Every time I walk through my house in Indonesia, I can’t help but look outside. My bunga kertas has spilled out from its base, spreading bright pink wispy blooms against my kitchen window.
I forget the English word for this tree. Bougainvillea? I like the Indonesian way to say it better. Much easier to spell.
Well, […]
Rat-a-tat-a-TAT-TAT-TAT. The knock on our tall metal gate was insistent. Reluctantly, I pulled myself out of bed (resting for a little while in the afternoons is a must for me here in Port-au-Prince, where the humid heat constantly saps my energy) and headed downstairs, out the front door, and then down another set of stairs […]
Walking home from language school one day, I was picturing those ruby red shoes that Dorothy wore in The Wizard of Oz. She just had to click them three times and repeat, “There’s no place like home.” I was wishing for a pair of those ruby red shoes right then, to take me back […]
I first met Ibu Lina the day she showed up at our house for an interview to be our house helper. An extremely meek, sweet-faced woman, she mentioned nothing about the fact that she had a serious, debilitating illness. I hired her that same day.
Not long after that, she began calling in sick for days […]
Indonesia has Starbucks, too! Whenever Joy is in the capitol city, she enjoys seeing how the baristas spell her name.
When I returned to Indonesia, I felt a little discouraged. What was I doing trying to minister in a country were relationships take years to build and my communication skills would always be lacking? […]
Because I have sons, I have been trained to love the geckos that live on our walls here in Indonesia. Unfortunately, these little creatures can sometimes become victims of ill-fated accidents, like being toasted along with the bread.
And that is just what happened as I was preparing breakfast.
I turned the toaster upside down and […]