A Month of Travel

Since the 19^th of March we’ve been in the big city, Singapore, and the town of Barat.  In Singapore we successfully obtained new visas, though they will last only six months.  We were also blessed to see friends from our days in Dallas.  We both had our first babies in Dallas, just a month apart. 

 

Our friend's children with Caedmon and Whitman

 

Though still in Asia, Singapore felt very western to us.  While walking around the city I noticed many people pushing strollers with miniature fans pointing on their children.  At first this made complete sense to me as it was quite hot.  Then I realized this was evidence we were no long in our current country of residence.  Here, in our country, fans are rarely used in homes.  People believe they will make you sick, especially if pointing directly on you. 

It was difficult for me, at first to return to our country as Singapore has so many western qualities, from shopping to wonderful out door parks.  When we did return, we were joined by my parents whom met us in Singapore. 

sightseeing with the grandparents in Singapore

more sightseeing at one of the lovely large gardens

a children's water park (free!!!)

Lilly pads as large as Whitman at the Botanical Gardens



children's area at the Botanical Gardens

with Grammie J

with Papa J

A visit to the Zoo.  The boys wanted to return almost everyday we were there, unfortunately it wasn't free;)

Caedmon's favorite animal at the zoo.

We, or I since the boys were too nervous, got to feed bananas to the Rhinos.  Apparently they only  have molars!



The Kangaroos could have hopped along the path with us!

It was nice to be able to show my parents a bit of our life here as well.  We even had the opportunity to take them to Barat.  More than anything the boys loved having their grandparents here! 

 

A mountain city.  My mom kept asking if we've adjusted to the climate.  Though I frequently am wet with sweat, I was actually slightly chilly that day, where as my parents were not!





A small zoo (4 exhibits total) in the mountain city.

 

the town of Barat in the back ground

After saying good-bye to my parents, we packed up our house in the big city and are now back in Barat.  We do not yet have a place of our own in Barat, but our lease in the big city ends the middle of May and our goal is to find a place of our own in Barat. 

Living as nomads

Ok, maybe we aren't as homeless as nomads, but the last four months we have been living between two cities.  Living with a local family in Barat and in our own house in the big city we are spread between two places about 200 miles apart.  We moved mostly just items needed for daily life to Barat, which did include a suitcase of homeschooling materials, and left the rest in the big city.  As we live with locals there are many things I’ve gotten use to:

Using a bucket and special scooper to shower.  The boys still prefer baths.  I found Whitman  like this one day as he asked to shower and proceeded to make a bath for himself. 
There is a specific word in the language for the scooper, in yellow, that is used.

Campfire coffee.  Regular ground coffee is used as instant coffee leaving a nice layer of grounds on the bottom.  Though I think my coffee tastes just as good this way, it is difficult to enjoy to the last drop. 



The view to and from our bathroom, no it is not an outhouse.  It just happens to be outside on the back balcony. 

A very small mirror for getting ready.

I have become a pro at taking fresh corn kernels off the cob.

There are also many things that still are just not normal for me, such as eating rice for every meal of the day.  So I supplement with lot of oats and noodles!  Living in two different places has also created some difficultly in packing as we travel back and forth.  The most recent trip back to the big city, March 20^th, I packed most of Ceadmon’s school materials, my frying pan, and my garlic press.  Woks are very prominent and available here, but they are difficult to cook pancakes in!  And I really prefer not to dice garlic with a knife. 
Though I’ve gotten use to many aspects of life in Barat, it feels like a real luxury to come back to the big city.  We get to bathe under a shower head, the boys get to take baths, we eat more western food, I get to enjoy my coffee to the very last drop (I use a French press), and I can see the whole top half of my body in a large mirror.  Frozen kernelled corn is also available at some stores, but I have yet to buy it as fresh corn is so cheap and much easier to find!
As I write we are once again living out of suitcases as we are out of the country on a visa run, hoping to get social-cultural visas to last while we continue to wait for the work visa.  It is fun to get away, but being settled in ONE place is also something I am really looking forward to!

Western Medicine meets Eastern Medicine

A week ago we all came down with a fever, fatigue and head-cold like symptoms, each on different days of course.  For John and I it lasted about 2 days, the boys on the other hand are over the fevers but still have lingering coughs.  When people heard the boys where sick with fevers we were offered a great deal of advice:  

-“It’s the weather or change in the weather as it has been especially hot.”  I, Erin, still am not use to the heat, so it always feels hot and to me doesn't seem to change much, except the occasional rain which we haven’t seen in over a week. 

-“You shouldn’t take them out at midday, didn’t you go out yesterday?”  Yes the boys and I went to an air-conditioned mini-mart at 11am.  This is not a new activity for us.  We usually go to the outdoor market mid-morning as well, usually it is quite crowded at that time!

-“It is the boys’ fan; it blows so hard every night.”  To this I had to reply, “They have been using that fan for almost two years now.” 

-“Oh don’t give them fried bananas, there is a lot of oil and it will just make their coughs worse, by making their mucous thicker.” 

Getting sick while living with a family has provided a great deal of insight into their health beliefs.  It has also been difficult to show them appreciation when I don’t anticipate following their advice.  Being from a western culture I know we rely a great deal on science and medicine.  But as I try using terms like germs, viruses, and bacteria it does not communicate what I desire as these terms are not commonly used or seen as the sole cause of sickness.  Then I think about trying to describe these unseen, by the naked eye, and very abstract things and realize I would not sound too different then they sound to me as they describe unseen 'forces' that effect people. 

