This morning Mommy got a phone call from the school saying that Joseph had been injured on the playground. Mommy thought it was just a bloody lip but the nurse insisted that Mommy come and get Joseph and take him to the doctor to have him examined.
Mommy got the girls and we walked to the main street outside the entrance leading to our apartment. We hailed a taxi and of course, the driver didn't speak any english. Luckily, he knew where Pattimura Elementary school was located. When we got to the school, Mommy asked if he would wait. He did not understand. Finally Mommy said 5 minutes and he understood since the Indonesian word for minute is 'menit'...very convenient.
So apparently Joseph was playing at recess when another child literally ran into him (kid was running) and he said he hit his head/face on a wooden ladder. The nurse said when Joseph was brought to the office he said he was dizzy. So, that is why the nurse insisted Mommy take Joseph to a doctor to have him examined. His lip was purple and puffy and bleeding too.
Mommy was clever enough to have the school nurse tell the taxi driver how to get to the SOS clinic. We got to the clinic and checked in. We waited no more than 5 or 10 minutes before we saw the Indonesian doctor. He was super nice and all the kids really liked him. He checked Joseph out and said he thought he was fine. He just wanted Mommy to observe him for 24 hours to make sure he didn't start feeling nauseous or start vomiting.
The doctor also wrote a prescription for Joseph's lips. He said it would help it heal faster. Then the doctor blew up three gloves and drew faces on them for the kids to play with. They played with the balloons while Mommy was trying to check out and caused quite a ruckus at the otherwise quiet clinic. Mommy thought the glove balloons were cute, but maybe not such a great idea.
Since Joseph did not have an appointment, Mommy had to pay for the visit first. Daddy can apply to have the cost reimbursed. Mommy wasn't sure how much it would cost, but the doctor's visit was $30.00 (U.S. dollars) and the prescription was $20.00. So, the whole visit only cost $50.00 which was the cost of our copay in the states. Mommy was quite satisfied with the doctor and with the facilities. The onsite pharmacy filled our prescription right away...very convenient. Then the cashier got one of the security guards to hail a taxi for us so that we didn't have to walk out to the busy road.
As luck would have it, this taxi driver didn't speak english either. Mommy kept telling him Hotel Sultan (most drivers seem to know the major hotels in the area) and he seemed confused. Finally Mommy said Senayan which is the area we live in and he seemed to understand. Mommy was hoping that when we got to the Senayan area, she could point out the general direction we needed to go. Anyway, as luck would have it, the driver got on the road that went in the direction of the apartments. Mommy waved at the apartments (since it is rude to point with your finger) and he seemed to understand. He drove us all the way to the front lobby with no futher problems. Mommy was quite relieved.
Joseph really seems fine. Mommy accidentally bumped Joseph's lip while helping him brush his teeth and it started bleeding again. Mommy felt very bad about that. Other than his lip, Joseph says he feels fine. He acted like his usual self all day.
Mommy is feeling a bit like she has been thrown into the fire here in Indonesia. Mommy guesses there is no better way to learn than to just be forced to deal with things. If left up to her, Mommy would have slowly worked up enough courage to get out on her own in taxis and to the store and such.
Although things are difficult at times, Mommy does recognize that we have been very blessed. Mommy has been able to recognize the Lord's hand in many of the events that have occurred since we have been here. Even today, the traffic was miraculously not bad. We got to Joseph's school and then to the clinic and even back home in record time. Normally it would take at least an hour to get from the school to the clinic. We got to the clinic in maybe 15 minutes. It was maybe 20 minutes to get back to the apartment when normally it would have taken over an hour. The school even had Mommy check Joseph out for the rest of the day because they knew we had to go to the SOS clinic and back.
Mommy must admit that even in the short time that we have been in Indonesia, we are already having some memorable adventures. Life in Indonesia has certainly been anything but dull!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Conversation with Joseph
Mommy was frustrated with Joseph one evening and had this interesting yet short conversation with the little man.
Mommy: Maybe someday when you have kids you'll appreciate what I do for you.
Joseph: I'm not going to take care of my kids.
Mommy: Well, if you have that kind of negative attitude, maybe you shouldn't have kids.
Joseph: That's a great idea!
