Singapore farewell and a new companion

Wednesday, August 24, 2022 - in Singapore

"What are you doing after this?" people ask each other. 

Often the other person shrugs. S/he don't know because s/he is living in the day, like the garden roses that snap off when I try to wind the long stem around the trellis. They bloom one day at a time.

I try to limit planning ahead. I naturally live in the question: "What comes after this?" My challenge is to stay in the present.

On my radar? 2 trips before Christmas. And, what about Advent? I'm planning next year's calendar, feeling like it's high time to outline BIC Talks for the coming year. (It not too early: it's already August, right?) I'm also writing a Lenten study for next year.

Today though, W and I enjoy pics of the grandkids in hats made by a family friend. Aren't they cute? Yay for technology that lets us stay connected.

This morning, it feels like our Singapore adventures are almost past: we have 3 days, including today and a travel day (Friday). Then we'll be home. I'm fascinated by the unique plants here. I like this huge tree with fronds of tiny leaves. Each branch is soft perfection.

I'll miss the views out the hotel window.

A dozen herons flew around the trees on the coast each morning.

The ever-changing sky was energizing.

W's off to class early and I have my alarm set to make sure I'm not late for a ride on the SMRT (city train) to meet a friend. Sumathi and I first met in Cambridge while our husbands were researching at the Tyndale House Library. We went to lunch concerts and the same church. Our kids were in youth group together.

W and I went back to Seattle while she and Augustine went to Singapore. We visited there when W and I would teach in the summer. Then they moved to Indonesia. They relocated again in Indonesia. So that when we moved to Indonesia, we were living in the same city. When her husband Augustine passed away, she moved away. We send occasional texts.

Today we get to meet again. I hop the train to a central station. It takes us a while to find each other, but we do. It's fun to catch up over lunch.

Earlier this week, we ate with a young couple first met in our Singapore classrooms. It's good to see our students start families of their own.

Thursday

We pack up, ready to go home tomorrow. While W teaches, the morning flies by (meetings, calls, writing). Suddenly it's 1:00. I have had tea but no food. I think, "Ah, W will be back soon," and don't bother eating.

About 3:00 W comes back and we walk over to the mall next door. We enjoy some ok Thai food. This trip we've had a few food miss-es, other than food we've eaten with others and a wonderful hawker stall in Chinatown. 

In other ways, the trip has met every expectation. From scenes of nature to historic buildings, spending time in good company, the joy of teaching for Waldemar ... and for me, days of writing and rest, it's been a much-needed change of pace.

Friday

I head to the seminary with W in the morning. At 10:00, the class walks to a food court for brunch (parata and curry sauce). The food is waiting for us when we get to the little restaurant. The suitcases are in the car, so we head to the airport right after.

Of course Changi Airport is clean and interesting, a destination in itself. There's a long open-topped aquarium in one seating area.

Orchid gardens.

Water lily ponds.

Directions to a swimming pool ...

The 1 1/2-hr flight to Jakarta is smooth and efficient, Singapore style. We arrive in Jakarta to a long immigration line. Ours is labeled "all passports" and "visa holders," and is of course the slowest line. 

There's a stream of locals next to us. Indonesians like to coordinate outfits for weddings, trips, clubs, etc. Since clothing is cheap to sew here, many groups show up in matching dresses, trousers, shirts, and headwear. It makes it easy to find "your people" in a place where hair and eye color is the same.

W books a shuttle to Bandung after we're through immigration. (You never know when your flight arrives nowadays.) He's given our driver the day off. There's a costumed group marching up and down outside the terminal. Their trousers, socks, and shoes remind me of the Vatican guard in Rome.

We have to wait 2 1/2 hours for shuttle pickup - by which time Jakarta rush hour has begun. The driver cautiously negotiates his way out of the city with buses, cars, and trucks passing us on every side. By the time we reach the city limits, we're in full-blown Friday traffic.

Sometimes the driver scoots on the shoulder and then swerves back into the marked lanes, especially if there's someone parked on the shoulder ahead. He weaves in and out of traffic, and ... well, it's the "shuttle of terror" for me. Feels like a miracle to arrive safely at the terminal.

We get to Bandung by 10:30 pm, more than 6 hrs after pickup at the airport. Bandung is about 100 miles SE of Jakarta airport. Are we exhausted? Yes.

A fellow sufferer insists on bringing us home in his vehicle (his wife comes to pick him up at the shuttle terminal) and we're in the door before 11:00 p.m. Gypsy and Bailey are sleeping in their usual places. They jump around to greet us.

Our new retiree, an A1 Labradoodle, is on the porch. She was warmly welcomed by Melvi. When we show up in the middle of the night, we're strangers. She runs away and we can't catch her - but we look out of the window after a few minutes. She settles into sleep on the porch in her late mother Cocoa's spot. Aawww.

We unpack, put dirty laundry in the hamper, and carry items to where they belong. (I hate waking up to a mess in the morning.) Sweet sleep after 11:30.

Saturday - home sweet home

Tired. Both of us. That shuttle ride did us in. Bailey has been brushed into a fluffy lamb coat by Melvi - and comes prancing over when I walk outside to check out our porch.

J's not coming near us for anything. Every time we call and walk toward her she backs away.

Oh! hey, her owner said she loves walks. We rattle the leash and call "Let's go for a walk," and she shows up right away. Her tail is down, she's obviously tired. Poor girl is a long way from home after 2.5 days in a pet taxi ... 

W and 2 helpers set up the hall for tomorrow's BIC Round Table (discussion groups during the talk) while I make set the house in order. Our bare feet are dirty - will have to steam-clean the floors again. A quick sweep and mop just moves dirt around the cracks in the stone tiles.

Sunday

It's such a blessing to meet with the BIC community. It's a smaller group this morning; some regulars are sick, while others are traveling.

The office paludarium has been cleaned and disassembled. (It's now at home. Thanks, PakG!) I swing the office furniture into a simpler arrangement.

We enjoy good company around the lunch table at Maxis.

Monday

Meetings. A dissertation consultation after lunch. Friends come for supper and stay overnight. Our new doggie is settling in nicely with 3 walks a day ... her happy spot is on a leash.

When not walking, she waits outside our entry, always hopeful.

Tuesday

It's my first work-day in the office in a while. Ok ok, the dogs are giving me a death stare as I put on my sandals. I take J along to the office so she gets to know the places we hang out.

When I drop the leash at the office door, that's where she lies down to wait. When PakG walks the others, he comes to pick her up.

I wipe off the outside table and chairs before dropping into a seat on the BIC terrace. Some plants have suffered in my absence. The neighbor's banana trees form a green-walled canopy.

A sharp-nosed squirrel with a thin tail dashes between the leaves. It looks more rat than squirrel. ugh See the bananas growing as the flower unfolds?

Before I know it, it's time for the BIC team meeting. It's great to catch up, pray together, share work, and have warm camaraderie.

Read more:

*Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Psalm 37:1-6

*I call upon God, and the Lord will save me. Psalm 55:16

*On him we have set our hope that he will rescue us again, as you also join in helping us by your prayers. 2 Corinthians 1:10-11

Moravian Prayer: Saving God, we call upon you this day, relying on your power to uphold us and strengthen us. Remind us that, as we pray, we are not alone; our brothers and sisters around the world pray with us and for us. Amen.