Three Months In

We've been here 3 months. I am starting to feel the 3 month mark--realizing that we aren't going back to see our friends in Wheaton, that there won't be a time where I feel like I can zip over to Target or Aldi to get something that I need, that most of my activities with the kids will consist of going on walks in our neighborhood, and visiting the school pool and playground.   You could say the honeymoon stage is wearing off.  That's not to say that I don't think that it's good to be here.  I do still think that this is good, and I am reminded on a regular basis of the many blessings God has given us in the transition to live here.  Here is a summary of things we've learned over these past 3 months.

Things that I've learned:

• Our kids are the stars.  Really.  They have blue eyes, and one of them has bright blond hair.  We are really just an accessory to our kids--both with Jeff's students, and with the Indonesian's we see in daily life.
• I have regained my sense of direction, and know where I am when I am driving around our area.
• I know where and how to go shopping for food.  In the beginning I felt like I had to go shopping everyday just to figure out what to buy and where to buy it.  Now, I have my weekly list, and we're getting into a pattern of when to shop.
• How to go shopping with two kids.
• How to express simple instructions to my helper in Indonesian.
• How to bake in my oven without burning everything.
• When to take a shower in the day so that I don't feel constantly sweaty.

Lydia loves to organize.  She lined up her Halloween candy like this on the table.

Things that Lydia has learned:

• She recognizes when we are turning in to our neighborhood.  
• She has somehow gained a fear of bugs, even tiny ants. One night, she pointed up at something on the ceiling and said, "ant." Well, actually it was a huge cockroach near her air conditioner! Later as we were reading bed time stories she pointed to something and said, "This one." It was another huge cockroach running around in her bookshelf.  Of course I screamed and jumped, and hopefully didn't teach her a fear of bugs...
• So much independence...climbing in and out of her own chair, washing her hands by herself, wanting to get in to her carseat.  Basically, the fight is "I do it" vs. Mommy needing to do it for her.
• To say, Terima Kasih (thank you) although it sounds more like kamikaze
• To eat mango.  She didn't like it when we first arrives, but asks for it, now!

Things Elias has learned:

• How to laugh at Lydia
• How to roll on his belly and scoot forward
• How to stay awake for longer than 2 hours at a time
• How to sleep anywhere (hopefully he won't loose this skill!) 

Visiting Jeff's office at the ITC

Things Jeff has learned:

• How to greet our neighborhood guards appropriately--good morning, good afternoon, good evening, goodnight
• How to ride his bike to/from school in 10 minutes
• How to drive Indonesia style (I think he enjoys getting to zoom around whoever is in his way.  Let's just say it came pretty naturally to him).
• How to drink sub-par beer when necessary
• How to be flexible in a cross-cultural working environment that is both rigid and constantly changing.
• Which Indonesian dishes are good almost anywhere you go, and won't give any digestive issues
• How to have patience at a pace of life that is unpredictable and at times contradictory
• How to eat meals with two screaming children