That was the end of the conversation. Mommy had to laugh about it because it was sort of funny. Mommy has to say that she often forgets that Joseph is not even 6 years old yet. Alot of times, Mommy thinks she expects too much from the little guy. He just seems alot older than he really is and Mommy just has to remember that he's still just a little boy.
Getting to Balikpapan
Mommy thinks she will do a couple of separate posts about our week in Balikpapan. This first post will be about getting to Balikpapan. Mommy stayed up late the night before packing. Although Mommy tried to pack lightly, we still had several bags. There was one medium sized bag full of clothes and other essential items and one small bag with 3 sleeping bags. Mommy also had a laptop bag and her purse/diaper bag. Joseph carried a little backpack.
We got to the airport early because it was friday. Traffic on friday afternoons and monday mornings are worse than the usual bad traffic so we got to the airport around noon although our flight did not leave until 4:30pm. Also, Mommy thought going early would give the driver plenty of time to go to the Mosque to pray (customary in Indonesia for the men to have time off from their employment to go to the Mosque on friday).
The several hours we spent at the airport were rather crazy. Katelyn refused to walk so Mommy tried to carry Katelyn and the larger suitcase plus the laptop bag and the diaper bag. Joseph was refusing to carry the smaller carry-on sized bag and his backpack. Audrey insisted on holding a non-available hand after she threw a fit about not being carried. It was quite an ordeal to get through security and then to the check-in counter with 3 non-cooperative children.
The airport was hot and crowded with people. We had to stop at one counter to get some kind of printed itinerary. Then we had to go through security. Then we had to get our luggage strapped. At least with Garuda airlines, you have to have your luggage wrapped with a yellow strap. So, Mommy had tried to get in the baggage/check-in line and was sent to get the bags strapped. While we were trying to get the bags checked in and get our tickets, Audrey insisted she had a potty emergency.
Mommy had a hard time finding a restroom. The one we found was far away on one end of the terminal and it was super crowded. There were only two stalls and I think one was non-functional. There was several inches of water or something nasty on the floors. The bathroom smelled awful.
Mommy decided to try and find a different restroom. Then Audrey said she didn't have to go after all. Mommy was relieved so we went to order some food for lunch. Of course right after we ordered and got our food, Audrey said she really had to go potty. By now, Mommy was feeling highly agitated and anxious. Mommy didn't know what to do with the food we just ordered. Mommy would never have done what she did next under normal circumstances, but Joseph said he would stay with Katelyn and eat while Mommy ran Audrey to a restroom. Mommy thought, what kind of an insane mother would leave a 2 yr. old in the care of a 5 yr. old in a foreign country at a crowded airport? Well, the answer is a totally desperate one. Mommy ran Audrey all the way down to the other end of the terminal. This restroom also had two stalls but fewer people. Audrey did her thing and Mommy and Audrey ran all the way back to where Joseph and Katelyn were sitting. Katelyn was happily licking her ice cream cone and Joseph was still eating his chicken nuggets. Mommy was relieved that nothing had happened to them and that they were still there.
After lunch, we went to find our gate. The gate was a little bit of a walk and Katelyn refused to walk again so Mommy had to haul her all the way to the gate. There was another security checkpoint before we reached the gate. Once we got to our gate, the kids said they were thirsty. Mommy left Audrey and Joseph at the gate and took Katelyn out past security again to buy drinks. By now Mommy was starting to get angry and she was tempted to text Daddy that she hated Indonesia and she hated him for bringing us there. Mommy refrained from writing anything nasty and just texted that she wished she had stayed home instead of trying to fly to Balikpapan with 3 crazy kids.
So while we were at the gate, Mommy noticed that all the annoucements were only in Indonesian. Then after an annoucement, a large group of people would get up and leave the gate. Mommy was a bit concerned and confused so Mommy asked if we were at the right gate. The people at the gate assured Mommy it was the right gate. After we'd been at the gate a little while, Audrey insisted she had another potty emergency. Mommy was getting very irritated with Audrey, but Mommy took Katelyn and Audrey to the restroom. Then Audrey said she didn't have to go. Mommy was really not having a good day. When we got back from the restroom, Mommy asked a lady sitting nearby if she was going to Balikpapan. She said yes. Just a few minutes later, another annoucement in Indonesian was made and the lady said that we needed to change gates. Now it made sense why the masses were exiting every time there was an announcement. Not long after we got to the next gate, there was another annoucement...of course it was all in Indonesian again. The nice lady that helped us said that we needed to go down some stairs and to the bus. Mommy was wondering why we had to go to the bus. Anyway, we boarded the bus and it took us to the plane.
