The flight to Houston was uneventful and very calm. It gave me a chance to reflect on the past few hours, days, months. I thought about friends and family that I was leaving behind, how all of this came about and who was involved in getting me to this place in my life, and the Amazing opportunity that lied ahead of me. It also gave me a chance to clear my mind from all the craziness rolling around in it and Go to the Lord in prayer – Thanking Him for all that he has done for me, asking for continued guidance on my road to the future, and asking for Him to bring peace and acceptance to my friends and family that remain in the states.
The 4 hour layover in Houston brought me to a lady living in Houston who was on her way to Poland for a visit with family and friends. After enduring a long wait in a short line at a grill in the airport, she invited me to sit with her while we ate our meal. (Cathy, you would be proud of me – my gumbo soup contained CRAWFISH and I ate the whole cup of soup!) I spent some time talking with my sons, Ty and Aaron. I am saddened that I was unable to talk with my daughter before leaving the country. I also got a chance to talk to Mom one more time before getting on the next flight.
Next stop – Singapore! (by way of Moscow) The plane was the biggest I’ve ever been on with nine seats across and split in three seat sections. My seat was between Nick k and Paula. Nick was a young married man traveling on business and leaving his wife behind. He was lucky to have an international phone and was able to talk with her at intervals of the flight. Nick lives in Mississippi and raises Snakes! I called him “Nick Dundee” (I realize it is Mic Dundee, but he still found it funny and a compliment). Paula is a retired teacher whose youngest child is named Charlotte and is also my age living in Southeast Asia… go figure. She was a delight to have with me on our journey and I cherish her kindness.
I want to stop a minute and talk about Singapore Airlines. This is a most amazing airlines… spoiling you the entire trip! They flight attendants, half female/ half male, were all very kind and very willing to assist you. They all looked very professional with the men wearing 3 piece suits and the women wearing the famous sarong that is very beautiful! During the 10 hour trip to Moscow, we were either being served a meal, drink, or snack… and if we wanted anything else, all we had to do was ask. We each had a blanket, pillow, and headphones. We could watch TV shows, movies, or cartoons… or watch the flight path to see where we were on our journey. We went northeast to Canada, Greenland, and then southeast through Europe, Poland, Middle East (Saudi Arabia) and into Moscow.
Stopping in Moscow turned out to be my first overseas country to step foot on. When we landed, the flight crew asked us to vacate the plane so that they could clean it and get it ready for the next 10 hours to Singapore. So, we vacated and were directed to go through security before re-boarding the plane. The TV show, The Race, came to mind at this point. All the signs were in Russian with an occasional mention of the Singapore flight. I thought that I would be able to just follow those in front of me, but they had to ask for directions, too. At that point we were ‘herded’ through the airport to a special security section set up for the Singapore bound passengers. Some looked confused, some scared, and some annoyed. Me, I was just happy to be part of it all. This is an experience that I will cherish my entire life! The only part of Moscow that I was able to see was from the air and from the windows of the airport. It was very beautiful and I would love to go back when I can enjoy its true beauty.
Back on board the plane and continuing to Singapore, we greet and welcome those who just got on the plane in Moscow. (Did I mention how friendly everyone is on the plane?) I guess after 10+ hours in that close of quarters you would have to be. The middle section of our row contained an American Vietnamese, a Russian, and a good ole’ Missourian country boy. During the next 10+ hours I watched the three of them talk and get to know each other as Nic, Paula, and I did during the previous flight. The American Vietnamese was traveling with his girlfriend, but ‘didn’t want to listen to her yell at him’ so they sat apart. He was friendly and youthful and a lot of fun to talk to. The young Missourian sat next to the Vietnamese and was on his way (with several others) to another part of Indonesia to be Boiler makers. I joked and asked him, ‘Hey, isn’t that a drink”? The Russian was very nice and handsome, but didn’t speak English very well. He enjoyed practising with our Missouri boy.
I bought the book ‘Crazy Love’ written by Francis Chan to read on the flight, but I only made it to page 30. I was either being served something, visiting with my seat buddies, or sleeping. I did manage to get in a few old movies though… and a few Raising Hope episodes. Love that Show! This might be a good time to tell you more about the plane. Business first class is made up of ‘cubicles’. If traveling alone and you don’t want to be disturbed, that is the way to go! You have tons of room and your own treasured space! But, if you are traveling with someone, your opportunity to spend time together is limited due to the cubicle barriers. To each his own, I guess. Then there is the business class. I don’t see much difference in the business class and the economy. I was in the economy and seemed to get just as much attention as the next class. Oh, the bathrooms… they offer more room than you really need and they offer mouthwash (looking out for the other passengers, I assume.), lotion, cologne (didn’t try), tooth brush, and comb. Most passengers were very patient and tolerant of your time in the bathroom, but I found that some of the Asians would try to rush you by knocking on the door despite the fact that the sign said Occupied. Little did I know that this lack of patience is something that I would learn so much more about later after I reached Jakarta.
