Ahhh. Missing home.

I'll keep this entry short and simple. I just had my first Skype chats from Bali with Angeline and her family vacationing on the East Coast and then the Fitzarnold family in Bend. It is so amazing to catch up in real time. I love it! But now I am a homesick. Don't get me wrong, I am so happy I made the leap to try something new. But seeing familiar faces and smiles, touches the heartstrings. And pulls and pulls and pulls. I just go back to the idea that this will take time to adjust to. It isn't a long trip, but a move. I have never lived outside of Oregon before, so Indonesia is just big jump. Leaving my job, friends, community, family, Fiji, etc. can be jarring all at once. But someday I will look back and say to myself, "wow, I did that!" Just at this exact moment, at almost midnight, sitting by myself in my little bungalow, I am homesick.

Today we had our first staff orientation and all is well. The new GS staff look great, diverse in all respects. I am excited to work with everyone. We met the admin, we chatted, we toured, we ate, we opened Bali bank accounts, we learned a little Bahasa Indonesia. Tomorrow we will meet the founder of GS, tour the bamboo factory (around the corner from where we live in the Bamboo Village), learn to ride motor bikes (how everyone gets around!), learn more Bahasa, learn how to purchase order for school, etc. And so on for the week. I am glad they put this orientation together. It is helpful and comforting. Next week I think the week involves curriculum development and planning. Thank goodness for a long training session. There is much to do.

Off to bed now.