doldrums

For the most part yesterday and all of today was filled with cleaning things up and getting ready to leave. I'm cleaning out my desk and preparing for the inevitable...

It feels so strange to be emptying out boxes and things. 3 years can in many ways be a very long time. I am throwing away all sorts of odds and ends given to me by students. Little things like notes, pencils, and other nick nacks that kids give to their teachers. I am finding so many funny and strange things.

When I pack up my apartment I'm sure it will be even more so as there are many things I haven't gone through at all in 3 years. Many donations and gifts will be made in the next few weeks.

23 days 23 hours and 30 minutes... but who's counting?

waiting game

Today marks the start of the frustrating waiting game for me... I have finished all my preparation work, submitted my exams, and completed my reviews. I will have an enormous pile of grading to do in the next few days but for now I have not much of anything to do. I still have to be at the office from 7-3 but I really don't have much to do at all. In a few days I will be incredibly stressed out and my brain will hurt.. but not yet not yet.

Donesky

I just finished writing my last exam.. All I have left is to finish this review week and then grading the exams themselves. Unfortunately that will take an herculean effort as I will have to finish them in just a few short days while saying my goodbyes to everyone and packing up as well.. selling off of my things ect. Its that lovely calm before the storm right now. Things are about to get real hectic real quick...

Oh beautiful fridays

This is the last real school week of the year. Next week is review week and then suddenly it will be exam time while the school production is this Saturday. It is all at an end. I leave for the states in exactly 30 days. That means I have exactly one month left in Indonesia... I really can't even begin to comprehend that statement. I am organising events and trying to find time to spend with my students as well as preparing for my leave... I have so much to do and have no idea where to start. I need to sell my motorcycle among other things as well as donate a lot of clothing. I need to start deciding what I will be taking with me and what will have to stay behind. You never really realise how much stuff you have until you have to go through it and get rid of some of it. Oh mercy

sudah cukup...

I gave my last quizzes today after having given my last lectures yesterday. So this is it... no more real classes, lectures, preparation, or teaching. All that is left is review and then the final exams themselves.

I have also officially booked my ticket home. The end of every school year always speeds up time but this year doubly so as it is my last year. I can't believe I am basically done teaching here! Its crazy I really can't believe I have spent 3 years here. I need to get so many things in order before I go... wow. I'm not even as excited as I usually am about going home. Normally at this point in time I am chomping at the bit but right now I am actually thinking more about how much I will miss this place...

Moving right along...

Yesterday I gave the first of my many finals to my elementary students.. My Last time teaching some of the kids I have gotten to know over the last 3 years. I can't even believe that right now...

Last weekend I went to see one of my favourite bands Sigur Ros play live here in Jakarta which was absolutely amazing. I have now seen them 3 times in 3 countries and 3 continents.

I'm preparing now for my last lectures for my high schoolers and then to prepare them for their final exams. The end is nigh and fast approaching. Its all downhill from here and will be a mad rush. I really don't think I will ever quite wrap my head around the concept that I will be leaving very soon.

These last 3 years have gone by so fast if I really think about it.. But on the other side of the coin I have grown more and matured more in these last 3 years that I could have possibly imagined. I am not the same man I was when I first arrived that much is sure.

Maybe I am old..

Yesterday was a holiday which has made this week a breeze... I don't have any classes today as well so I am just sitting in the office catching up on some correspondence and some old grading. Next week starts the elementary finals with the high school following in just a few weeks. This school year is rapidly coming to a conclusion. Its hard to believe and I will never truly wrap my head around that concept even when I return home I think.

Also because I had Thursday off I went out with some friends to a club on Wednesday night... It was so loud and so crowded. I just don't know what people see in those places. Maybe I'm just old.

tiptoe along..

Today I continued teaching my students about world war two specifically focusing on the war in the pacific. One of my students is Japanese, I also have a Korean, and multiple Chinese so the possibility to offend was great. I explained from all angles and answered many tough questions but I think it went well.

I read this morning about the latest protests in Russia against Putin. I have always been a bit cautious when it comes to commenting on Russian politics. There are few things I understand less than post soviet governments. They just don't think like I do so I shouldn't make assumptions. But with all of the laws rushed through by Putin regarding treason and inciting riots it really is remarkable to see the reaction taking place throughout Russia. I hope some change at least to the law takes place. I just don't see an end to the power of Putin. The last think I would want would be a revolution and all the damage that causes but something has to change...

Older... yes. wiser...?

Over the weekend I celebrated my 30th birthday and my last in Indonesia. I prepared a Texan food feast for all of the teachers at my school so the night before I was cooking like a mad man. My students,  coworkers, and friends bought me cake after cake and I was overwhelmed by all the generosity shown to me. I didn't end up going anywhere or doing much due to my schedule but I will have plenty of time to relax and celebrate in about a month when I leave. Hard to grasp that concept even as I write those words... I will be leaving in about a month... wow.

Mayday!

Today is May first which to most people from north America means nothing at all. Since I have been living in Indonesia however it has come to mean something very specific. Stupidity. May 1st is international workers day which celebrates those who work and is often embraced by unions especially which is fair. It is also used globally to protest poor pay, rights, and so on which again is fair. In Indonesia however things are a bit different... I've mentioned multiple times previously how Demo's (Demonstrations) as they are called here are really just a farce. Huge numbers of Indonesians rally together usually wearing matching t shirts of some bright color waving flags about in big convoys of hired busses. But often times they are paid to join! So what is the point I ask? I drove past a Demo two days ago which had blocked off most lanes causing severe traffic only to see one man shouting through a megaphone to a bunch of people half listening half eating who had been paid to join! What is the point?! The whole city of Jakarta is effectively shut down and our school is being called home early for what? Nothing will come of these Demo's they are just a farce! 90% of the people involved are only involved because they are being paid and would rather sit around eating snacks than go to work. It makes me so sad...

