Summer 2013 Indonesia, Florida, North Carolina - forgot to publish

Late spring - at the last minute Danielle said the magic words. ¨I need your help.¨ Can you come to Indonesia again this summer? I jumped at the chance.  After school was out, I flew alone into Singapore. Singapore was spectacular. It is a very metropolitan city - clean, beautiful, interesting and most people speak English. The mass transit is easy to understand. I toured the city and when Danielle arrived we went to some amazing gardens, then onward to Bali. I love using Bali as a stopover before Lombok as it has become very familiar to me. We ferried with her truck full of supplies to Lombok and her place looked wonderful and comfortable especially compared to last year's primitiveness. Running water, hot water, sinks, toilets, kitchen, terrazzo floors, window and doors. (Scorpion - just 1 big black one) Starry nights and a bed - wonderful each night after a long and hard day’s work. This summer we focused on landscaping, more plumbing, interior and finish work, specialty tile work, and a long punch list of small things. We shopped for furniture, fabrics, dishes, etc. 

We finished our summer work by taking a crazy trek up Mt. Rinjani 12500 feet. 31 hours of hard hiking in 60 hours of time. Two nights in a tent with a leaky pad, rats, monkeys, hot springs, high winds, rain, sun, fog, heat, cold, good food and exhaustion. It was a great finish to another summer adventure. Danielle has made this trek many times. I am not sure I would do it again. We finished our Indonesian travels with a one day luxury catamaran sailing to a private Island cove for fun water activities. 30 hours back to our first world country. Danielle was able to attend a wedding in Portland and met me in Florida for a few days to see all the family. Danielle and I drove to Hendersonville and spent a couple of days decorating Dad’s place. 
Adriana and Phil (Adriana is engaged as of May 29, 2013) came down and we went river tubing, hiking, and ziplining. So much fun. Adriana will be married in June of 2014. Plans are underway.

IB trip cultural sharing

We (Olivia and I ) are working on a fantastic opportunity for colleagues to enter a cultural exchange on the island of Lombok. We are on such a short time frame for planning in this simulated format. We have found an organization the CDC in Sembalun and they have blogged some of their needs for volunteer community engagement. Our teachers whether well traveled or not would experience the needs of a local international community. The village people do not speak any English, home stays would be arranged, and the food is very different. Our teachers would be out of their western comfort zone and this experience would help them in the classroom, especially with our transient Hispanic population. The understanding gained would enhance their teaching abilities. The learning for members of both cultures is enhanced by the comfort zone being left behind. Our teachers would have to exhibit some risk taking skills, perhaps making them more adaptable when school or district changes are places upon them.
Having traveled to this area, I feel pretty comfortable designing the logistics. Our team of volunteers would brainstorm and create the travel route and any extensions. We already have some contacts and connections at the CDC in Sembalun.
The AOI met is community and service which is a personal passion of mine. I enjoy promoting service among friends, adults and students. The limits of the group activities are only what we place upon ourselves. Team building strategies and ample planning and preparation will enhance our experience. Monthly meetings to discuss concerns, do some basic language phrase learning, and building excitement for the trip are a necessity. Our end product is to design this adventure. But our real end result is a valuable cultural exchange by reaching outside of our world to provide something for others.

Back from California - Internet Librarian Conference

Kari and I had a great time speaking at the conference in Cali.

Our topic: OMG...Who Posted That? We shared mini lessons on digital citizenship for grades 8 through 12. (protecting online reputations)

One of our students made a fantastic poster for us to share at the conference. I will try to post the pdf later. I have no doubt that she is an up and coming artist with amazing talent. I fully intend to watch her career blossom.

California was beautiful this time of year and while we were gone the snow started. Apparently 8 inches in two days. The mountain tops are covered and so the base begins. I am sure we will be open for skiing on Thanksgiving as planned by the resort.

Traveling is always challenging but no need to get upset about things you cannot control. It took me 24 hours to get home from Cali. It is only a 12 to 14 hour drive. But a delay, cancellation, 3 flights, 3 hour taxi drive, hotel in Salt Lake City and I finally made it to work on Friday.

2012 Summer Indonesian Adventure

Last day of school-work tomorrow.
Fly to Seattle Saturday - drive to Vancouver, BC
Sightsee then fly out Monday night midnight
Arrive to Depansar, Bali on Wednesday
Staying at one of the top eco-resorts to learn all we can before we go to Lombok on Saturday.

This is a working vacation - Danielle has purchased a piece of property that is an abandoned resort at the base of Mt. Rinjani National Park, a volcano trekking area on the island of Lombok. We are working to renovate, build and have it in working order by March 2013. I am along for moral support this summer.

First on the agenda - electricity, water, septic and a place to sleep.

I am a little nervous at the anticipation of the unknown, but unbelievably excited and so happy that Danielle wants me to be a part of this adventure.

I did not realize this never posted.
 Pretty funny when I look back. Never was able to have electric, water was sporadic and not sure of quality, septic was still in process when I left, BUT
we bought a mattress during week 2, so we could discontinue sleeping on the hard, cold, concrete floor.
The days began at sunrise and ended shortly thereafter, reading with a headlamp or kindle light, and listening to music.

WOW! I am behind. But I have spent time following my two favorites bloggers:
DnZ Adventures and Mario Machado.

Summer is officially over...

It was fun while it lasted, now on to the fun of a new school year.

May

Adriana graduated with honors from Virginia Tech this month. I had a great time in Blacksburg meeting all of her wonderful friends.