Tuesday, May 31, 2011

May 17, 2011 Waisek Day and a Trip to the Beach!

We decided to spend our first national holiday out of the city, and ended up driving a couple of hours to find a beach... it was well worth the drive!  The beach closer to Balikpapan was packed because of the holiday, and we had a much more enjoyable, quieter time a little further away.  We had fun picking shells and walking around in the water for a couple of hours.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

The Reality of the Situation

I read a fair number of books about moving overseas before we came here, and in large part they all highlighted a lot of the difficulties in moving abroad.  Being away from family and friends, not knowing the language, culture differences, etc etc... deep down I was quite nervous - we wouldn't know anyone, Jeff would be working a lot, would I be okay on my own with a pre-schooler and toddler for most of the day?  What happens when someone gets sick; where do we go, will they speak English, what drugs are they prescribing???
I am not sure what it is like moving to another place in the world, but the one thing I have seen in my six or so weeks in Balikpapan is what an amazing community of women live here.  I have never once felt isolated or on my own to deal with anything.  One day Sofia developed a rash on her body, and within 5 minutes of sending out a quick message I had names and numbers of doctors, where to go, who to ask for.... I have been overwhelmed at the kindness and graciousness of these fabulous women that are making their homes here in Balikpapan.
I am not sure how to describe it in words, but since 99% of the women here are not working, there is a different sense of community here. We are all creating our identities through our homes and our families and our friendships... no one is climbing the corporate ladder, and since we're not in the Western world, a lot of the Western pressures and culture is gone.  We can't shop at Holt Renfrew, and we can't buy $500 shoes (well, at least until holidays in KL or Singapore) ;) so the focus is on different things - coffee mornings, learning to sew, having playdates with our children... I miss my family and my friends, but I am so thankful for these wonderful ladies that have opened up their arms, and their homes, and themselves to me here.... I am so grateful!

To Market, To Market...

Well, as of today we are completing our first week in our new house.  As nice as everyone was to us, it is so nice to be out of that hotel!!!  We finally have some space, and can cook for ourselves... which leads us to some interesting experiences going to find ingredients!!!

Shopping for groceries is a bit of an adventure, since you can't do it all at one store; it takes a day to grocery shop, or as I've found, an hour or so every morning after we drop Sofia off at school.  For purely "expat" items, like peanut butter, SPAM (not kidding), fresh milk, we have to go to Heroes (which would be similar to a Co-op here)... but it's very pricey, because it's geared for the expat market.  More everyday items can be purchased at other smaller "grocery" stores, or else you have to go hunting... baking ingredients to the bakery shop, fresh bread to a little bakery in a different district... and of course all of the stores are at least 20 minutes apart from one another, so it's a bit of a trek.  The other option for everything except the expat items is to go to the market.

I had my first exposure to Pasar Klandasan (Klandasan market) this week, thankfully with a few wonderful women who agreed to show me the ropes!  I don't think I've ever had such an assault on my senses, and even though I took a couple of photos, without the smells, it just doesn't seem to really capture the atmosphere of the place.  You walk by eggs smelling like the chicken coop on the farm, then by dried and salted fish where I just breathe through my mouth (really, who wants to smell that?), past the vegetables... oops, watch where you're walking so you don't step on that horrible cockroach (though, I must admit, the first one I've seen since we got here... I shouldn't complain!) we stopped and got some veggies, making sure to ask for her better ones (which are always hiding behind the table, I'm learning), as well as asking for her "best price".  The other ladies are well versed on how much things should cost and I'm trying to quickly learn as well (also making quick progress on my numbers and food items in Bahasa, it's essential at the market!).  The market is the best place to buy your eggs because they are the freshest due to the high turnover and volumes, but you have to "float test" them at home... if they float, throw them out! 
We give our bags to the "porter" (for a small fee there are guys that will carry your bags around the market for you so you don't have to... maybe I should get one for Belyn next time? ;)  )  Next is over to the fish and meat section, and I realize now why they told me to make sure I wore shoes and not sandals - fish scales, guts, etc on the ground where the cats are loving it but I am NOT (though there is no smell due to the large doors being open, so I was impressed about that).  I now know what red snapper looks like whole (I've only ever seen a filet at the store before), and I know that the eyes have to be bright and to open the gills and make sure they look blood red (not gray or pinky) to make sure it's a good fish to buy.
I buy a whole chicken for Sunday night dinner, telling the lady that I don't want the head or feet still on, so please chop them off for me, and get some breasts as well, to freeze for later.

Then I put all of this in my little cooler with ice, and head to the only Starbucks in town, to remind myself that it is 2011 and I can still get a western-made coffee! :)