food is better than domestic flights, certainly, but there isn't enough of it and I really don't feel like drinking myself into a stupor, so it either means try and sleep, read, or watch a lot of movies.
But enough of the whining.
Yesterday (Saturday) I took the Protocol Overseas class at FSI and had a great time. Several of my A-100 classmates were also in attendance so it was a nice reunion, and we all got to learn the proper way to hold our cups, glasses, and utensils, how to make proper seating charts, give toasts, and generally not make fools of ourselves out in the world. I had a lot of fun, but it was hard to focus through the jet lag, and I am sure I missed a lot more than I might have otherwise.
Ok, time for a bit more whining.
It is COLD here. Not sub-zero cold, but just generally cold. Well, it is sub-zero cold if you use Celsius so yes it is cold. Especially after seven weeks in the tropics where it hasn't dropped below 75°F. I miss the tropics already. I don't miss the traffic or the pollution, but I do miss the weather. And I miss the low cost of all things in Jakarta. It cost e more to GET IN a taxi at Dulles than it does to get half-way across Jakarta. Madness. The cost of food is also a reminder of just how different the two societies are too. What cost me $3 in Jakarta, cost me $15 in Narita Airport, and costs me $10 in DC. Global economics on a personal scale.
Anyways, I will be here for a few weeks while my family settles into our new place in Jakarta. It is much closer to the girls' schools, has kids in the neighborhood, a pool and playground, and is close to shopping and a more vibrant social life for my wife. They will be fine, but I miss them and would rather be there right now. On a high note, I am in the land of Happy Hour and will be partaking of all things social while I am in DC.
Be well, neighbors!
Oh wait! Not!
For all that I love traveling, and Id better since I took a job that requires world-wide travel, I am not a fan of these long haul flights. The food is better than domestic flights, certainly, but there isn't enough of it and I really don't feel like drinking myself into a stupor, so it either means try and sleep, read, or watch a lot of movies.
But enough of the whining.
Yesterday (Saturday) I took the Protocol Overseas class at FSI and had a great time. Several of my A-100 classmates were also in attendance so it was a nice reunion, and we all got to learn the proper way to hold our cups, glasses, and utensils, how to make proper seating charts, give toasts, and generally not make fools of ourselves out in the world. I had a lot of fun, but it was hard to focus through the jet lag, and I am sure I missed a lot more than I might have otherwise.
Ok, time for a bit more whining.
It is COLD here. Not sub-zero cold, but just generally cold. Well, it is sub-zero cold if you use Celsius so yes it is cold. Especially after seven weeks in the tropics where it hasn't dropped below 75°F. I miss the tropics already. I don't miss the traffic or the pollution, but I do miss the weather. And I miss the low cost of all things in Jakarta. It cost e more to GET IN a taxi at Dulles than it does to get half-way across Jakarta. Madness. The cost of food is also a reminder of just how different the two societies are too. What cost me $3 in Jakarta, cost me $15 in Narita Airport, and costs me $10 in DC. Global economics on a personal scale.
Anyways, I will be here for a few weeks while my family settles into our new place in Jakarta. It is much closer to the girls' schools, has kids in the neighborhood, a pool and playground, and is close to shopping and a more vibrant social life for my wife. They will be fine, but I miss them and would rather be there right now. On a high note, I am in the land of Happy Hour and will be partaking of all things social while I am in DC.
Be well, neighbors!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Safari
Apparently it's been longer than I thought since my last post!
There has been a lot going on out here in the tropics, so much so that I am going to focus on the trip we took to the Taman Safari outside of Jakarta. We had the brilliant idea to go the day before Chinese New Year and even though we had planned for traffic, we planned POORLY! The trip is 50 miles, we left around 7:30 a.m., and we were at a dead stop 30 minutes later. Around 10:30 we finally pulled up to the main gates, along with all of Jakarta, Bogor, and the rest of West Java. Our driver for the day said that this was the most crowded he had ever seen the park and was surprised it was so bad.
Along the way we stopped and bought a branch of bananas and a few dozen carrots to feed the animals with. Yes, that's right, a branch of bananas. And they were yummy too! Only about five inches long, they were sweet and tasted better than any banana I have ever had in the states. Our driver did the bargaining since we didn't want to pay the "foreigner" price, and then we were on our way. Of course one of the kids wanted to try and charge us for providing a parking spot on the side of the road, but we didn't feel it was warranted. :)
The safari is a classic wild animal park with a road through the park and the animals roam freely in many of the spaces, often right up to, or in, the car window. We will have to go back when we can move at a pace that is better and with fewer cars, since there were basically two lanes of bumper to bumper traffic winding through the park. Also, we will spend the night at the local hotel since we had to leave so early to get home at a reasonable hour (3 hours to get home). The park also has animal shows, a zoo-like section, and a number of rides, restaurants and shops.