What I saw of Singapore is beautiful and I look forward to my trip there in August. Since I am here on a Business Visa, for the time being, I have to leave the country every two months and then re-enter. I am hoping to touch base with an old school friend who lives in Singapore. Changing planes in Singapore was fairly easy which entailed taking two sky trains, several different turns, and stopping along the way to take a picture of a family standing in front of some beautiful flowers. They then asked if I would like them to take my picture, as well. I accepted and pulled out my camera.
Entering Jakarta was Very eventful! I came to the country in a way that only I can seem to do…. Making it very memorable, to say the least. First thing to do after exiting the plane is to get my Visa. Never getting one before, I hadn’t a clue on the procedure. So, I did what I thought was normal and got into the Visa Upon Arrival line. After a long wait, I found that I had to get into another line and PAY for the Visa before getting the Visa approved. Oh, Ok, that sounds logical, right? Pay for something Before they tell you that you can have it. Ha! Luckily, after paying for the Visa ($25USD), the immigration officer let me ‘jump line’ to get it approved without having me wait through the ever growing line again.
OK, with Visa in hand, I headed for the luggage claim area. I rounded the corner to find TWO belts with luggage on it. Not sure which one to watch, I watched both till I found a familiar luggage. In all the craziness of packing for the trip, Mom suggested luggage straps. Thank you Mother! Mine were Neon green and I attached Neon pink luggage tags to the handles of each piece. Surely no one else would have That Combination, right? I found my first piece of luggage very easily on belt 2, but the biggest one was nowhere to be found. It contains the bulk of my clothes: my jeans, dress slacks, 98% of my shirts/blouses, my brown cowboy boots, my dress boots, and Oh yes, my big Makeup bag! UGH! Please tell me this isn’t happening! About the time I started telling myself to calm down, a sweet and wonderful Jakarta Airport assistant asked me if I needed help… Yes, I Do! She took a report and we are now just waiting for the suitcase to arrive.
I then headed for the arrival pick up area to meet Mr. Yento, the driver for the school. He was nowhere to be found, either. No problem, I will just find a public phone and call him. Mr. Wisnu gave me Mr. Yento’s number before I left Oklahoma City. I went to a security officer’s desk and asked for a public telephone to call my driver. He directed me to a man who was standing next to him. The man graciously offered to call my driver and asked for the number. He dialed the number then handed the phone to me. I let Mr. Yento know that I was at the airport, but he doesn’t speak English very well. Passing the phone off to the secretary, we realized the Mr. Wisnu never received the change in my itinerary. No problem, I will wait for the driver. I thanked the nice man for his help and he immediately told me that a ‘thank you’ wasn’t enough and that he wanted money – giving the international sign for ‘money’. Well, since he demanded payment and nothing was mentioned about the cost Before the offer to help me, you can just imagine how I took the news of his demands. Yes, I was nice about it! (Don’t worry Mom) I smiled and explained that I didn’t have any money with me and that I wouldn’t be able to pay him. I thanked him again and walked away. HE WENT WITH ME into the airport to show me where the currency exchange was! What nerve, I thought of him. Since I had initially asked for a public phone and it was the security officer who pointed me to the man beside him, I felt that a Demand for payment was out of line. Now granted, I didn’t know the customs at the time and that a note to self was in order, but I was Not about to reward rudeness! Finally, the ‘ever so helpful’ man gave up and left. Note to Self: Assume that Any act of kindness will Require a payment of some sort.
Mr. Yento finally arrived and my very memorable adventure to the school began…. I swear, Mr. Yento Must be a race car driver in his spare time! From what I gather, here are the rules for driving in Jakarta:
1. Everyone drives on the left
2. Everyone drives Fast!
3. It is OK to make your own lanes.
4. Change lanes whenever you want, It’s OK, Just honk your horn and they will move out of you way.
5. If the person in front of you is driving slower than you, just honk your horn to make him speed up or get out of your way.
6. Watch out for mopeds and motorcycles. They will weave in and out of traffic with no regard to lanes, shoulders, cars, or traffic rules!
7. Oh yea, Traffic Rules, I don’t think there are any!
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