Yesterday in language class we learned to count from 0-10. Today we learned from 11-9,000,000,000. The pace is picking up. We also learned how to tell time as if going from 11-9,000,000,000 wasn't enough for one day. We had four and a half hours of language class today and 2 hours of health related class.  I do not want to get Dingy. 

Tomorrow we spend the whole day meeting government officials.  It's good to know that so many of the Indonesian government ministries are as involved in our work here. 

The weather is out of this world, for me anyway.  It's been in the high 80s most of the time.  Some days it has rained a little and some days it has rained a lot complete with loud thunder and bright lightening. Here in the hotel most of out rooms for living , meeting, and learning are air conditioned. You know AC is not my favorite thing.  I look forward to getting away from it at my host family stay.

Tomorrow is a packing day too.  Enough of staying in this very nice hotel. We will go east to meet and start to live with host families for the next 10 weeks. This is going to be an experience. I might not have internet access in this house I'm going to so you have to understand my silence for a while.  I will try to write in "Word", save and post when I can. 

I am well.  I wish I could say that all of us are.  A couple of people have come down with the usual ills. I'm happy

Did I mention that last night a bunch of us, including an Iranian-

American woman, jumped a fire for the Persian holiday of Char Shambee Suree? Today is No Rooz. Persian New Year's greetings to all and good for you for making it till it's no longer Winter.

It's Char Shambe Suree in Indonesia. Except that Char Shambe Suree is the Iranian holiday when people jump over fire to burn off the sins of the past year before No Rooz on March 21. There's an Iranian-American woman volunteer here with me so we will celebrate together with the others around us.  I've got a couple of cultures going on here at the same time.
In Basa Indonesian (my newest language) I can greet people at different times of day, introduce myself and ask the names of others, inquire about people's health, ask the names of things and get simple directions. I know the names of colors and can count to ten.  The first 50 or perhaps 75 seemingly unrelated list of vocabulary words is starting to sink in and my third day of classes tomorrow will bring new communication skills.
It is wonderfully hot. It didn't rain today so the humidity is sky high. The three major downpours of yesterday were real drenchers. 
The internet connection comes and goes without warning.  I feel pushed to write and send when I can and bypass spelling corrections to get anything out on line.  Sorry about that. Language number 7 isn't going to be the one in which I spell correctly either.

I am in the Singapore airport and have been for the last 12 hours AND have another 4 hours before I get on the last flight to Indonesia.
The flight from s
San Francisco to Tokyo was long.  The only good thing about it was flying over Alaska seeing beautiful snow covered mountains for as far as could be seen.  It was a nice way to see America for the last time ( being over snow and not in it.)
We arrived here in Singapore last night a little after midnight (Monday morning) and will be catching the last flight at about 5:00 p.m. this afternoon.  We spent the night in a hotel right inside the airport.
This airport is HUGE! It is also beautiful with flowers growing inside all over the place. There are more orchids here than in Phipps in Pittsburgh.  I have some pictures and will put them up here when I have access to all my wires which are packed into bags that I hope will meet me in Indonesia. 
I'm ready for the adventure.  I hope the adventure is ready for me.

Ok, family and friends, I'm just about outta here.  I'm at the San Francisco Airport with my only slightly overweight bags checked and kissed good bye. My training goop looks like a big gang of fun nieces and nephews with one married couple about ten years younger than I to take over some of the avuncular duties. 
It's been a long journey to get to the boarding gate and I have many of you to thank for all the help and support you have given me.  I promise to share with you the up and the better parts of the down times.
The adventure begins.  

There are only 18 or 20 little little things to fit into the suitcases and I'm 15 pounds underweight there so I should be good.
Beaver County Times reporter came this afternoon to chat for a while. Look for the article on Friday 3-15-14. I had to offer the reporter a can of Coke since I have no classes.  Everything is packed.
The house is ready for me to leave. The house is ready for people to take care of it for me while I am gone.
My Middle East Inspired Subterranean Chamber is empty.

The TV room is a bedroom now.

My study is ready for someone else to learn there.

My bedroom is ready for someone else to dream in.

Tomorrow is my last full day at home before going off to Indonesia. I still have things to do.  If I don't finish tomorrow I will not finish. My suitcases are packed. I am about 15 pounds underweight but I will have a couple things to put in. I'll write more tomorrow before I take apart the computer and return the modem and TV boxes to Comcast. I'm SO ready to go.

Happy Birthday Peace Corps and Bon Voyage Jay

My family had a Bon Voyage Open House for me at my brother's house on Peace Corps' Birthday 53. It was really nice.  There were about 80 people there off and on from 2 - 7:00. The centerpiece for the table was from Beaver County Rehabilitation Center where I used to work.  Clients made it with flags of places I have been in Peace Corps, lots of chocolate and lots of love. The food was out of this world. There was chocolate everything and really good snacks, shrimp that never quit, meat balls, Isley's chipped ham barbecue, every kind of cheese...heaven!  I was very very happy to see so many of my friends from the neighborhood, old jobs, old friends and family from all over attend. The best complement came from Lou, my RPCV buddy. "Don't you have any drunks or addicts or lay-abouts or impolite or uneducated people in your family? Are they all well spoken, good looking people who contribute to the good of society one way or another?" "No we don't, Lou and yes they are," said I. 
Sunday morning everyone came to my house for breakfast. There were 16 here. Little kids played and laughed. My Brother-in-law Tom made more pancakes than IHOP. What a great family I have.