Januari sudah selasai - January is finished!

PERSANI meeting

Where did January go? Well, I have a few ideas, one being that I was sick again with Dengue Fever for almost two weeks of it, had a going away party and guests - one a Couchsurfer from the US who is working in Yogjakarta for a year and the others my volunteer buddies going home. So that sums up January except for some work this week in the village, the beginning of a plan to do some on site training for ongoing folllow up with people with disability after I'm gone back to Canada.

So, I will back up a little bit to when Don was visiting Kupang before Christmas and came to the village with me while I met some people in their homes. One such home was of the Kapala Desa (village head) and while we were there, some neighbours had butchered a cow and brought it into the yard to begin the final butchering before they took it to market to sell. For those of you who are vegetarians on humaitarian grounds, don't look at the photo! for othere who are curious about the cultural aspects of my work here, have a look at one of the sights that I hope not to see up close again!!!


Berty and I had a meeting at the home/office of the Disbled Persons Organization  (DPO) PERSANI and here is a shot of the 4 hour hour meeting. WE all sit on the floor, which is common practice, but also suites them well due to some of the

home made Christmas tree

disabilites. Their monthly meetings are attended by about 15 members and consist of discussing what everyone has been up to and any funding anyone has heard about. In this meeting 3 women had just returned from Solo, on another island, where they had been sponsored for government training, two as tailors and maker of craft items, and the other on computer, word and excel. They told of their experience and how they soon expect to see the computer and sewing machines promised to them at the end of their 6 month course. They were so excited about the prospects of earning a living from their studies and I hope for them this comes to fruition. We all talked about how they could start their small businessess, with some offering useful advice. In the corner they still had the home's Christmas tree, made from string and lights. Very effective.
This last week of January, Berty was able to encourage a father of a 3 year old boy who is completely dependant, drinking from a bottle and not able to sit on his own, to come to Kupang to see a physiotherapist who works at a free clinic supported by a local order of Sisters. This therapist also offers advice on health and nutrition, and the visit was very successful, with Berty meeting the dad on the road into Kupang to show him the way and to introduce him to the clinic. There, the dad received advice on starting the child on mushy food and encouraging better nutrition and some stretching and limbering exercises. The father has agreed to return 3 times a week to try to help his child become stronger.

census takers ready for the road

It is heartbreaking to see the hope in the dad's eyes, but on the other hand, this is the first time he has been willing to seek help and has not allowed anyone from his local health clinic to intervene or give advice. For some reason, he was open this week to some ordinary people dropping by. I was not part of this as Berty and I had split up to make teams to do the village house to house census. This was a home she happened on with her team. The reason we were helping with the census was to build relationships with more people in the community and, as this case proved, find some people with disability and their families who were not included in village life for any of several reasons. Hopefully, this door opening to this man's home is just the beginning for him to accept some help.

"Oma" cleaning the yard of leaves

Today we also visited a mom who's daughter is 5 and also completely physically and mentally dependent, and on arrival was lying on the floor of the living room listening to music on a mobile phone. She was happy until our mob arrived as with our arrival at the house, the neighbours decided to join us in the small living room out of curiousity, causing quite a stir for the girl, all these people congregating around! I relaized this was really upsetting for her and cleared them all out to leave Berty to talk to the mom abut the possibility of getting some therapy in Kupang for her daughter, who, it appears may have a serious form of cerebral palsy. It is the first time Berty has seen me quite forceful and directive and I think it surprised her and afterward we talked about how we will appproach someone who may have very limited intellectual capacity in the future and how we will control the situation. Always a teachable moment!
For a little bit of levity, since the rainy season has grown the grass high in the field across from us, the neighbours have begun using it as a garbage dump, which is not uncommon here along the sides of the road. But the big problem for us in our house is that the neighbourhood dogs love our front doorstep for its smooth cool tile and spacious dining area. They bring their "take out" from the dumped garbage over here to eat, and don't clean up after themselves!

children have responsibilites - laundry time

This morning we had a split open bag with a bit of rice and who knows what else on our doorstep to greet me. Sometimes it what's left of disposalbe diapers, and not new ones either!