We managed the fevers with Tylenol and ibuprofen, and the overall sickness with rest, lots of fluids and vitamin C.  I also found it difficult to explain, in another language, that the Tylenol and ibuprofen where both to manage symptoms, not actually solve the cause.  These aren't even the most important truths, yet they are so difficult to explain in another language to people who don't start from the same foundation as us. 

Brick making part 2

We were invited back to the brick making area to see the next step in the process.  After all the bricks are dry and neatly stacked, fires are built and kept burning for 3-5 days.  The heat was very intense as we took these picture. 



On our way to the baking bricks: taking place in the structure in the distance.

Bricks are stacked to create tunnels for the fire.

It all takes places under a wooden structure!

Sheets of metal are placed over the openings as the fire burns.

Wood is added by hand as needed, occasionally using a long stick to push it further in.

Adventures

These days my, Erin, biggest adventures are in patience and flexibility as I cook, parent and just live in an environment so different that what I'm use to.  Quite often we have the opportunity to experience culture through adventures outside the home.  Here is one of our recent adventures
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Boats along the sore at the Fishermen's Festival

Aboard the boat.  One of our friends far left with her brother-in-law far right holding the camera. 

One Sunday morning we were invited to join friends at a local Fishermen's Festival.  Once a year the fishermen originally from this area all gather to celebrate their yield. These men may travel far in their own boats, to fish, even to one of the major neighboring islands (at least an hour plane ride away).  But they return for this event.  Together with friends we boarded an anchored family member's boat and as with most events, where offered a meal.  Afterwards we returned to their house, where we were offered more food and sat around chatting for a couple hours.  Then we proceeded to another family member's house for more food; grilled fish.  That day I had run out of ideas to motivate Caedmon to smile for a picture taken by someone else so I resorted to giving him coins, each worth about 5 cents.  He counted 42 pictures by the time the day was done = about $2. 

The spread on the boat.  Wrapped rice, fish, chicken, salsa, boiled eggs, fruit soup, and bottled water. 

Back at the house we ate soup and tried to decline the rest. 




Cleaning and prepping the fish at the second house.

Coconut husks are used for the fire. 

Fish is laid on top of strips of bamboo.





Banana leaves are placed on top as the fish cooks. 



Grilling fish  



 

The Market

Here in the city of Barat there are multiple mini-marts.  There are two national chain type mini-marts and various mom & pop types.  We frequent these for items such as powdered milk, oats (though I have yet to find whole oats here or in the big city), candy, and spaghetti!

We saw this and thought, "Ok, we can live here."

Notice the Snickers, Kit-Kats, and M&Ms.  We were amazed, these are big treats for us, not found everywhere!

 The traditional market on the other hand is the place for all fresh produce.  Just about everything else can be found there as well.  It can be a difficult place to walk around as it is crowded, occasionally muddy, and the 'aisles' are very narrow.  Regardless it is the one crowded public place that I thoroughly enjoy visiting, even with the boys who always have to put up with constant cheek pinching and comments such as, "oh you are so handsome."  

All for $17, from top left: 2 bunches of bananas, 1/2 kg raisins, 1 kg green beans, 2 baking powders, 2 cinnamon pkts, 1 nutmeg, 3 ears of corn, large bunch of green onions and celery leaf, 2 bunches yard long beans, 5 carrots, 1/2 kg potatoes, and 1kg red beans.  Also included but not pictured one whole chicken (killed, feathered, and cut up while we shopped) and a packet of turmeric. 

fruits and vegies are priced by weight

Vegies and eggs, not refrigerated.  The blue ones are duck eggs.

From top left: packages of coconut milk, palm sugar wrapped in leaves, red and white rice, corn, and black rice. 

Left bottom is packaged margarine.  I have not found real butter here.  As far as I know there isn't a word in the language to distinguish butter from margarine either. 

The fish section.  Fish is the most common form of 'meat.'  It is much cheaper than chicken, which runs about $5 per animal. 

The sellers and fish all just sit out until sold or the market closes about 3 or 4pm

The various types of fish are just overwhelming to me.  I hardly know how to cook fish much less pick one out to buy. 

Fish sliced open and laid out to dry in the sun.  This is one way people far from the sea can eat fish.  But it is also a common way to eat fish when fresh fish is available. 

Various treats made locally.  These are often bought as souvenirs for friends and family, like when we return to the big city. 

Various tools with hand made wooden handles.

Packages of tamarind in the two bowls. 

Regular household items.  Bowls and buckets for cleaning and washing.  Baskets and containers towards the top for storing and carrying. 

 

Excited for the Seahawks!!!

Thanks to technology we are able to do things so many people living overseas long ago never were able to do.  Because of the internet we are able to correspond with friends and family immediately via email or skype.  For a price we can even talk on the phone!  Today we were thankful to be able to watch the Super Bowl live!  Being away from our home culture and adjusting to a completely different one often makes me, Erin, more appreciative of aspects of our own culture.  I always enjoy a Super Bowl party, but today as just the four of us watched it was still special – a connection to our home culture. 

Our party wasn’t just smaller.  It is Monday morning here.  I arranged Caedmon’s school lessons around the game (before and during half time), John watched most of the game in his pajama’s, and I sipped coffee and ate breakfast!  Not the Super Bowl traditions we grew up with, but what a blessing to be able to still take part in an aspect of our own culture while so far away.  AND the Seahawks won!!!  Wow, what a morning to start our day!