Happy Birthday, Mom!

I would have no other mother in the world! God blessed me with the perfect mother for me. Your perseverance, hard work, love for Jesus, commitment to prayer, and transparency are an inspiration to me.

Thanks for being so real and for teaching me how to rest and kick back, too.

I love you momma!

Prov. 31:28

Lusa

It means "the day after tomorrow." (English needs a word like that!) That's when I fly out to Singapore. My parents are here now for a couple weeks, so it will just be Charis and me in Singapore until they get back. Mom will spend tonight and tomorrow night at my house. She and dad are on their way here from across town where they’ve been this week and will be here within the hour. I can't wait! AND I am really excited to have a whole month of no flying ahead. I really should start looking into tickets for going to the U.S.....

I took an ojek home today after work (motorcycle transportation), and had a little conversation with this family while waiting at a traffic light. They were on their way home just like me. I love this country. :)

Final countdown

Soaking in every minute I can before leaving this wonderful country and wonderful city. Today my opinion of the city sky-

rocketed when I learned about Car Free Sundays. I was dumb-founded that they have such a thing here, and it was exhilarating to walk down the middle of one of the busiest streets in the city, right downtown.

Yesterday I spent the day with my friend L shopping for cloth. It was our last chance to be together before I leave. The US-dollar cloth was pretty entertaining. :) Thanks for your patience, L! I'll miss you!

16 more days

My mom recently commented in an email to me:

"It is interesting how intensely you enjoy [your current city life] and how intensely you yearn for the USA."

It is a weird place to be in. I am loving every minute here, and at the same time cannot wait to go back to the U.S. But it's probably good I'm not hating life when I go. I keep thinking of my team leader's wife who, every time we played games said, "Let's stop while we're still having fun." Good advice, B!

Last night there was a fancy dinner that I went to with my friends. We did our hair at the salon and were required to wear traditional formal-wear.

We made good use of the effort we put in to having to get dressed up.

So much fun with my girls. I love them to pieces and will MISS THEM!!!

(click on picture to enlarge & see faces-their pose & my reaction that got caught in the background when I turned around and saw them)

I'm not in the jungle anymore...

Seize the days...

I can't really start an official countdown until I actually purchase a ticket, but in my mind I am counting down the days and relishing the moments I have left here. I have had no desire for western food–not even my own cooking! I want to enjoy all my favorite local cuisines as often as possible in the 3 weeks I have left, and soak up sights, smells (some I'll be glad to miss), and reasonable luxuries that I can, while I still can––like $1.50-haircuts and $4-massages.