Time to go home .. Time for reflection

20 May 2010

As I am about to exit Indonesia I though it was important to think about what I will miss and what I will gladly leave behind. Interestingly although I have been immensely happy here my list of things I will not miss had turned out to be quite a bit longer than the things I will miss.

Not Miss
Mandi – I do not mind the cold water but I miss standing under running water

Hand washing clothes

Oppressive humidity – far more disabling than the heat

Hello mister – the constant call as you walk down the street

The joint loosening roads

Six day week

Limited fruit

Screaming kids

Lack of discipline for children

Smoking in the office

Spitting – any where and everywhere and particularly prolific when people chew siri

Rubbish – so much food and water comes in plastic containers and people just discard them when the item is finished and it is not cleaned up so plastic waste is an increasing problem

The bed – I did eventually find where I could lye without having springs sticking into me!

Mosquitoes the high pitched whine and the itching after they bite.

The lack of post

Difficulty of internet connection Sambol – the hot accompaniment to all foods

Lack of meat and cheese – meat and particularly chicken was available but not in small enough quantities for one and generally very tough

Volume of music in bemos

Red tape

Lack of treatment options; particularly analgesia and anaesthesia in A&E

That once invited into the house people just browse your cupboards, fridge etc

The expectation of oleh-oleh – presents being brought back when ever you have left the island

Listric mati – regular power cuts
The animals leaving mess on my porch – I mop the porch morning, noon and night and still sometimes have to do it again
Jam karat – people come to a meeting when they feel like it not at the agreed time
Ants getting into all the food - just never seem to have enough plastic boxes and just because a packet is not open means the food is secure, a mouse will come and open it for the ants!
Rotten eggs – even from the best shops there will be an odd rotten egg in the tray
Electric shocks – go with over loaded sockets and poorly maintained wiring
Risk of seeing snakes in the house/garden
The assumption that I have lots of money because I am a Westerner

Will Miss

Squat toilet – just so much more comfortable to use

Gheckos
Heat

Colleagues – the staff at RSUD Baa have been so supportive Beauty of the island

Challenge of Bahasa Indonesia – it is so frustrating to have to go when my language skills mean I can chat for hours in small groups and am proficient at sms

Parties esp dancing

Tempe - a fermented soya bead cake; an excellent source of protein

Community spirit with neighbours – such a relaxed atmosphere with people wandering over to chat for a while then drifting off again

Sopi sessions – a
chance to drink and chat with a real cross section of men and towards the end women were joining to chat

Amount of free time I have – I have done so much craft work and read lots of books

Variety of fish

Friendliness of public transport

Nurses thirst for knowledge

Swimming in a warm sea

Markets – with fresh organic products

Fruit juices

Sun sets

Clearness of the night sky without light pollution – there are just so many stars up there!

Deserted white sand beaches

Challenge of riding the bike on unmade roads

Instant repairs – if the bike breaks down I know all I have to do is sit and wait for the next rider to come along and he will stop and get the bike going again – or sms a friend who will come and fix it.

There are still so many things that I did not find the time to write an entry on including:-

Food and eating places

My daily routine

Religion

Refuse disposal

Post office

Sunsets

Beaches

Animals and insects

Siri pina

Would I do it again – you bet I would; thanks to am amazingly tolerant husband 16 July should see me heading off to Uganda for a year. Details of my next blog will be posted shortly: watch this space!