October 10, 2022
We arrived in Indonesia about one month ago.
It has been around 90 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity almost every day. We have a few dehumidifiers at home that need to be emptied several times a day.
We are happy in our house, although it is still quite empty. Our shipments are not expected to arrive for weeks, if not months. I have a full-sized refrigerator as well as an upright freezer. I am thankful to have a full-sized oven, with a gas stove top. Jackson and I made chocolate chip cookies this weekend, to welcome new neighbors. It was a bit of a challenge without measuring cups, a mixer, or cookie sheets…but we managed – and the cookies came out delicious! (This was a service project for cub scouts)
Many things here are ‘app-driven’ – from ordering a taxi to having groceries delivered, so I’ve been working to set up all the apps on my phone. I’ve even worked out how to transfer money so that I don’t have to carry so much cash with me. At the office, I scan a QR code with my phone and pay for coffee or lunch automatically. It’s pretty cool! I’ve even ordered Starbucks and McDonalds on the app, and they delivered right to my door – and the cups are sealed with plastic, so no drinks are spilled!
The traffic really is as bad as they say it is – especially when it rains! It took 3 hours to travel 7 miles! Taxis were stuck in the traffic, so there were none available to pick me up. I ended up taking a tuk tuk to a local mall, hoping the taxis would be more plentiful. They were not. It was an experience that I do not wish to repeat any time soon! A few days later, I heard that children were stuck on the school bus for hours in the traffic. Luckily, Jackson was not one of them.
Overall, things are going well. We are finding our way and starting to feel settled.