Decy continued looking at houses through Saturday.  She has a short list of four, in this order:  (a) Pondok Indah house, (b) DaVinci house, (c) Cipete house, (d) Modern house.  We had to give them names just so I could keep them straight.  All houses are fresh, modern, and beautiful ... each carrying its own strengths, each its own weaknesses.

On Monday, Decy begins negotiations on the Pondok Indah house (pics posted).  Current asking rental price, $4,000/mo + tax.  Our allowance is $4,350/mo; we are still clarifying about the tax.

Decy has done an absolutely tremendous job over the last 2 weeks.  Its hard to move, and even more difficult to another country.  Even though Decy speaks Bahasa Indonesia, and Jakarta is her home town ... she has no experiences in the "expat relocation process" .... the time compression and stress is enormous ... school placement, house selection, and car purchases ... will all be done in a matter of weeks.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars in "decision making" all in less than a month ... a challenging task, for anybody ... and I can only help and guide her via telephone. 

We have to ensure the PI house meets security requirements, then ensure it has water purifier, backup electricity generators, yadi yadi yadi .. then after some price negotiations and ensuring the house has all we need ... we can lock down a deal and a move in date (all going well, enshahallah; God willing).

Next step after negotiations is finding temporary basic furniture (beds, couch, dinette) ... so we can "live" while Decy designs and has made our custom, hand carved, teak furniture.  The next few months will be near chaos ... but it should be both challenging and fun.  Decy says that she can furnish the house for US$10k .. I don't think so (not even in Jakarta).  But, I am confident that the result will be absolutely beautiful ... and far cheaper than what can be done in the US ... besides, I have some extra dollars tucked away in case she goes "over budget" ... so, I'm not sweating it.

What about the cars? Hmmm, no progress there. But, that is ok, we have some time as we have a company paid car and driver until at least 12-September.  Besides, I'm not too keen on forking out US$60k of my own money until I can touch and feel the cars.

What about me ... sorry ... my life is boring.  Went on the night hash on Friday ... a VERY small group, only about 10 ... when we normally run 25-30 at night. Many folks were still out on holidays.  What we were lacking in numbers, was made up in energy.  The US Marines let us run and circle up at their house. It was lots of fun - - - these guys and gals have a hard job, we need to show them respect ...

ciao ciao

Sorry folks, not much to write about today ... have a night time hash this evening, which should pretty much keep me out of trouble.

On the Jakarta relocation front, Decy continues house hunting.  One of her top two has been just taken. I think Decy is going to try to reach a decison on a house by about Tuesday; then, it has to go thru a security review before leasing.  I'll try to post a pic or two on her favorite sometime this weekend.

Decy's also looking at cars for us.  She is leaning towards Toyota's due to quality, styling, and service in Jakarta ... coupled with good resell values.  Her two favorites right now are the Innova and Fortuner; the first is a like a mini-van, the second like a small SUV. We will need two cars and I suspect that we will likely need to pay cash for both as I don't think the financing will be attractive .... ouch

I need your help. Seriously.  PLEASE READ.

Last night I shared dinner with some of my friends, including a Muslim Pakastani family who I very much respect and like.  We talked about religion in an entirely cordial, professional, and open manner.  What I heard absolutely shocked me.  Read on.

According to my friend, the Muslims are protecting and preserving a christian church.  According to their own writings, it is in that church that the Muslims expect Jesus to return as King.  IS THIS TRUE?

I can't write down all I heard last night, but was absolutely shocking to learn how much common history and beliefs the Muslims share with Christians and Jews.  What I heard last night made me realize that Muslims are truly our brothers ... sadly there are fanatics and extremists that are giving mainstream Muslims a bad reputation ... which should be a lesson for Christians, that we should always at in love and kindness ... not hatred, bigotry, and damnation.

So where have Chely and Thasya disappeared to?  They haven't blogged lately ... probably because they are incredibly busy right now.

After many days of testing, interviewing, meetings, yadi yadi yadi, JIS accepted both girls.  This was on Tuesday AM ... and orientation began immediately and continues for 2 days.  Classes start on Thursday.  We will need to give "our regrets" to AIS - I think Decy called them yesterday and I will follow up with an email today thanking them for their patience.

At that same time that is going on, Decy checked out an acceptable (from company security perspective) alternative hotel that is closer to the school but much further from my office.  Given that I don't arrive for 3 weeks, she opts for changing hotels ... and moved last night ... she is at the Kristal, which has a website if anybody is interested.

