My blog has been published...

I have created my blog into a book mostly as a family keepsake but thought I would share!
Here is the link:

http://blur.by/1s5j3qI

Thanks to all for your love and support during this adventure. We couldn't have done it without you!!

It pierced my shoulder and pain seared through my body...

I was jammed under a rock hiding and my heart was pounding! Suddenly a man stood up from behind the rock above me and drew a bamboo arrow back through his man made bow. He released the arrow and it flew towards me in slow motion. I could hear it whistling through the air, I tried to duck but I was too slow, it pierced my shoulder and pain seared through my body...

BEEP BEEP BEEP "oh saved by the bell" I say to myself as my alarm wakes me up from that terrible dream. "Yikes that was scary" my heart still pounding. This morning I was going to Banti the village that is just down the road from town. I have heard several stories and not sure what to expect and apparently I am nervous.

I met one of our doctors at the hospital and away we go to the Banti hospital. The road down is bumpy and we arrive at the threshold of "job site" and real Papua -- a yellow gate divides the two. Security lets us through (in some way I feel a little more secure living in the gated confines of "job site"). Now in the area controlled by the Seven Suku (the Seven Suku is comprised of the leaders of the seven tribes within the area) the vehicle turns and there is the bridge that takes us across the river, however, a few months back the river flooded and took out the bridge. The devastation to the bridge was impressive. Since the bridge is gone and the new road isn't completed we had to drive through the river. This can only be done when the river is low and it's not raining as flash floods and landslides happen often (hence no bridge). The river was low and beautifully clear.

We continued down the rocky road. The further we got the villagers began to come into view and sure as sh*t there were three guys walking up the road carrying their bow and arrows. I instantly panicked what did I get myself into? "Breathe, breathe, Kristen" (thank God for yoga). As we drove by them they just looked at us seriously but kept on their way. Phew. I took the opportunity to tell the doctor that I was nervous and he explained that they will not hurt or harm us in any way because they know we are here to help them. The white vehicles and the red cross represent that. Ok, a little relief but my guard is still going to be up. The road widened and flattened and the doctor pulled over so he could show me where the tailings from the mill from the mine enter the river. (I was a little weak getting out of the car.) I stepped up onto the edge of the road and wow, it was crazy! The thick gray sludge rushed down the river splashing over huge boulders. I couldn't believe how the crystal clear water I had just seen was now like gray chocolate milk. But that wasn't all, I was looking over a massive operation. Ropes and pipes were strewn from boulder to boulder. The ropes held up man made bridges and the pipes run clear water to several stations in the river where men stood by their sluice boxes panning for gold alongside their sludge dams made out of sticks. In addition to the configurations of pipes and ropes there were huts and houses built on stilts. It was awe-inspiring. The tailings from the mine carry 10-20% concentrate of gold. These operations line the river all the way to port site and this is how they earn a living.

We got back in the car and continued down towards the hospital. Soon we were confronted by two little piglets. Oh they were so cute. They clumsily crossed the road and then a huge, fat pig meandered across. Awesome! We continued on and shops, huts, pigs, roosters and villagers bordered the road. It was amazing. We finally arrived at the hospital.

The doctor who runs the hospital gave me a personal tour. The hospital is small but is very functional. Today there are only 15 patients which is very unusually quiet. The doctor thought it was quiet as, he predicts, a lot of the villagers have gone down to Timika to fight a war against another tribe. (The war has caused 8 deaths and hundreds of injuries). The common illnesses that are treated at the hospital are TB, pneumonia, malaria, gastrointestinal diseases and domestic abuse cases. In severe cases the patient is sent up to the hospital in Tembagapura for treatment. The employees at the hospital also teach the locals about good hygiene like washing their hands etc.

After the doctor finished his rounds we journeyed back to Tembagapura. I was thrilled to be able to see and experience what I had. Truly, truly blessed. And relieved I wasn't shot with an arrow. Resuming next week a group of ladies and I will head down to the hospital to play with the children. I say resume because they used to go down every week but haven't since the bridge was washed out. (I hope that I can also help them with a little yoga stretching).