We finally boarded the plane and were off to Balikpapan. On the plane, Audrey said she had to go potty again at another very inopportune moment. The stewardesses were handing out food and drinks so we were blocked in on both sides. Audrey insisted it was an emergency. Mommy told her she would have to wait. Luckily, it all worked out. A few hours later we were in Balikpapan. Daddy was already at the airport waiting for us. So getting to Balikpapan was one of the worst experiences Mommy has ever had, but in the end we were glad we went. Mommy will post more about our week in Balikpapan in other posts since this one is already ridiculously long.
Katelyn eating her ice cream cone...photo courtesy of Joseph.
Waiting at the gate for the flight to Balikpapan.
We got to the airport early because it was friday. Traffic on friday afternoons and monday mornings are worse than the usual bad traffic so we got to the airport around noon although our flight did not leave until 4:30pm. Also, Mommy thought going early would give the driver plenty of time to go to the Mosque to pray (customary in Indonesia for the men to have time off from their employment to go to the Mosque on friday).
The several hours we spent at the airport were rather crazy. Katelyn refused to walk so Mommy tried to carry Katelyn and the larger suitcase plus the laptop bag and the diaper bag. Joseph was refusing to carry the smaller carry-on sized bag and his backpack. Audrey insisted on holding a non-available hand after she threw a fit about not being carried. It was quite an ordeal to get through security and then to the check-in counter with 3 non-cooperative children.
The airport was hot and crowded with people. We had to stop at one counter to get some kind of printed itinerary. Then we had to go through security. Then we had to get our luggage strapped. At least with Garuda airlines, you have to have your luggage wrapped with a yellow strap. So, Mommy had tried to get in the baggage/check-in line and was sent to get the bags strapped. While we were trying to get the bags checked in and get our tickets, Audrey insisted she had a potty emergency.
Mommy had a hard time finding a restroom. The one we found was far away on one end of the terminal and it was super crowded. There were only two stalls and I think one was non-functional. There was several inches of water or something nasty on the floors. The bathroom smelled awful.
Mommy decided to try and find a different restroom. Then Audrey said she didn't have to go after all. Mommy was relieved so we went to order some food for lunch. Of course right after we ordered and got our food, Audrey said she really had to go potty. By now, Mommy was feeling highly agitated and anxious. Mommy didn't know what to do with the food we just ordered. Mommy would never have done what she did next under normal circumstances, but Joseph said he would stay with Katelyn and eat while Mommy ran Audrey to a restroom. Mommy thought, what kind of an insane mother would leave a 2 yr. old in the care of a 5 yr. old in a foreign country at a crowded airport? Well, the answer is a totally desperate one. Mommy ran Audrey all the way down to the other end of the terminal. This restroom also had two stalls but fewer people. Audrey did her thing and Mommy and Audrey ran all the way back to where Joseph and Katelyn were sitting. Katelyn was happily licking her ice cream cone and Joseph was still eating his chicken nuggets. Mommy was relieved that nothing had happened to them and that they were still there.
After lunch, we went to find our gate. The gate was a little bit of a walk and Katelyn refused to walk again so Mommy had to haul her all the way to the gate. There was another security checkpoint before we reached the gate. Once we got to our gate, the kids said they were thirsty. Mommy left Audrey and Joseph at the gate and took Katelyn out past security again to buy drinks. By now Mommy was starting to get angry and she was tempted to text Daddy that she hated Indonesia and she hated him for bringing us there. Mommy refrained from writing anything nasty and just texted that she wished she had stayed home instead of trying to fly to Balikpapan with 3 crazy kids.
