Vacating the Premise
I am so exhausted from the constant rush of this place; I can barely keep myself from collapsing under the weight of my own awesomeness. I never thought I would make it through the donor trip, NHQ visit, and two year commemoration but somehow it is December 28th and I am just a few hours away from my last commitment. A few hours away from total abandon; freedom from responsibility.
I was able to spend some time Christmas morning on the beach in Banda, it was spectacular and I am embarrassed that it took me so long to get their. The water was so clear I could see the bottom ten feet in. The water was calm and the beach was mine for the morning. Three days later the sunburn is receding into a lobster’ish tan. Later in the evening my boss cooked an amazing Christmas dinner for the few of us left in Aceh, it was one of the best meals I can remember having, it tasted like home. Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy that was so good I could have eaten dirt if it had been bathed in the creamy goodness, Stove Top Stuffing and canned cranberry sauce; I get happy just thinking about it.
The two year came and went with little notice, we had sort-of expected it to be a quiet affair but you never know. It is hard not to get sad as you could occasionally hear mass wailing from you bedroom. This was an event that touched everyone here in a very direct way. I have yet to meet someone from Aceh that has not lost a loved one—and often it is many loved ones. But it was also a time for all Indonesians to reflect on how much has happened since that day in 2004. A lot of work remains to be done but it was not all tears this year, there was hope mingled with the sorrow.
I am off tomorrow morning to Bali, I will be spending the New Year getting messages and relaxing on the beaches of Legian. I am staying at a resort hotel until the 5th when I expect to come back rejuvenated and ready to start the second iteration of my job. I cannot tell you how excited I am. I was singing vacation songs to everyone in the office today and can’t wait to go home and pack. I love my job, I love my friends and family, I love my life, how blessed am I.
I am so exhausted from the constant rush of this place; I can barely keep myself from collapsing under the weight of my own awesomeness. I never thought I would make it through the donor trip, NHQ visit, and two year commemoration but somehow it is December 28th and I am just a few hours away from my last commitment. A few hours away from total abandon; freedom from responsibility.
I was able to spend some time Christmas morning on the beach in Banda, it was spectacular and I am embarrassed that it took me so long to get their. The water was so clear I could see the bottom ten feet in. The water was calm and the beach was mine for the morning. Three days later the sunburn is receding into a lobster’ish tan. Later in the evening my boss cooked an amazing Christmas dinner for the few of us left in Aceh, it was one of the best meals I can remember having, it tasted like home. Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy that was so good I could have eaten dirt if it had been bathed in the creamy goodness, Stove Top Stuffing and canned cranberry sauce; I get happy just thinking about it.
The two year came and went with little notice, we had sort-of expected it to be a quiet affair but you never know. It is hard not to get sad as you could occasionally hear mass wailing from you bedroom. This was an event that touched everyone here in a very direct way. I have yet to meet someone from Aceh that has not lost a loved one—and often it is many loved ones. But it was also a time for all Indonesians to reflect on how much has happened since that day in 2004. A lot of work remains to be done but it was not all tears this year, there was hope mingled with the sorrow.
I am off tomorrow morning to Bali, I will be spending the New Year getting messages and relaxing on the beaches of Legian. I am staying at a resort hotel until the 5th when I expect to come back rejuvenated and ready to start the second iteration of my job. I cannot tell you how excited I am. I was singing vacation songs to everyone in the office today and can’t wait to go home and pack. I love my job, I love my friends and family, I love my life, how blessed am I.
posted by Banda-aid at 6:31 PM
2 Comments:
I'm listening and learning. Keep at it.
p.s. You rule.
p.p.s. If one were to mail you something, where would they send it?
Where have you been?
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