A little clean up is order as this is the twelfth month of the year and brings more than a few holidays. I have heard the midwest was ‘walloped’ with a winter storm this week. I’ve lost my ability to be able to emphathize with that. This marks my fourth years without a snowy winter. Nepal got darn cold in the Terai, but no snow in those parts during the winter months. Indonesia, well, it’s warm wet or dry. I don’t think I miss it though.
I’m off tomorrow for work-related travel to Java and Sumatra. I’m not thrilled to be on five flights in the coming days. For some reason, that childhood glee I once had at being in the air has been replaced with something quite the opposite. I have no idea what changed that. Because of the travel, I’ll not be posting until I return (and I’m keeping that secret). It’s either an arm and a leg for internet access or trudging off to a warnet with very slow access. Being away from the internet is good for me too.
The Java trip is to the conference I already wrote about. I’m going to prep up my 20 minutes Powerpoint tonight in between fits of packing. The Sumatra trip is up to Medan as onlooker at a colloquium for modern language development in Islamic higher educations institutions of Indonesia. I am not going on vacation just because I’m leaving Makassar. No, no, no.
On the homefront, the structural changes that will take the project I’m currently working on another step forward are currently being made–saws, nails, doors are all being used. Finally. It took around six months to get to this point. When I get back, we’ll start receiving the guts of the Center. I’m busy as it is and need to work harder in developing a pool of trainers that the Center can call on when I’m told to take a hike.
Which brings me to passport woes. It happened again. The folks at immigration or another arm of the government stamped me for residence in Indonesia until June 20, 2007; the other arm stamped my exit/entry permit valid until May 20, 2007. Hmmm. This happened to all of last year and we had to send our passports in a second time to get the exit/entry permit extended. I suppose we’ll do it again as, technically, my contract won’t be finished until June 26, 2007. It just costs more money every time though.
That’s it for tonight. I’ll eat up my dinner and dread having to get up at 4a while packing and prepping the presentation.
2 Comments
“I am not going on vacation just because I’m leaving Makassar. No, no, no.”
I would :).
Ah, you had not enough time to relax in the heated haven of humanity that I call home. It would have grown on you like a considerate fungus, staying away from any hot spots. Ah, love and living…