Farewell to Rote

26 February 2010

Today was spent giving away things that John did not want and I could not afford to or did not need to send back to the UK. I was also giving out small thank you cards I had made. Then in the evening quite a group of us got together to drink the last of my alcohol and to eat a pizza I had cooked with the last of my cheese.

27 February 2010

I had made the decision to leave a couple of days early as the waves were getting larger and I could not risk not getting to Kupang. This morning was frantic as the ferry was leaving from Papela – due to the large waves making docking in Baa impossible - at the far east of the island so we had to leave very early. The director arranged for his car to be driven by one of the drivers and agreed for Ibu Femi to spend the morning accompanying me to Papela and for Om Jek to come to Kupang so we did not miss out on a final night of drinking and so I was not alone for too long in Kupang. Even the Bupati was at Papela and shook my hand - he was actually returning from Kupang and not there especially for me but it felt special. It has been the most amazing 11 months of living on Rote and I hope I will be able to maintain contact with some of the amazing friends I have made.

2 March 2010

Ari one of the policeman I had drunk with on Rote was in Kupang for a conference so I met up with him and some of his friends for drinks this evening.

My leaving party

25 February 2010

Today saw most of the nurses working in and around the hospital kitchen preparing food for my leaving party. Another group were preparing es buah a mixed fruit drink with a base of coconut juice so a couple of the men had been scaling the palms to get enough coconuts. The guys were also involved in carrying all the benches from out patients to the area where the party would be held.

The turnout for the party was amazing and there was a MC. I was invited to speech first then there was a presentation of the most amazing piece of ikat – local woven cloth, more speeches of thanks, then photographs with various groups of hospital staff and then prayers before the food. Then the inevitable drinking and dancing which went on until about 02:30. It was an amazing event and very emotional to think so many people cared enough to work so hard to make it such a good event or turned up to wish me well.

Another party

22 February 2010

Tonight saw yet another party this time for Om Jek’s kakak (older brother). More speeches, eating, drinking and dancing. My last few days on the island seem to be just one long pesta with drinking on the nights when there is not a party laid on. The timing is perfect but will make it even harder to leave.

Exploring further

21 February 2010

Today I again set off across the island from north to south taking random right and left turns and had some most amazing views, I also came across a tree which was heavily covered with honey combs – I had noticed this after coming across a piece of comb in the road.

In the late afternoon I arrived at a beach Batu Termanu which is a favourite local picnic site. I had been there a while reading a book when a lorry arrived along with a car and several motorbikes and the occupants spilled out. They were having a birthday party for one of the children who was six and when it was realised I spoke bahasa indonesia I was invited to join them.

There was a slightly traumatic end to the day when I discovered another snake in the house but one of my neighbours kindly removed it for me.

Neonatal unit

20 February 2010

The new incubator was put to use for the first time today. A premature baby who had been born at home had been brought to the hospital as it was failing to drink and was being nursed in the incubator. I helped the staff to understand the instructions which although intensively were in English had been written in Brazil and it took me some time to understand some sections.

This should have been my last working day at the hospital but due to the previous frequent cancellation of meetings I actually went into work each day for the next week as well.

Pesta Selamat Ulang Tahun Ferlyn

17 February 2010

Today is Ferlyn’s 25^th birthday and again she is having a party at the mess. Nixon came over in the afternoon to clear the ground outside the mess and benches were borrowed for guests to sit on. The party started with a service of thanksgiving then food, drinking and dancing. The last of the guests crawled home around 03:00.

Jalan-jalan

16 February 2010

I had borrowed the motorbike to go to the market in the morning so took the opportunity it afforded me to explore a little further. I had planned to take another road from the north of the island heading south but was thwarted when I came to a ford that was quite full of muddy water so I could not tell how deep it was or what sort of surface was underneath. I waited quite a time to see if a local would appear to show me the best way through as I had learnt elsewhere straight through is often not the best way but when no one came I turned round and went to a beach for a couple of hours.