So while we were at the gate, Mommy noticed that all the annoucements were only in Indonesian. Then after an annoucement, a large group of people would get up and leave the gate. Mommy was a bit concerned and confused so Mommy asked if we were at the right gate. The people at the gate assured Mommy it was the right gate. After we'd been at the gate a little while, Audrey insisted she had another potty emergency. Mommy was getting very irritated with Audrey, but Mommy took Katelyn and Audrey to the restroom. Then Audrey said she didn't have to go. Mommy was really not having a good day. When we got back from the restroom, Mommy asked a lady sitting nearby if she was going to Balikpapan. She said yes. Just a few minutes later, another annoucement in Indonesian was made and the lady said that we needed to change gates. Now it made sense why the masses were exiting every time there was an announcement. Not long after we got to the next gate, there was another annoucement...of course it was all in Indonesian again. The nice lady that helped us said that we needed to go down some stairs and to the bus. Mommy was wondering why we had to go to the bus. Anyway, we boarded the bus and it took us to the plane.
We finally boarded the plane and were off to Balikpapan. On the plane, Audrey said she had to go potty again at another very inopportune moment. The stewardesses were handing out food and drinks so we were blocked in on both sides. Audrey insisted it was an emergency. Mommy told her she would have to wait. Luckily, it all worked out. A few hours later we were in Balikpapan. Daddy was already at the airport waiting for us. So getting to Balikpapan was one of the worst experiences Mommy has ever had, but in the end we were glad we went. Mommy will post more about our week in Balikpapan in other posts since this one is already ridiculously long.
Katelyn eating her ice cream cone...photo courtesy of Joseph.
Waiting at the gate for the flight to Balikpapan.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Birthday Girl
Our little Audrey girl is 4 years old now. Time sure flies. Mommy and Daddy can't believe how much our little girl has grown. She is smart, mischievious, and above all, very playful. Mommy and Daddy always get a good laugh from all the funny faces that Audrey makes. She is a hoot to have around.
Today Mommy and Audrey baked a cake in the new rice cooker that we got the other day. Apparently it has a cake function which Mommy found quite intriguing. Mommy frosted the cake and Audrey decorated it with M&Ms. She wanted to eat it right away, but Mommy made her wait til Joseph got home from school. We had a little family celebration...just the kids and Mommy. Katelyn has been running a fever the last few days so Mommy did not invite anyone to come over. Joseph said Audrey had a terrible party. Oh well, it was what it was.
Audrey got a new doll with lots of clothes and accessories. She is so excited about being 4 years old.
Sweet little baby girl...
Is 4 years old now!
Today Mommy and Audrey baked a cake in the new rice cooker that we got the other day. Apparently it has a cake function which Mommy found quite intriguing. Mommy frosted the cake and Audrey decorated it with M&Ms. She wanted to eat it right away, but Mommy made her wait til Joseph got home from school. We had a little family celebration...just the kids and Mommy. Katelyn has been running a fever the last few days so Mommy did not invite anyone to come over. Joseph said Audrey had a terrible party. Oh well, it was what it was.
Audrey got a new doll with lots of clothes and accessories. She is so excited about being 4 years old.
Sweet little baby girl...
Is 4 years old now!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUDREY!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Balikpapan
Daddy found out yesterday that he is going to Balikpapan for a little over a month! It was for 3.5 weeks but yesterday evening he found out that his stay had been extended by a week. Looks like Mommy and kids will be settling into our new life in Jakarta without Daddy for little while.
Mommy is thinking about booking flights to Balikpapan for Spring Break. The tickets are rather expensive considering it is an in country flight and not that long of one either. Mommy needs to book the tickets today if we are going to go.
Yesterday night we went shopping for necessary household items that do not come with the furnished apartment like laundry baskets, hangers, etc. This morning before Daddy takes off for Balikpapan, we are going to do some grocery shopping and a few other errands. Mommy can walk to grocery stores, but it is still a little far for Katelyn to go and she always wants to be carried.
The thing that Mommy is most concerned about is getting to places and back using taxis. The taxi drivers never know how to get to the apartments that we are living in. They always miss the exit and Mommy is not sure how to redirect them. Maybe Mommy needs a crash course in giving directions in Indonesian...sigh. The taxi drivers also don't seem to be able to find the Church so Mommy is a little nervous about taking the kids to church on her own too. Being lost in Jakarta doesn't sound like fun.
