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.