As if the above isn't enough to do, Decy is house hunting ... or "hunting houses" as she calls it ... sounds funny that way ... like she is going to shoot one.   She's probably looked at 6-7 already ... found two she liked ... and will continue the process and look at some more for the remainder of the week.  Goal is to narrow down this week to where the top one or two can go through the security clearance process.  If acceptable, then serious detailed negotations can begin ....

As for me .... BORING ... work continues.  Thankfully tonight I have a dinner to go to ... that will break up the week.  Plus, this Friday we are going to have a "Full Moon Hash" starting at 7pm ... those are particularly fun ...

ciao ciao ...

As everybody knows, Decy is in Indonesia and I'm here alone in Angola.  Decy always does a good job of stocking up on food for me ... and pre-prepares dinners for me.

So, with high confidence and in recognition that she had been gone more than a week, I decided to do a quick check on the food supply.  Results are as follows:

Dinners - appears to be sufficient for the next 3 weeks

Beverages - appears to be more than sufficient for the next 3 weeks, I will have to give a bunch a way

Lunches - hhhhmmmm,  24 buns (for sandwhiches), 22 slices of cheese, lunch meat for 8 sandwhiches ..... 15 remaining work days.  Yikes, the mathematics don't quite work ...

... running to nearest Safeway doesn't quite work here in Angola .... looks like I will be "challenged" in the sandwhich department next week .... I better start scoping out alternatives.

ciao ciao

So much to blog, so little time to do it (especially with connection problems in Angola).  Went on the Luanda Hash yesterday (Saturday).  Had a great time ... its quite a diversion.  Even sold about 10 t-shirts, which is normally Decy's job.  I will hand over that responsibility next weekend.  I am also responsible for the mailing list (email and YahooGroups of course) ... which I will hand over this week.

About the hash, it was great. we were out on a penisula ... ran along the beach, through houses, past sunken ships, said hi to the three little pigs (really), looked at a jet plane in the "park", and yadi yadi yadi.

Once again, I had problems with the kilo driver to take me home ... it was bad enough that I had a dinner I was supposed to be at ... at 700pm ... but when I can't find my kilo and call dispatch ... and they say (at 630pm) ... where are you?  We will send a kilo ... that really blows my mind ... given that (a) they dropped me off at 1230pm and I asked the driver to explain to dispatch exactly where I was, (b) I called dispatch at 330pm to organize a pickup at 530pm and reconfirmed the location, (c) the kilos deposited 5 other company employees at the exact same site I was at, and (ahem) ... (d) there were vehicles waiting for the other five folks  .... urggghhh ... ANGOLA !!!!  I arrived at the dinner at 8pm ... after jumping in somebody else's vehicle.

Had a great dinner with KC and Lydia Yap, good Malaysian friends of mine.  They also had over Drew and Debbie Bishop, whom I work with very closely, Pauline (a very good friend of Decy's and mine) and King (?) whom I've never met before.  Had an absolutely great dinner of Malaysian food ... and then went on to karaoke.  Debbie refused to sing. Drew tried, but held back, Pauline did great ... but had to leave early.  So, KC, Lydia, King and I decided to carry forward the activities.

Now for those of you that don't know/participate in karaoke ... each machine is different (scoring, for example), each music is different (even on the same songs), and often the translations are in error (such as saying "eres tu" as "e restu").  BUT, it is fun anyway.  So ... there were lots of scores in the 80s and 90s ... then suddenly King and I get a 100 ... well, that blew everybody away ... so Drew taunts us about a repeat performance ... a few songs later ... King and I get another 100.  Well, that shut Drew up (seriously, I like Drew a lot and see more of him than I do Decy ... as his office is right next to mine).  After the folks leave, KC and I are playing around ... and we score a 100 on some song.  Hey man ... three 100s.  Can you believe that?  I can't. That machine must be broken ..... BUT, it sure fed my ego !!!! - Thasya, eat your heart out !!!!

Woke up this morning to a ringing phone.  Decy was trying to reach me from Indonesia ... even though I sent her an email at ~230am my time .. she wanted to call me bright and early. Took care of that. Then went back to sleep. She called me an hour later.  Seems that JIS called her (on Sunday) about placing Thasya ... so, presumably that means she has been accepted.  Still didn't get the official word on Thasya nor Chely ... so that is Priority #1 Monday morning.