Overall we had a wonderful time, the kids enjoyed themselves, the adults enjoyed themselves, and it was WONDERFUL to get out of the city and the pollution. Ms. K had no problem with her asthma, considering that in town, she can't walk three blocks without getting tight, and the weather was a balmy 20ยบ C and just totally pleasant. As we were driving back we were able to see how the jungle came right up to the houses, kids bathing in the river, and all sorts of other interesting sights.
Pictures of this whole adventure are below.
There has been a lot going on out here in the tropics, so much so that I am going to focus on the trip we took to the Taman Safari outside of Jakarta. We had the brilliant idea to go the day before Chinese New Year and even though we had planned for traffic, we planned POORLY! The trip is 50 miles, we left around 7:30 a.m., and we were at a dead stop 30 minutes later. Around 10:30 we finally pulled up to the main gates, along with all of Jakarta, Bogor, and the rest of West Java. Our driver for the day said that this was the most crowded he had ever seen the park and was surprised it was so bad.
Along the way we stopped and bought a branch of bananas and a few dozen carrots to feed the animals with. Yes, that's right, a branch of bananas. And they were yummy too! Only about five inches long, they were sweet and tasted better than any banana I have ever had in the states. Our driver did the bargaining since we didn't want to pay the "foreigner" price, and then we were on our way. Of course one of the kids wanted to try and charge us for providing a parking spot on the side of the road, but we didn't feel it was warranted. :)
The safari is a classic wild animal park with a road through the park and the animals roam freely in many of the spaces, often right up to, or in, the car window. We will have to go back when we can move at a pace that is better and with fewer cars, since there were basically two lanes of bumper to bumper traffic winding through the park. Also, we will spend the night at the local hotel since we had to leave so early to get home at a reasonable hour (3 hours to get home). The park also has animal shows, a zoo-like section, and a number of rides, restaurants and shops.
Overall we had a wonderful time, the kids enjoyed themselves, the adults enjoyed themselves, and it was WONDERFUL to get out of the city and the pollution. Ms. K had no problem with her asthma, considering that in town, she can't walk three blocks without getting tight, and the weather was a balmy 20ยบ C and just totally pleasant. As we were driving back we were able to see how the jungle came right up to the houses, kids bathing in the river, and all sorts of other interesting sights.
Pictures of this whole adventure are below.
 |
| Can I haz bananananana? |
 |
| Move along |
 |
| Om nom nom nom nom |
 |
| Jungle river |
 |
| What-a-beast? |
 |
| Streeeetch |
 |
| Eww, antelope boogers |
 |
| Lion around |
 |
| lounging |
 |
| Gimme, gimme, gimme |
 |
| Yes, that is a free-range tiger |
 |
| No, the 12 year old is not standing on a rock, she is that tall. |
 |
| Are you my dinner? |
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Adventures in shopping
Jakarta has a huge shopping addiction. Seriously, the city needs an intervention in every way. So far we have visited five different malls and there are still at least five to go until we have seen the biggest malls in the city.
Yes, I realize that going to five different malls might mean that I have a shopping addiction too, but it is rude of you to say that. I consider it a fascination.
These malls take up hundreds of thousands of square feet, air conditioned, filled with food courts that include Starbucks, KFC, Burger King, Kenny Rodgers Roasters, etc. Every one of them has at least one grocery store in the basement, sometimes two. Some have an Ace Hardware that is filled with the greatest stuff, but there are also Louis Vuitton stores, Ferragamo, Gap, you name it. And then there are the pastry shops, sketchy cell phone and computer stores, and certain malls are filled with bootleg movies and video games where you can negotiate the price. Two of the malls we have been to have multiple buildings, and one had a Segway course and a area filled with artificial snow.
It's just staggering how much money is spent in these places and how much is spent on keeping them cool.
