Minggu Terakhir - Last Week

My last week in Kupang has begun. There will be many “lasts” and much anxiety on my part as I pack, give away and generally close down the house where I’ve been living since May.

The trick is to prepare for the next month as I travel the island of Flores with a fellow volunteer on holiday, then a few days in Bali wrapping up VSO reporting and then a holiday with Don in Australia before heading home to Canada, starting in Toronto.

My goal is to travel with my large backpack and my day pack, similar to what I arrived with by sending one box of souvenirs and stuff I don’t need with me on my travels, back to Canada. Will have to arrange a car to take me to the post office with the box as just can’t quite carry it on the bike! I’m sure someone could but not me.

It is amazing what does get transported by bike. Large stacks of boxes on the back of the bike, held on by metal racks; about 20 live chickens on their way to market hanging head down from a pole laid across the handle bars of the bike; a guy on the passenger seat holding onto a long metal pole dragging it behind; a guy hanging onto a sheet of plywood dragging it behind! I do my best to not get behind those guys! I’m still trying to get photos, but to do so I’ve got to stake out a busy corner in the shade and just sit and wait with camera in hand – we’ll see. For this Blog just one or two photos as I've lent out my camera and haven't downloaded the photos first!!!!!

For my neice Meaghan

I had a dream last night that Don and I were trying to get cockroaches out– I wonder how long it will be before I don’t watch where I’m walking closely, expecting to see these household pets underfoot? Then when I went into the kitchen this morning, there was one, belly up by the door – an easy one to sweep out! Gotta love the belly up ones! AND my last bit of musili, which I’d been hoarding, finally let the ants in. Killed me to throw it out but I’ve probably had my fill of them eating it these last few days.

Got the last oil change on my bike today, getting ready for its handoff to Nelly once she is ready to try riding. It has been well broken in – lots of scratches and bumps so she doesn’t need to worry about any additions.

stop at the market for fish

Oesena grads of our training & Berty, Feni (right)from our org.

I realized something this week that makes it tough to be an older volunteer. At least for me – can’t and shouldn’t speak for others. It is that I have such a huge network of friends and family in Canada that pulls me back, keeps me connected and makes is difficult to just settle into a volunteer home half way around the world and make it home. (wouldn’t want it otherwise and couldn't have managed where without it). I can settle in, make friends, find some work and entertainment, but it’s not home and when something comes up with those in Canada, I’m too far away to be part of it and that’s important to me. At my life stage, friends and family become ill, friends and family have aging parents who die, friends losing homes due to floods, and I want to be there to be able to pick up the phone and have a long chat or drop over to give hugs. 

I know, it’s not about me, but it’s important to me. It might seem obvious to all who are reading my blog, and I would have said so before this adventure too, but the actual experience is different. All volunteers say they learn a bunch about themselves with this experience and it’s true.  Hopefully we also leave something behind, which is our main goal.

Will continue to blog as I finish up and get into travel but once I’m off of the Indonesian island, this adventure will draw to a close as will this Blog. Will let you know when the last one is posted.

Minyak Kelapa - Coconut Oil

skinning the shell

Last week in the village we stopped off at a home we often visit and they were in the process of making coconut oil, both to sell and use themselves. What a process! So labour intensive and a full day job. First they have a truckload of coconutes delivered which then need to be skinned, cut up, shredded, squeezed of their liquid which is then boiled in a wok over an open fire. the Dad is the cook, keeping the ire going, fanning it every so often to keep the temperature right and feeding te sticks of wood in at just the right time.

chopping

squeezing shredded mixed with water from the coconut

reducing the juice to oil

It takes 4 coconuts to make a 500ml bottle of oil and the wok can take equivalent to the juice from 80 shredded and squeezed at a time. I believe they have several hundred delivered to make it worth their while and friends gather to help out. I was able to buy a bottle for equivalent to about $2.00!!

What a lovely aroma to cook with and on checking the internet I don't believe it is all the unhealthy as I thought it was.

boiling oil

I hope you enjoy the photos!