My plane ticket was purchased, but I’m wasn’t going directly to Makassar aka Ujung Pandang. First, I had to go to Jakarta to look at a few self-access centers, meet with my Embassy supervisor, and wait for my new digs in Makassar to be readied. I’ll probably put together a neat little mass email for everyone when I get my new local telephone number as well as normal post address. If I don’t spam you, drop me a line and I guarantee I’ll have the contact info at the end of EVERY email I send. Of course, this doesn’t mean you’ll write or phone and vice versa, yet we can fantasize.
Manado and everyone here has been so damn nice. We’ve got some swell characters and the folks at my office are fabulous. Whenever I needed help with anything, they were ready to help—a flat tire, oil change, blown fuses, day trips, registering with the police, getting my license, navigating North Sulawesi edibles, introductions to the right people, inclusion during holidays, spectacular dinner parties with wine, and pesto to cover the pasta, teaching the correct way to drink the local liquors, or just passing time with coffee and one floor fan in the hot main office. Time has been good all right.
On Friday I tossed a farewell party and, in the greatest of all Asian traditions, the guest of honor paid. It’s not a begrudging payment in the least; it would be impossible to thank everyone with the token of appreciation they deserve. I said good bye to nearly everyone and nearly broke down too.