Decy and the girls went to Ciputat today (Sunday). Ciputat is a burb of Jakarta ... and where they lived before coming to Angola; we have a small (but beautiful) house there that Decy designed and had built. They spent the day with the family. Don't have all the info, and maybe the girls will blog more for us ... but I think they learned (and saw) that you can never "go back".

For me, today. I continued working on the move/packing ... double checking closets, throwing away items of little value.  Found a duffle bag of pics ... including ones from the boys first trip overseas to Colombia in 1997.  Wow ... memories ... love ... pain ... loneliness (those are my feelings, not the boys).  Even found some pics of friends that are now passed away.  This moving stuff really hurts !!!!

One thing is certain ... just like the house is "empty" without Decy and the girls ... so is my life ....

ciao ciao

Glad this week is over - I'm really struggling to stay focused at work ... and it is very hard to relax and enjoy my time at home (with the house being empty and dismantled/ready for packing).

Today, Saturday, I will do some preparations for the move.  Then, I will go set the hash trail - we are going to have a beach run.  Then, do the hash. Then, going over to a friend's house (KC Yap) to have dinner.  Really, not a whole lot to do .... very empty without Decy.

RE the girls & Jakarta, all the testing is complete. They were both accepted into AIS (Australian International School) and we are waiting to hear on JIS (Jakarta International School).  All has to be resolved by Monday AM - which school to go to ... decisions, decisions.

Next Monday, Decy begins the house hunting work ... fun fun fun ... then after that (probably the following week) she gets to begin the car purchasing work (we need to buy 2 cars).  Wow !!! Lots of work, but a woman's dream .... shopping, shopping, and shopping.

ciao ciao.

This morning I was working on my "morning constitution" and noticed that Decy had left me with quite a bit of toilet paper (good on her, as I don't want to run out !!).  Anyway, it was all Angolan style ... and appropriately marked in Portuguese "Superior Quality".

Now, I know Charmin ... and I know Angolan ... so apparently the Angolan labelling was associated with "relative" quality not "absolute" quality.  You see, the Angolan TP is like 200 fine sand paper ... oh yeah, its superior ... superior to newspaper and tree bark .... the office TP isn't any better either.

ciao ciao

Ha ! I've moved up in the pecking order in my house.  I am now KING !!! Of course, nobody is here ... so the competition is (essentially) non-existant.

For the past three years, I have watched Decy (each night) spray some air freshener on her pillow and her side of the bed.  She says it makes the bed smell nice and fresh.  This is probably an "Indonesian thing" due to the high humidity there ... which has a tendency to make things smell musty.  ANYWAY, for three years Decy has been spritzing her side of the bed .... never once (do I recall) her spritzing or offering to spritz my side.

So, to make a long story short .... the other night I found her bottle of freshener ... and promptly spritzed MY side of the bed.  Smells nice and fresh.  Its a great idea.  I'm going to do it again .... wonder why I never did it before ... and Decy never offered.  Oh well ... such is life.

ciao ciao 

NTR (Nothing to Report) ..... don't have much to say about me, other than sama-sama (same old, same old) work routine .... just want it over.

Decy and the girls are at JIS (Jakarta International School) today.  They are meeting the teachers, checking out campus, and completing their entrance exams.  I hear that the AIS (Australian International School) exams were delayed until Friday ... which means it will be this weekend or Monday before we finalize the decision on which school the girls should attend.  Per Che's blog (and my conversation with her yesterday) she is pretty upbeat about AIS .... and so it Thasya.

Today's hump day, but that doesn't mean much ... thank goodness there is a hash this weekend.  I am going to hare (set the trail) and we are going to run along the beach (good hard run in the sand, he he he).  This will be a nice diversion .... at least for 1 day.  The other day I will work on relocation paperwork and do another sweep through the house in pre-packing preparations.

Wish I had more to write, but that is it at this time ... just call me Hooper Sr.

ciao ciao

.... when your family has moved to another country and you have to stay behind for a while.  Ouch !!!  Over the past few months there have been many changes in our home as Decy and the girls prepared for the move. Now, they are gone ... and I'm here for yet 4 more weeks.

Came home tonight after a long day of work (natch) ... not only does the house look empty, it feels empty ... just concrete, flooring, walls. No soul. No spirit. No feeling. No love.  Just an empty existance.

Maybe I can learn from this experience.  Its not really what is on the outside ... but very much what is on the inside.  The house is still the same ... only the family and the love is gone .... I will manage ... I always do.