As always, to be continued....

In the 1st picture, it's hard to see, but there is a man running a sluice box to the left of the huge boulder...

 More men (on the right) panning...

A little perspective...

As time creeps on and going home to visit gets closer everything seems to be like a festering splinter. All the little things are getting bigger and bigger and more annoying. It's not bad here it's just the isolation that gets to me every once and a while (probably the times I mostly post)! I was thinking this as I was walking from the school to the store in hopes to buy block or shredded cheese after three weeks of the store being out (yep, annoying, right? Just as annoying as my phone telling me every five seconds that my internet connection is unstable.). As I was walking two Papuan women were crossing the rocky unpaved road and there was my perspective. These women, one who had no shoes and the other shoddy flip flops, were carrying their heavy nokens on their heads and their hands were full (pictured below). They emanated such strength and devotion. They do whatever they have to do to survive (some stories are worse than others) and I had some self-reflecting perspective. Life always has a way of working out and at times we have to do what we have to do to survive and my selfish anger for needed cheese didn't seem that important anymore.

Hannah had to go to the doctor today as she hurt her arm. All checked out well and the convenience of the hospital again soothed my festering splinter. I spoke with the doctor and he mentioned going to the local village next week and I asked to tag along. So very excited to see and experience the local Papuan village but so very nervous about it.

My countdown mental note: exactly three weeks from today we will be on our way to Phuket, Thailand and six more after that we will be headed to the States where Hannah says she is going to cry in the grocery store isles and I will be crying over my chile rellano. The anticipated weird looks won't faze us -- we're plenty used to it here.

As always, to be continued!....

     

My new blog...

I am happy to announce that I have created a new blog. This blog will not replace this one but it will focus and highlight my love for yoga, fitness and wellness! I hope you enjoy it as much as I am going to!!

http://travelfityogini.blogspot.com/ 

The Wondrous Waterfall…

As the extracurricular lifestyle is lacking and dismal it’s a must to seek out adventure. This weekend we conquered the famous waterfall. This wondrous waterfall can be seen high on the steep mountain from almost every angle in Tembagapura. It’s a life force that breathes heavy from the rain water from the rocky cliffs above. When the waterfall weakens we know that water restrictions will soon trickle down to town.

The five of us (us and our Pembantu), a friend and another family (joined by their mom who was visiting from Canada) ventured up a roaring dam after parking the LVs.  The rocks were massive, slick and the water was cold. We shuttled the kids and each other across the big rocks at the base of the dam. There we met a slippery-like-ice rock ledge that falls off to similar large rocks, raging water, debris and rusted rebar. This section is the most hair-raising and difficult part of the hour plus trek. We safely maneuvered the rock ledge to find a steep and narrow passage layered with ropes that went up. One would assume that up we had to go but it was straight up! The bigger kids did great and enjoyed the obstacle. Mike wrapped his arm around Mason and the two of them pulled themselves to the top of the passage. From there it was an enjoyable walk surrounded by dense jungle with the occasional fallen tree and leaves that kiss your face as you walk by.

The jungle then opened up to a gigantic boulder field -- boulders the size of ancient dinosaurs all the while the waterfall water creeps down and fills the crevasses with its life. The clear and cold water rushes down as the boulder course takes us up to the waterfall. So jumping, sliding, scooting and climbing we went, up and up.

The course is distracting whilst carefully watching where to put your feet, your hands and where your children are going but wasn’t before long that I stopped and looked up and there it was, the waterfall! It was breathtaking. It was so colossal. The kids were right up to its crystal clear pool then down they came hopping from boulder to boulder. My heart began to pound due to the wind that was being created by its force. The closer I got the harder it was to breathe. The gushing force created such wind and freezing moisture that it was literally taking my breath away!!