Anyway, that's the big news for the day. We just got here and Daddy is leaving for a month. This should be an interesting few weeks.
Mommy is thinking about booking flights to Balikpapan for Spring Break. The tickets are rather expensive considering it is an in country flight and not that long of one either. Mommy needs to book the tickets today if we are going to go.
Yesterday night we went shopping for necessary household items that do not come with the furnished apartment like laundry baskets, hangers, etc. This morning before Daddy takes off for Balikpapan, we are going to do some grocery shopping and a few other errands. Mommy can walk to grocery stores, but it is still a little far for Katelyn to go and she always wants to be carried.
The thing that Mommy is most concerned about is getting to places and back using taxis. The taxi drivers never know how to get to the apartments that we are living in. They always miss the exit and Mommy is not sure how to redirect them. Maybe Mommy needs a crash course in giving directions in Indonesian...sigh. The taxi drivers also don't seem to be able to find the Church so Mommy is a little nervous about taking the kids to church on her own too. Being lost in Jakarta doesn't sound like fun.
Anyway, that's the big news for the day. We just got here and Daddy is leaving for a month. This should be an interesting few weeks.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
New Apartment
We were able to move into permanent housing this last saturday. Mommy and Daddy were orginally told that we would have to stay in permanent housing for at least a month maybe longer. We are all very happy about being able to move into an apartment so quickly.
The apartment is nice. The one Mommy and Daddy liked orginally was out of the company's allowed housing budget. Luckily, the unit we are in now became available and is almost exactly like the one we liked orginally minus brand new floors and new furniture. The apartment did have a couple of issues. Daddy had to keep calling management to have them fix various things from non-working lights and plumbing issues to no internet and no hot water. Pretty much all of the issues have now been resolved.
After moving in on saturday, Mommy and Daddy took the kids on a walk to explore the area around the apartment. We walked to Pacific Place Mall and had lunch at Wendy's. Then we went to the basement of the mall and picked up a few groceries at Kem Chicks. Most of the malls have a grocery store in the basement. We took a taxi back to the apartment since the kids were really tired.
Fried chicken and ball of rice
View from one of 4 balconies at the apartment
On a crossover bridge on the way to the mall
The apartment is nice. The one Mommy and Daddy liked orginally was out of the company's allowed housing budget. Luckily, the unit we are in now became available and is almost exactly like the one we liked orginally minus brand new floors and new furniture. The apartment did have a couple of issues. Daddy had to keep calling management to have them fix various things from non-working lights and plumbing issues to no internet and no hot water. Pretty much all of the issues have now been resolved.
After moving in on saturday, Mommy and Daddy took the kids on a walk to explore the area around the apartment. We walked to Pacific Place Mall and had lunch at Wendy's. Then we went to the basement of the mall and picked up a few groceries at Kem Chicks. Most of the malls have a grocery store in the basement. We took a taxi back to the apartment since the kids were really tired.
Fried chicken and ball of rice
View from one of 4 balconies at the apartment
On a crossover bridge on the way to the mall
Thursday, March 3, 2011
First Day of School...Again!
Mommy and Daddy took Joseph to Pattimura Elementary School today. Joseph had another 1st day of Kindergarten. Mommy almost cried. Joseph was very upset this morning and did not want to go to school. His teacher is Mrs. Gamage and she seems so super duper nice! The kids in his class are a mixture of ethnicities. Mommy hopes that Joseph will learn to love his new school.
This week was Indonesian week at the school so there were activities all week related to Indonesia. This morning there was a concert at the school with a local band. The kids seemed to enjoy that. Mommy is glad that Joseph is going to a smaller campus. The school is only for K-5th or 6th grade. The entire school was at the concert and it really wasn't that large of a gathering.
Lunch is 25,000 rupiah or the equivalent of $2.50. It's actually more than he was paying for lunch at public school in Texas. Joseph gets his choice of Asian or Western food so Mommy thinks that he will find something he likes. If not, Daddy bought Joseph a new lunch box so that he can bring his lunch if he would rather.
Mrs. Gamage sent Mommy a picture of Joseph in P.E. He still seems a little anxious, but definitely much happier than he was this morning. Mommy is about to go and pick Joseph up from school.
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