Decy and the girls arrived safely in Jakarta, as you may know from Che's blog.  Life in Jakarta will be very different than in Luanda.  Life will be EXTREMELY different than when they were in Jakarta before joining me.  I have tried to help manage their expectations ... but now, they will see for themselves.  They have learned so much over the last 3 years.  They are NOT the same people as before.  While the city may feel strange to them .... the big adjustment is when they go see the family in Ciputat (suburb of Jakarta).  Please continue praying for Decy, Chely, and Thasya.

Tomorrow the girls go to the Australian International School for a look-see.  Then Wednesday to the Jakarta International School for testing/placement.  Then Thursday back to AIS for testing/placement ... unfortunately, no rest for the girls.  However, they will be given a rare opportunity to have input into the decision on which school they want to attend.  This is priority #1 this week.  Next week, for Decy, its house hunting.

As for me ... I must focuse on my work ... too many issues .... too many dollars at stake ... but my heart is not here ... it is with Decy.

Ciao ciao.

.... I love my family: Decy, Chely, Thasya, Josh, Chris, Paul, Norma, Tony, Andrew ..and especially mom and poncho.

And, I love my friends too ... for example, Tom, Franck, Stela, Drew.

Ok. Good night. Selamat Tidur. Boa noite ... ciao ciao.

Decy and the girls are somewhere over the Indian Ocean right now. I expect them to land in Singapore in about 5 hours. Its been a tough day for me ... emotionally, as well as trying to work from home.

On Friday, Decy received a phone call from the Indonesian Embassador to Namibia.  He wanted to wish her the best and advised he would contact us the next time he is in Jakarta.  Decy touched so many lives here ... from the highest levels of society (Indonesia is the 4th largest country in the world) to the most basic levels.  She is a beautiful woman, inside and out.

As for me, I'm hanging in there. I feel so empty; so incomplete without Decy.  She is my love, she is my life.

I have worked about 10 hours today (Sunday) on a major company issue.  I really want to be with Decy and the girls, helping them through this transition/change, sharing in their thoughts and feels.  Sadly, I am stuck here in Angola, trying to complete my work ... and already I am struggling with focus.

Back in May, I had to take a decision .... either send Decy and the girls early (to minimize distruption to schooling) or have them wait for me ...and risk the girls missing a month of school.  I chose to send everybody early.  I pray that was the correct decision .... time will tell.

Please continue praying for us.  For those of you who have never experienced international relocations, and (as in this case) the associated challenges of a "mixed marriage" you cannot imagine how challenging this is, logistically, emotionally, and physically.

Thank you. Bill

Today, Decy and the girls left for Indonesia.  I went with them to the airport, but had to leave them at the curb ... our kilo wasn't authorized to park at the Luanda airport.  So many emotions. So much pain. So difficult to deal with over the last few days.  We did, however, have a little bit of closure ... one glimpse that we had made an impact ... however small it was.

Don't know if I mentioned it or not in a previous blog, but Decy recently designed a hash t-shirt that was "very Angolan" using their flag colors and one of her drawings of 3 Angolan women carrying baskets.  On the way to the airport, we passed a creek bed where hundreds of Angolans with colorful plastic buckets wash their clothes and take water back to their houses.  Today .... as we passed by ... Thasya saw one of the Angolans wearing Decy's hash t-shirt.  Don't know who they were. Don't know how they got it .... but part of us ... was there ... in that creek bed .....

The above pic is not intended to offend anyone ... it is merely Decy's creativity associated with what she saw and felt here in Angola.

Decy said her final goodbyes to most people yesterday, even one of the kilo drivers was crying.  Decy touched so many lives.  Decy made a difference to hundreds of people: Angolans, Portuguese, Brazilians, Colombians, Thai's, Malaysians, Indonesians, English, Bangladeshis, Indians, Pakistani's, Korean, Chinese,  French, Italian, Lebanese, American, Venezuelan, and many others ....  she will be sorely missed by all.

As for me, I still have 4 weeks of work here. I am nervous, however, as the item I am working on is very important to the company.  I am concerned that either my trip to Indonesia will be delayed ... or I will have to come back to Angola on a business trip basis.  I already miss my family ... and I want to be with them to help build our new life together in Indonesia.  I belong at Decy's side.

.... Stela, if you see this, thanks for meeting us at the airport ... I know it touched Decy and the girls very much ... me too.

ciao ciao

Last night was yet another farewell, alas, this one was FOR a close friend of ours who is being relocated to Sakhalin Russia.  He and his wife (Dave and Janet Lofquist) are very good friends of ours.  We have been through a lot together both professionally and personally .. and we are hopeful to see them in Far East Asia.