My most interesting adventure so far, however, was on Saturday. We had finished shopping and were leaving the grocery store, when I saw a man begin to collapse in the hallway. Having spent the last four years as a Lifeguard and a CPR/First Aid instructor, I immediately went to his aid. He passed out, collapsed to the ground, staggered to his feet, then collapsed again. A huge crowd formed as I started to check him out, and though it looked like he might be having a seizure, it quickly showed itself to be shock. After he started coming to, he told me that he had slammed his finger in the car door, and after he came into the mall he started feeling faint. An Indonesian gentleman and I monitored him for awhile, I spoke to his wife on the phone, and made sure to pinky-swear with his daughter to let her know he would be okay. He was able to get up and keep his color, and never threw up, so I took that as a good sign. Since he refused any further care I let him go on his way, picked up my part of the groceries, and we headed out into the rain to wait for a taxi. The oldest was bent out of shape that I helped him (more like scared out of her mind) and was a pill the whole way home, but I wouldn't have acted any other way.
I really hope that collapsing bules, pronounced boo-lay (Caucasians) aren't a common occurrence while I am here, because that would really suck.
Be well
Yes, I realize that going to five different malls might mean that I have a shopping addiction too, but it is rude of you to say that. I consider it a fascination.
These malls take up hundreds of thousands of square feet, air conditioned, filled with food courts that include Starbucks, KFC, Burger King, Kenny Rodgers Roasters, etc. Every one of them has at least one grocery store in the basement, sometimes two. Some have an Ace Hardware that is filled with the greatest stuff, but there are also Louis Vuitton stores, Ferragamo, Gap, you name it. And then there are the pastry shops, sketchy cell phone and computer stores, and certain malls are filled with bootleg movies and video games where you can negotiate the price. Two of the malls we have been to have multiple buildings, and one had a Segway course and a area filled with artificial snow.
It's just staggering how much money is spent in these places and how much is spent on keeping them cool.
My most interesting adventure so far, however, was on Saturday. We had finished shopping and were leaving the grocery store, when I saw a man begin to collapse in the hallway. Having spent the last four years as a Lifeguard and a CPR/First Aid instructor, I immediately went to his aid. He passed out, collapsed to the ground, staggered to his feet, then collapsed again. A huge crowd formed as I started to check him out, and though it looked like he might be having a seizure, it quickly showed itself to be shock. After he started coming to, he told me that he had slammed his finger in the car door, and after he came into the mall he started feeling faint. An Indonesian gentleman and I monitored him for awhile, I spoke to his wife on the phone, and made sure to pinky-swear with his daughter to let her know he would be okay. He was able to get up and keep his color, and never threw up, so I took that as a good sign. Since he refused any further care I let him go on his way, picked up my part of the groceries, and we headed out into the rain to wait for a taxi. The oldest was bent out of shape that I helped him (more like scared out of her mind) and was a pill the whole way home, but I wouldn't have acted any other way.
I really hope that collapsing bules, pronounced boo-lay (Caucasians) aren't a common occurrence while I am here, because that would really suck.
Be well
Monday, January 2, 2012
Scooters!!!!!
I am going to take a moment and discuss scooters. As a kid, my dad had a green Honda scooter that I occasionally got to ride on with him. In High School my mother bought a blue Honda, or maybe a Yamaha, and I rode that from time to time too. They were fun to ride on, easy to maneuver, and generally safe for riding around town. I have also owned a couple of motorcycles, and consider myself an acceptable rider. I learned how to lane-split in California on the Interstate while traffic was stopped, and while it was scary at first I became comfortable, but not complacent, going 25mph between semis and other vehicles.
Pretty normal stuff, I thought.
Then I arrived in Indonesia.
I am not as good, or brave, a rider as I thought. These people take it to a whole new level. I mentioned it in my last post, but it bears repeating. They carry enormous loads on their bikes, weave in and out of traffic, go cross-ways to traffic, against traffic, on the sidewalk, run red lights, make random U-turns, and I have not seen a single accident yet.
Amazing!
This was taken the other day, please notice the large sheet of plywood in the passenger's arms.
This is the line-up of scooters at a red light. I cross this street on the way to work.
And they're off!
As I say, Madness!
One of these days I will take video during a taxi ride. Or maybe not, since it will terrify most people in the states.
Be well!
Pretty normal stuff, I thought.
Then I arrived in Indonesia.
I am not as good, or brave, a rider as I thought. These people take it to a whole new level. I mentioned it in my last post, but it bears repeating. They carry enormous loads on their bikes, weave in and out of traffic, go cross-ways to traffic, against traffic, on the sidewalk, run red lights, make random U-turns, and I have not seen a single accident yet.
Amazing!
As I say, Madness!
One of these days I will take video during a taxi ride. Or maybe not, since it will terrify most people in the states.
Be well!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
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