Jufen doing his laundry

So my friends and family, I think of you in your winter season as I continue to sweat it out anywhere from 25-29C and high humidity.
I must say, when it rains, the temperature drops all the way to 25 in my bedroom which is almost cool. Can you imagine? And then you add a breeze and it is downright cool and feels like a Canadian evening. I make sure to appreciate those breaks but still a fan on in my bedroom at night.
Bye for now - Sampai jumpa lagi.

Sampai Jumpa Lagi - See You Again

Once again - a literal translation for the title. I had a tough time this go round thinking of the title I wanted as I ran a few around in my head for the last few days but today this one seems right as I said another "so long" to volunteers I have known since I arrived over a year ago. (always a few tears) Perter from Uganda and James my Kenyan budddy who has kept me company, cooked for me and generally been a friend and like a son. He spent his last 4 days on Timor Island at my place waiting for Peter to join him from Flores Island on the way to their last exit meeting on Bali. I had a going away party for them on their last evening, inviting friends who have come to know James through me and have appreciated his lively disposition and his genuine caring attitude. I can see why he makes a good physiotherapist with children with disability. (James in red and Peter in white shirt)

going away party

I realized as friends began to arrive for the dinner party - cooked by James with me and Berty as his right hand women, Berty perfecting the making of chapati and me cutting veggies, him making chicken stew African style, that we had 6 VSO volunteers in our midst. Two of my friends (Crystal and Angela) were volunteers several years ago, one in Papua New Guinea and the other on Flores in Larantuka, then James and Peter who are leaving and Nelly and me who are into our placement time. Cool!

former, leaving and current volunteers

Back to the dinner. As we were planning this week, Berty let me know she and her boyfriend Chris would bring the chicken for the stew as Chris had a chicken for his birthday but they were too busy to use it and now would be a great occasion to do so. I'm picturing chicken parts in the freezer but before I could finish that vision, she went on to say that yes, her two foster boys had taken responsibility for caring for the chicken in a pen in the yard and it was in good health and Chris would kill it in the morning with the boys plucking it before bringing it over! Of course - it's Indonesia and not everyone has a fridge! Well, Berty knows of the time I bought a dead chicken at the meat store and got it home with feet and head attached so she had a good laugh when I told her to hang onto the feet and head for her own use and just bring the rest! Never had chicken quite that fresh in my kitchen and it was a beautiful stew enjoyed by all 11 of us. Now, chickens in Indonesia are like the people, tiny, so we did supplement with beef stew as well, with all of it serving us more than adequately. Good time had by all, and of course no party is a success without broken glass, so James tipped his glass of spirits over on the balcony, thus obliging us.

As mentioned in my last post it is workplan time and a small hitch arose when I learned my work visa renewal only took me to end of April not end of October which seems to be a new thing for VSO to deal with. In discussion with VSO I let it be know that I intend to complete my placement end of July this year rather than end of October and believe I will have fulfilled planned goals and objectives by that point. I have just learned that my work plan has been approved and I will be extended from end of April to end of July by VSO. Was certainly hoping for that as end of April seems just not enough time! I will keep you up to date on progress on the work I've set out in my next Blog.

I am trying to keep track of the everyday things I see and hear as I ride about, things that strike me as unusual, funny or just plain curious. Here is one for this time around. Our owner is having ceramic tiles put on the front facia of the house and a workman has been here most days working on it. I am posting a photo of his scaffolding, bamboo originals. It looks like it's falling down, but this is how he has it placed, wedged against whatever he can find to stablize it. When the wind and rain starts I go for the first aid kit as I'm sure I'll be picking him up off of the ground, but so far, no need. He is up there in bare feet and must have great gripping toes!!!

safety cables?

 Well, call to prayers is sounding out fron the mosque below, reminding me to stop and give thanks for all of the opportunities I have in this world and to be grateful for the ones around me every day. Hope you can do the same. Sampai Jumpa Nanti - til later.