Our VIP (Very Important Person) List

We have been meaning to write this specific blog for a long time. Finally it is happening. 

So I  am still not giving up on this idea I had  with sharing pictures  I had hoped for a while back. These are pictures we took with YOU in mind, so we don't want to forget them. So I am restarting with "a picture a day for the month of May"- cheesy? Yes. But it may be motivating to have a theme. 

Since it is already May 4th over here, I am starting with these 4 pictures of 4 wonderful people. These are people that have meant so much to us in these 1st 18 months lived here. We really cannot imagine this year without them. They have become friends, but we have also greatly depended on them as "teachers" as we have navigated such a new way of living.  There is more that I could say than just the captions below, and more people I could add to the "VIP List", but I think this is a good place to start...

This is Ibu Maria. She is a teacher at the international school we work at. She was even there when I was a student there, 10+ years ago. She tutored Greg in his first months of language study. She made sure we got to the best doctor we could in town when Greg had to be hospitalized for his stomach infection back in August. She is amazing and we are so grateful to know her.

This is our dear Ibu Rum. She is our "pembantu" (helper.) It  is a very normal way of life here in Indonesia for a family that has enough income to have a helper work in their home. It is expected.We really cannot imagine walking through this first year without her. She actually worked at the dorm when I was a student here, so when she walked in for her interview- we both hugged and were so happy to see each other. She cooks & cleans for us, and we are so grateful. Some of those of you who lived here in the past may know her. She is a legend of a pembantu, and has worked with expats for nearly 30 years!

This is Pak Sapto. He is our language & culture tutor. He is such a valuable voice in our lives. Again we cannot imagine this first 18 months without him. Not only has he taught us vocabulary, and clarified the grammar I was (am) still struggling to grasp from formal language school, but he has been the one we often ask questions of, such as: what are expectations in the culture, or what is appropriate in certain situations. I did grow up here, but it is so different being an adult here- and it is humbling how much I don't know.You have to have friends like this as you continue being a "student" in a new place.

This is Pak Agung. He works with us at least once a week by driving us around town for errands,or taking us to the airport- since Greg and I both don't drive here yet. He is such a dear friend, and a great informal culture/language coach. He is the most "ramah" (friendly) person I know, so he leads the way for us in relationships, and appreciating culture. We love his wife & kiddos too. We are blessed to know him and again cannot really imagine life here without him.