39 Years

June 20 is my parents' anniversary. Unfortunately I wasn't here to celebrate as planned, but they pushed their plans back a week and dad surprised us with a dinner cruise in the world's busiest harbor! We almost missed the boat, but fortunately we made it even though we arrived 15 minutes after they told us to be there.

















The first Youth Olympic Games were getting ready to start, so there were lots of helicopters on the skyline. Notice in the background, the world's tallest ferris wheel/"observation wheel," standing at 165 metres (541 ft) high. It has 28 "capsules," each one able to hold 28 people.












As the evening finished, we were starting to talk about a recent discussion mom and dad had started, talking about the last 39 years and the merging of their family values and traditions. Good times. I am blessed beyond belief to have parents who are happily married after 39 years.

Another Kind of Stuck

Talk about a sticky situation…. I bought some super glue yesterday to fix some shoes for a friend and a ring of mine that had broken. The glue was advertised as having “Up to 2 tons holding power!” Yeah, right, I thought. Talk about false advertising! But I’ll give it a try.


Back at the ranch, I poked a hole in the top, applied the head to the tube, and started squeezing. Nothing came out. I kept squeezing. Some was coming out. Then I was aware of a warm feeling on my hand, and realized that I was stuck. The glue was leaking out at the mouth and not flowing through the attachment. All my fingers except my pinky were holding 2-tons-fast to the tube.

That was about 6:00. I had just returned from an afternoon of running errands. After searching the guest house for acetone, I decided there was nothing left for me to do but turn around and go back to the “mall” to see if a nail salon could help me out. Then I read the instructions and saw that I could try hot, soapy water as well. Eventually I did find some nail polish remover, too.

So, while watching Anne of Green Gables—the Continuing Story, I soaked and pried, using a butter knife to help. First the ring finger came loose, then my index finger, next my middle finger, and last but not least, my thumb was free at 8:15! The thumb was the most painful, but today my hand feels fine. What an adventure.

Waiting on the other end

My family is taking pictures of them waiting for me. :)




Just found out that it will probably be late Thursday night that we'll be together.

Stuck

I left the island on Wednesday, headed to Singapore to have a 2-week vacation with my parents and sister. For months I had been planning a reunion with a good friend in my supply town before she returned home. We were even booked on the same flight Thursday night--she had a layover in Singapore. We had a great 30 hours hanging out together before we hopped in a taxi for the airport, 2 hours ahead of our flight as recommended. After sorting through several luggage complications at check-in, we proceeded to taxes and immigration. A man behind a desk looked at my brand-new passport and asked me when I last entered the country. I racked my brain to remember.

"Where is your old passport?" he asked.

"I don't have it with me." I said, with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach as he began to question me about various things. Eventually he waved me on to get a pass for paying an exit tax. I thought everything was ok, but wondered if I should run back to the guest house where my old passport was (thankfully I didn't leave it on the island!!!).

In immigration, I was ushered into a superior's office, and told that I definitely needed my old passport. By this time there was less than an hour left until departure. I called the guest house, and someone graciously retrieved my passport and brought it to me--just after they called our flight to proceed to the waiting room. I handed my old passport to the immigration man. After thumbing through it, he said, "Your multiple exit/re-entry permit expired in April. You cannot leave the country."

Suddenly I felt like I was in a dream (or nightmare?). It isn't real. This isn't really happening. It can't be. Am I going to cry? No, because this isn't really happening. If I do cry, will this guy let me get on the plane? There HAS to be a way out.

There were less than 30 minutes left. More brain-racking. Who could I call? Surely there was a way to fix this. Well, there wasn't. If I got on that plane, I would not be allowed back in the country. My passport needed to be sent to the capital and I needed to apply for a permit. It was 8:30 at night. The next day was Friday. Even with same-day shipping, nothing could be done until Monday--government offices are only open half-days on Friday, and are closed Saturday and Sunday.

So here I sit, stuck in my supply town, Monday morning finally approaching. I have reason to hope that I can obtain a permit in 1-2 days, then wait for my passports to be mailed back to me, and hopefully the airlines will have an open seat for me. School is out, so a lot of people are traveling now. Despite the kafuffle, there are some things to be thankful for, like:

1. As long as I fly within 2 weeks of my original plans, the airlines will not charge me extra for the flight changes.

2. I was refunded my airport tax.

3. My parents now live in Singapore, so they are not going anywhere for a while. Charis is planning on taking some classes there this summer, so I will still be able to see her, even with the readjustment of my plans.

4. I was able to see another friend who was headed out to the island to keep C company in my absence.

5. I am super tired from these last 2 months of island life. It wore me down more than usual. My body and spirit are welcoming pre-vacation isolation and rest. It will be even more enjoyable to see my family on full tanks of gas.

Please pray that the permit is obtained quickly, and that the airlines has a seat for me! Thanks.

De-husking

Earlier this week I learned how to get the husk off a coconut without injuring myself. Tough stuff! I had a couple tutors. Apparently a big storm had come in the night before, so the girls went and collected a bunch of coconuts that fell so they could sell them--about 80 cents per kilo.

Hard Work

We went out for lobster the other night and had some yummy "fan" lobster. Other times when I've had it, they whacked it in half, but this time I had to break it open wit my bare hands. I nearly bled! :) But it was worth it.

Random chillings....

So, our internet has been out of comission for a full week. Great to have it back! I tackled my 52 new emails, and now posting a few pictures from my week....


The neighbor's kitchen turned into a coconut factory last Sunday.


Me and my buddy JE enjoying some watermelon.

Cake!!! C brought cake back as a gift for the neighbors, so we had a bit of a crowd in our kitchen yesterday morning.