I intended to get my blog off the first days after I arrived - however, I only got internet at home yesterday. However, just so you know that I was thinking about blogging, I wrote it out in Word. Find below my first impressions.
Well, I’ve almost been in Surabaya for 48 hours. So far the experience has been like starting out anywhere else…overwhelming, enjoyable, and exciting. Today, as I walked out my apartment front door, and headed to my upstairs neighbor, the thought that came to my mind was “Hokey Dinah, I live in a frickin’ cabana on a tropical resort”
My apartment has 2 bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, another room that could be an additional guest room should I have a multitude of visitors descend upon me at one time, a spacious living room/dining room, a loverly front garden (that that gardener tends to) a loverly back garden that leads out to a green soccer pitch and running/walking track. Then, a short walk from my back door is the beautiful school pool, and an exceptionally gorgeous campus. It really has been a remarkable first 48 hours.
Today (Sunday) I visited my classroom and spent some time chatting with the teacher that I will be replacing. It is nice to be working with someone who is so flexible and laid-back. We’ll teach together this week, prior to her departure home on Saturday. It is a busy week, but I am sure it will be a good one.
I am still without internet at home, so I am typing my blog in Word and will upload it tomorrow (Monday) or shortly after. Hopefully we will have my Internet up and running again really soon. I am a mere password away from the internet. It is a lesson in patience I think.
So, in short, here are the last 48 hours in review:
I arrived at the Surabaya airport about 8:20 p.m. By the time I cleared the visa line and customs, it was close to 9:30. It wasn’t that the visa process was difficult. In fact, they didn’t really care where I was or what I would be doing here, as I was coming in on a tourist visa. However, it would seem that, even though there were 8 people behind me in the visa payment line, I was somehow the very last person through the immigration visa line, the very last person to claim my luggage and the very last person to clear customs. Oh well!
The drive home was no more than 30 minutes. It was dark, so I didn’t really get a good sense of where I live. It was hot and humid when I arrived, but actually manageable. I arrived home to a beautiful flower bouquet as well as a loverly care package of food and starter items. I even have a pyrex cake pan and a loaf pan. Imagine that! I ventured upstairs to my neighbor’s apartment to check my email and skype mom. My upstairs neighbor is really kind hearted and has been super helpful in the first days that I’ve been here.
I unpacked on Friday night and finally slept at about midnight. I had a good sleep – a solid 8 hours. I woke up Saturday morning and just lounged in bed. I had another nap later in the morning before getting ready to go to a meet and greet at my dear friend Angela’s house. It was a really nice afternoon. I enjoyed the opportunity to meet most of the elementary staff. I also had a chance to visit with Angela and her family before heading to the grocery store to pick up a few things and heading home for the night.
I was sound asleep by 8:00 on Saturday night and slept until about 4:30. Then, again, I napped from about 5:30 until I had to get up and go to the school on Sunday morning at 8:00.
All in all, the first days have been great. I have been busy making lists of things that I need for my apartment. While it is still up in the air as to how long I will be here (whether just until June or next year too) I do need some staples. I had forgotten how many groceries you need to buy when you are starting from scratch. Today I made a menu plan for the upcoming three weeks and have planned a grocery list accordingly. The list is a long one – hopefully I can pick things up over the next couple of days, as opposed to all in one stop – although all in one stop isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
As my shipment from Syria hadn’t arrived before heading home, I also have to pick up practical things like a cookie sheet, and a mixer. I will see what I can do in the upcoming week to make my apartment feel a little more like my “home”.
I PROMISE to start taking pictures and get some posted this week. It really is quite remarkable here. Tomorrow morning I am hoping to wake early enough to go walk around our track and get my day off to a good start. I have also discovered that the gym at the mall nearby have both Combat and Pump classes. I am so excited. I knew they were offered in Surabaya, but thought they were quite a ways away. Whoo hoo.
Until next time
Tylene
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