Regarding us, today (Friday) is Decy's and the girls' last full day in Angola.  I know that Decy is not blogging right now .... its too painful.  Today will be a challenging day (with yet one more "tea" between Decy and some friends) .... and the four of us (Decy, Chely, Thasya, me) will bring it to a close by having dinner as a family at Decy's/my favorite restaurant ... Pintos.

It is only fitting that we dine at Pintos tonight .... birthdays, anniversaries, 20 yr company dinners, romance, hopes, dreams, and even disappointments ... were all was shared at Pintos over the last 4 1/2 years.

Tomorrow morning (Sat) a kilo will pick Decy and the girls up .... and so a very important chapter in their lives will end ... and a new one begins .... a new chapter that is only known to God at this time ... but will reveal itself with every sunrise ... please remember Decy and the girls in your prayers - - this transition/move is much more difficult than you can possibly imagine ...

Ciao ciao 

Wednesday night was once again, another night of farewells.  This one beyond compare.  Last night we were at the home of a middle class Angolan family.  Words cannot adequately express/describe the extra-ordinary effort they must have gone through to make it special .... I will post some pics later this week.

Given the various language challenges, it was an evening of .... English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Bahasa Indonesia .... yikes, what a challenge .... but fun too !!!! (I swear, I heard some French too !!)

During the evening, we ate funge (tapioca root, that is used like a mashed potato), calulu (a seafood soup), codfish, and a seafood (shrimp and oyster) rice.  It was fantastic, and the best I have ever eaten in Angola.

Company was great ... and we ate and visited until about 12 midnight.   Even the children were engaged, and I looked at drawings of an up-and-coming artist (probably 6 years old as of last night) .... he was so cute !!!!

Saying "good-bye" was Sooooooo difficult. We could not without tears .... so we only said "until next time".

Wish I could say more ... but I am barely moving forward with only 2.5 hours sleep.

Ciao Ciao.

Tuesday night we had the company farewell.  I decided to stay "low key" as I am not into bling-bling events about "me".  Overall, there were about 20 employees/spouses at our dinner at O'caril .... basically the Angola Sr. Management.

Had a great time of visiting and dining, followed by the customary cudos for "a job well done" ... like my son, Paul, there have been times of frustration, times of feeling under-appreciated, times of just wanting to quit.  But, I am a professional ... and I also have an obligation to support my family ... so I continue moving forward.

One person asked me what was the most memorable event of my 4.5 years in Angola.  I surprised him and everyone when I said (without hesitation) ... getting married.  You see, I came to Angola single ... but I am leaving married ... not with an Angola girl ... but with a very beautiful and supportive Indonesian lady.

I have grown a lot over the past 4.5 years ... I have evolved.  I am not perfect .... but I have moved forward.  And, now, it is time to move on ... first Decy (this weekend) and soon me (in late August).

In closing, we received two parting gifts from the company.  The first was a set of paintings of Angolan musical instruments from the moderately famous Angolan painter Kabongo.  The second a 2 ft tall hand carved statue of the pensador (the thinker).  How very appropriate ... a balance of "reflection" and creativity ....

ciao ciao

VISION #1 - Last night, on the way home .... saw yet another corpse.  It appears somebody was travelling at a high rate of speed down the wrong side of a divided street.  Victim never had a chance.

VISION #2 - This morning, on the way to work ... two pigs (swine) digging through the garbage beside the road.

REFLECTION - May God grant me the strength to change the things I can change, the serenity to accept the things I cannot, the widsom to know the difference.

Had the Pakistani farewell last night. Had a great time visiting with friends and eating traditional Pakistani food. Great food !!

As a parting gift Decy recieved a Serapi (?) ... wrap shawl that had a beautiful pattern ... one side was primarily greens and the other side primarily reds ... I jokingly said that meant "yes" and "no" .... regarding romance ... so Decy could merely choose which color was on the outside and I would instantly know her intention.  Decy also received a handmade necklace from S. Africa.  For me, I received a beautiful book about Pakistan ... what a wonderful looking country.

As for tonight, Tuesday, this is our official company farewell.  It is scheduled for now (rather than in August) so that Decy and the girls can attend.  I have selected the restaurant "O'caril" which is an Indian food restaurant.

... between events, I'm working 14+ hours.

ciao ciao