It was like we were in another world -- away from the little town that can smell really bad at times, the screeching buses were no more and the mischievous town kids vanished! It was peaceful and amazing! With no worries and filled with excitement we enjoyed its beauty and life and then carried it with us as we made the journey back down.    

With great friends, family and weather our adventure was amazing. Another blessing from the mountain and our opportunity to be here.

 

 

Trying not to feel lost...

It has been almost a month now since our full time live-in Pembantu has moved in with us. Again, Pembantu is a nanny/maid.
WOW! That is all I can say! Wow, as in, fabulous, uncomfortable, awesome and what a learning curve! It's been an interesting but uneventful transition so far. Getting to know each other, how we function as a family and how she will fit into all that -- we're still getting it all figured out.  She is so sweet and kind. Probably more so than any other person I have ever met.
One of the biggest challenges is how much she wants to interact with the kids, especially Mason but they just aren't warmed up quite yet. I understand she really is a stranger. She speaks very little English and I know it'll take time but it breaks my heart -- rejection sucks especially from a kid! Nonetheless, it is truly beautiful to see her hug them and wish them good morning, every morning!
The best part so far is the time I have been able to spend with Mike, Hannah and Mason. I am lucky that I don't get to say to the kids anymore "one minute. I will play with you after I load the dishwasher". Someone might say that, that is benign and stupid but it is so important to our connection and their development.
She cooks on the nights I teach yoga and walks the kids to and from school on Wednesdays so that I can focus the entire day on my school work. I am in awe of how much my stress level has gone down and I never have to ask her or mention anything as she is already there two steps ahead. She has had to scold me (not really scold) but nicely remind me that she does the dishes not me and she really, really means it. I am pretty sure it frustrates her. I am just trying to help. Oh, the learning curve!
She is FABULOUS!  
The ultimate and biggest challenge is the internal struggle of trying not to feel lost. What is my purpose and direction in life? It has already been a struggle not being able to work (which is an ailment I think I am close to being healed from) but giving up the domestic duties that were a part of my "job description" (my contribution) has been hard. It's not my personality to not participate or not help out, particularly when it comes to my family but I have to keep reminding myself that there are so many benefits (none of them physically tangible) but the payoffs are and will be worth it.
There will never be a situation like this where I can walk my kids to and from school, help out in their classrooms, teach yoga, peacefully make dinner, work on finishing my degree and all the while employ a very special person who loves us, keeps me sane and, most importantly, gets to keep her own kids on track to going to University.    
All a blessing! And I only forgot to shut the bathroom door once so far (pretty sure it won't happen again). :)

As always to be continued....

Dear Egotistical Expatriate...

Dear Egotistical Expatriate,

So some friends and girlfriends of mine were talking the other day about how rude some expats can be. My girlfriends mentioned that they avoid certain hotels as there are so many insolent expatriates. The more we talked about it the more situations seem to surface -- the rude guy or the girl at the airport, the restaurant, the hotel pool or here at the mine. These expats treat others poorly, are degrading and disrespectful especially to the non-expatriates. And I began to think oh how I pity the Egotistical Expatriate (EE) and appreciate the amusement he/she creates. I giggle because they think they are better, they think they are “someone” but truth is, their friends are few and their opposers are countless in a land that is not their own. Their carbon footprint is heavy. They leave much to be desired and a reputation of defiance and ultimate unimportance by the view of many. From the stories I have heard from friends who work at the mine the Egotistical Expatriate thinks the only people who matter are the “Big Dogs” but given enough time they will be like glass and seen right through. I am saddened by the EEs lack of respect for the balance of culture, community and professionalism. I am humored by the mockery that they ignite -- I laugh when I think about them being rude to the person who is going to serve them food! I hope that one day the obscuring shadow of the EEs own head dissipates and they can finally see the beauty of learning and teaching with an open mind. I hope they get the chance to appreciate the gorgeous smiles and view that surrounds them. There is so much beauty to be enjoyed including their own...