Friday 2 August 2013

Blog Terakhir - Final Blog

Berti grabbing lunch from Bakso (meatballs) cart in village
Time has come to say goodbye to Indonesia and my CUSO volunteer experience. I didn’t set out on this journey to change the world but hoped there would be a small lasting impact for marginalized peoplefrom my work . I even more so hoped that I would represent Canada and CUSO volunteers as a  respectful,  responsible, and resilient interloper in Indonesian work and community life. I think only the Indonesian people can make the judgment and probably only time will tell. I am posting various photos from my last days in Indonesia – hopefully you will enjoy seeing my last days of receiving many cloth weavings which are traditional gifts of this region. A beautifully beaded bag from Berti and her family is among those special gifts. These friends will stay in my memory bank forever!
Jackfruit and colleagues

Mr. Fary, my orgnaization's founder
 Always with the help if others, including Berti my Indonesian daughter/colleague and Kelsey my Canadian daughter we have accomplished some things. Brief re-run: awareness DVD on Disability “Ability”; informational poster of government and community supports available for all ages all levels of ability; website for PERSANI, the Kupang and area disabled persons organization. Hopefully all three of these achievements leave a sustainable resource for inclusion and integration of people with physical and mental challenges. Before I left, the DVD was shown to the VSO Bali Office staff on my final exit meeting day and all staff commented they had no idea these many supports were available to their fellow citizens.

PERSANI members
After I left Indonesia I heard from Berti that the local provincial government representative asked if she could take our DVD to a conference in Jakarta to show to her colleagues. This woman also told Berti that she would be taking a dependent-elder pension application to Jakarta with her for a woman we hoped to help and whose photo was in a Blog post a year ago May. The gears often grind slowly to my dismay but at least this might help this family soon!

As I travel in Australia for a holiday with Don, following my holiday on Flores Island with fellow volunteer Jennifer, I have met many people who have asked about this experience. The words are hard to find;
not easy for me and more than likely not easy for my workplace colleagues;
Trying to work in another language is the toughest;
Loneliness and boredom sets in;
PERSANI meeting and gift
Extreme heat for a northern body makes activity to ease boredom difficult;
New and rewarding experiences, and lifetime friendships make it all worthwhile.
Riding my motorbike although still scary at times was fun!!!!! And the freedom it brought was invaluable.
Two years is a long time to be away from familiar surroundings, friends and family.
Would I do it again?
Yes I would. No regrets.
 Tidak maaf.
 Non, Je ne regrette rien.

village friends and Berti, and boys
To all of you who supported me through emails, words of encouragement and and generally friendly emails and Skypes as well as through CUSO financially as I prepared to set out on this adventure, a great big THANKS  - there aren’t enough words to express my heartfelt appreciation for all of you. 
I do feel blessed.
Last minute great news! Berti has a  great new job starts August with Aus. Aid Perinatal Maternal Neonatal Health programme on Sumba Island.
gifts from my workplace