Just another day

Later this week I will be turning 30 years old and as much as I've always thought this moment would be a dramatic one I no longer see it that way. Birthdays mean less and less as you get older. Big ones like 30 & 40 I suppose mean a little bit more but not to me... It's just another day. Realistically I am already 30. What does 3 days matter? I am just trying to get as much done for this school before I leave and to enjoy my last weeks in Indonesia. I can worry about how old I am later. 

Struggles and more

This week was tough due to the added strain of extra meetings and work. MSA had a guest speaker who to put it lightly I disagreed with on many issues but was forced to attend. I also had multiple extra meetings and just a lot of prep work to get done. 

The clock is really ticking on my time here and I am only really beginning to comprehend that fact. 3 years living on the other side of the world. 3 years working for a company with great friends made. A whole life developed and now abandoned...

My friends are planning a trip to Bali to celebrate my birthday along with another friend whose birthday falls within days of mine but I'm not sure if I can go or not... It would be a great way to spend my 30th birthday and would be one last fun trip with my friends before I leave but its getting harder and harder to justify spending as I am about to leave and will need all the money I can get when I return to the States with essentially nothing... 

Achy breaky...

For the last week or so I have been having reoccurring dreams.. And they all involve Mexican food. I am always searching for a restaurant only to find it closed or its raining and all the food is destroyed. Whatever happens for some reason I am unable to eat the food. My brain and body wants Mexican food so bad but subconsciously knows that I can't have it just yet... My mind is already preparing itself for my trip home even if it still a long (comparatively) way yet.

Its back to school time on a rainy grey Monday... At least I have Dr Pepper to look forward to.

Beginning of the end

I have a meeting later today to discuss the final exam schedules and to prepare for the remainder of the school year. I am only a few weeks away from the elementary exams followed shortly after by the high school exams. This is officially the beginning of the end for the school year and in turn my time in Indonesia and I suppose this blog as well. It has been interesting to look back on my previous postings throughout the last 3 years... Many many things have changed in my life since I first stepped foot in Jakarta. I went from a very undisciplined, unconfident, immature man to a hard working well respected teacher with a firm direction in life.

All that being said it is Friday so I am almost done for the week.. after two more classes and a few meetings.

Nada

I've got nothing.. Not much has happened in the last few days. I'm just tired and bored. Very much looking forward to the next chapter in my life. 

Comes and goes

The weekend has concluded and I am back at work... I have been really good about getting sleep this whole school year so tired mondays are a thing of the past but its can still be a struggle at times just to go to work.

For the last 2 years I have had a feeling of anxiousness by mid May with the knowledge that I would be returning home. I have that feeling already even though it is only April... I am already thinking far to much about moving home and what that will entail. I remember how bad it got last year in the final weeks and how I vowed not to let that happen again. I have to just blank it out and carry on in order to stay productive but its hard to not think about as my time is coming to a close...

In other news I bought a beta fish yesterday. I just miss having a pet so bad. Its not much consolation but its something...

trickling on..

Time is such a bizarre thing.. At times it feels as if it is hardly moving at all dragging and stalling as you anticipate the next big moment in life. And yet in retrospect time always moves at an unbelievably fast pace. I have a meeting in a few hours with little to do until then.. Time is moving painfully slow as this whole week has and yet I am constantly aware that almost 2 months to the day I will be leaving Indonesia for good. 2 months is such a short amount of time especially since they are the last months of the school year which tend to fly by with an increase in activities... 

I will never be able to wrap my head around this stupid concept..

continuation..

Today has been an easy day as my one class was required only to do a presentation on the versailles treaty. My mind continually wanders to the idea of returning home. I remember how excited I was to go home after my time in Switzerland but I also remember how quickly I became a mess from lack of activity and travel. I do have some back of the mind concerns and fear about staying in the states for an extended period of time. What a strange strange thing it will be to live in the states again.... Almost impossible for my friends to truly understand.

Back to it

I've just returned from paradise...

I spent 5 days in Sabang just off of Banda Aceh scuba diving amongst sharks,whales, turtles, stingrays, marlin, lionfish, eels, and dolphins down to 35 meters. I rented a motorcycle and traveled around to old Japanese WW2 forts some with their cannons still inside pointing out to an enemy long since vanished. I wandered across white, brown, and black sand beaches. I went cliff diving and snorkelling... Not to mention the incredible food and overall relaxation I just had an amazing time.

Now I am back in school on the first day and I am refreshed and ready. I have such a short time left to teach and to live in this country I really want to make the most of it. I am so glad I decided to go on that trip and not save the money... I have to balance now between saving and experiencing as much of this country as I can!

Sabang

I left my apartment at 5am this morning, sat at the airport for 3 hours, flew for another 3 hours only to  arrive in Banda ache and have to sit for a further 3 hours. After taxis ferries and planes I am finally in sabang. Beer in hand, feet in sand...

Life has thrown me a few curveballs over the last few months but right now is a time to appreciate what The Lord has been doing in my life.