Tempat dan Belajar: ; Places and Learning

Following 3 weeks of being the newbie and being cared for accordingly by the VSO staff in Denpasar Bali, they believe I am ready for a trial launch. Being here in Denpasar is considered luxury by other volunteers who have been on islands of Indonesia for some time. For me, it has been such a new place o sights and sounds and learning all about volunteering in this country and of course its language. Add to that the frustration of not getting onto my email and Blog site, not being able to get to my banking to pay my credit card and phone, it can be imagined Pam's patient self was tested. The feeling of total incompetence has been a friend of mine on a few occasions and I am sure will visit me often as new places and new learning continues. Skype with Don and friends has been a blessing!

I launch to Kupang on Monday Nov. 28 until Dec. 18 when I return to Bali in Ubud for intense language classes, about 6-8 hours a day, with 23,24,25 off for Christmas. But in the meantime here I am sitting outside my room in Denpasar in about 30C heat and accompanying humidity and blue blue sky. Once 4:30pm hits I am off to a park with walking/jogging path to join others and get a solid walk in. Exercise has not been with me so far and I sorely need it. Tomorrow will be my 2nd day off since arrival and I intend to go to the tourist area at Sanur beach, sit under the trees, walk the long sidewalk along the beach and test the water, then follow with a pizza. A little change from my local eateries, the "warungs" small eating places run by one or two family members making nasi goring, mei goring and all the rice and noodle dishes with bits of meat or seafood and veg.

I have had a welcome party with staff on day 1 with food, a volunteer conference with dancing and games and lots of workshops and food. goodbye party at the office with Canadian and Kenyan (other new volunteer colleague) designing the menu. You may see that food is important here! We had baked potatoes with sour cream. and bar b que chicken! It was SO good and a little taste of home is possible here in Bali, even if one is away from the tourist areas. Interesting item on cutlery. Knives are never put out or used. Most food doesn't need a knife and if something needs cutting people use a spoon, usually a large tablespoon. Very common to eat with a fork in one hand and the spoon in the other.

Hindu is the religion of prominence and little offerings are seen on the ground at driveway entrances, doorsteps, on motorbikes and on statues on walls. Everywhere one looks. It is quite lovely and makes one think of gratitude for all around us and the safe travels on a daily basis.
Urban farming is alive, with rice paddies and cows seen on the little street on my walk to the office each day. Huge lily pond full of lily pads blooming in the morning are harvested daily for the offerings. Each evening my landlady puts out a little basket made of banana leaves woven together with an incense burning and a bit of rice on it and sometimes a lily flower. there will be one in our courtyard regularly to ask for safety and health.

Motorcycle practice took place and I'm afraid I was not too sure of myself. It remains for me to get more comfortable in Kupang, but apparently the traffic is just a crazy as here but I do need it to get around and to go to the villages as otherwise I have to ride on the back with staff. Not too comfortable but may be my options if my ability lags.

Rooms have beds with one sheet for under and one little blanket with a disney character on it. Not sure why one would need a blanket unless of course there is air con. Then, the blanket is made for small stature Indonesians, not the giant from Canada! I have used my air con little, trying to get acclimatized, but must confess I have in the last few nights as needed a better sleep.
Language training is coming along, I have learned many words, can talk about family and places so still pretty superficial. It will come along better once I'm fully immersed I know. Does take a lot of concentration though as you who have studied new languages know. The funny thing is my French pops in once in a while. My brain is so confused with this new stuff.

I am hoping my photo album will load and you can see some of what I'm talking about. My little street outside the room with the man and his pushcart of food, the cows, our Canadian/Kenyan lunch with yummy ugali, motorcycle training. Two students, and the rest instructors to make sure we don't crash in the parking lot! Hindu ceremony and offerings. Enjoy. and will bring you up to date on Kupang once I have a home by end of next week and meet my organization staff and begin all new over again!

On My Way

I know, I was supposed to be sending a post from Indonesia by now but another delay due to Visa hold up at the Consulate in Toronto. Should have flown there myself to get it! BUT, here I am at Heathrow airport ready for the next leg of the journey in a few hours. I will arrive in Denpasar, Bali on Wednesday evening, Bali time, 14 hours ahead of Alberta, and expect that I will be a few days later than other volunteers who arrived the previous Saturday. I believe the schedule is that I will move in with a local family on the weekend, and begin real language training and continue for 4 weeks of cultural, language training and some motorcycle riding to get me onto left side of the road and other intricacies of Indonesian transportation.
So, as Mark Twain so eloquently said: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than the things you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbour, catch the Trade Winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Life, huh? Doesn't it offer opportunities? Talk to you next from Bali.