That is what a fellow GS comrade texted to me once I made it home in the twilight and pouring rain, dodging lightening over my head as I scurried along the rice field pathway, after motorbiking from school in the biggest downpour I have ever experienced. The roads were so flooded and the rain came down so hard, I couldn't see a thing let alone break, since the flooded streets knocked my break power out. Good to know at the top of a hill. I knew leaving school that day, looking out at the darkening sky and sheets of rain that I had to toughen up and just do it. I had yet to ride in the rain.
Now I have seen plenty of little motorbike accidents and heard of many more, involving slick streets, miscued swerves, etc. So I made it to my motorbike after trudging across the river, up the trail to where I parked it with an umbrella in one hand and with my computer tucked in a plastic bag in the other. I donned my one-sized-fits-all poncho and helmet, stuffed everything in my new saddle bags and heading into the rush hour traffic. I drove like a granny on Valium and was passed by a million people, managing to make the cross-traffic turns and splashed my way through the giant puddles. Good times. I parked (still can't ride the skinny rice paddy trail to my house on motorbike yet) limped up the path and stopped at my friends, Teri & Steve's house, on the way to mine. They filmed my entrance, like a wet mop, laughing as I dripped into their house. I attempted to wait out the rest of the rain but the storm only got worse with darkness, thunder and lightening. So after arriving home and texting back that I wasn't struck by lightening and there were no termites flying in my kitchen, I was good. Hence the "America" text back.
Yes, the other night I discovered that near Nov 1, the termites come after the rains and swarm any lights. So the other night when I looked down at my kitchen floor after just walking in, I saw it moving. I thought, what the hell? What now? (It's always something here). And I saw millions of wings and writhing wormy bodies on the white tile floor of my new house (update on that below). The kitties were having a blast eating them up but I managed to sweep them mostly outside and off the counters. Then the next night I came home, showered and went downstairs to discover they were now in my kitchen, thousands swarming while I had showered. I couldn't take it. I had stepped into a National Geographic episode of what happens in Nov after the rains come...the flying ants. I grabbed a beer and headed outside, unable to turn the lights out let alone breathe, so I just gave up until they dropped their wings, about 1/2 hour later. I cleaned up that mess. Then I figured it out: turn on the outside lights, leave the inside ones off and wait until they pass by. Oh, and I saran-wrapped the last unscreened window with duck tape. (that will be fixed soon). But of course, I did this the other night and watched them all swarm outside my giant glass doors and eventually slide in underneath. They swarmed inside again. I gave up and after trying to stuff the bottom of the doors much to the chagrin of the kitties. I turned out all the lights around the house and sat outside again, drinking another cold beer. (Yes my drinking has increased here. But don't worry. I know my gene pool). I watched the termites fly to my neighbor's light and swarm. Good.
So much has happened since I wrote last, I think I have to very short updates:
1. I moved to the rice fields, near Ubud. I joined our GS teacher carpool of a great and lively group. I motorbike, carpool or sometimes ride my bike in to work. But since the rains have come, I try to carpool the 4 days we do. One day we all ride in on motorbikes.
2. My house is a little, two-story, round, multi-windowed, thatched roof, newly built house that over looks the rice and an almost finished swimming pool. I am excited. There are 6 houses here, and my landlord is great. I feel lucky to have found it. I loved the Bamboo Village but I wanted windows, doors, screens, tile, more community and a pool. Oh and to be able to walk to a coffee shop, which is where I am right now. :)
3. I have been working a lot but came to a realization the other day that I should temper that. I am here to experience Bali and not just GS. This came to me after a lengthy carpool discussion about work, and then I arrived to find my classroom had been completely swamped/rained on after that big storm I described. New leaks had surfaced (I am on the top floor) and all this student work was destroyed on my desk. I couldn't control it and although I was frustrated (again) I let it go and so went my need to work as much as I have been. I will try to not go in on weekends any more but I will do my best and call it a decent effort.
4. Ultimate Frisbee is alive and fun at GS once a week. We have had about 20 people show up, including students and us older players. I love it even though the field is short and the humidity is 85%, with an average temp of 85%. Sweating is just part of the game. Water isn't enough afterwards. Coconut really replaces the electrolytes. We play in tennis shoes or barefoot, although I prefer shoes since sweaty feet get you nowhere. There are a few really solid players that are fun to have out there. I am going to try to go to a few Asian tournaments after Christmas break.
5. With the change of seasons officially upon us, bodies adjust accordingly, or so we hope. I found that the intense moisture and heat brought a body rash that was excruciatingly annoying. After two days, I found the wife of a co-worker who is a healer and she gave me some advice. Oh, thank god. It cleared and all is well. But after being covered here and there with various bites from who knows what, I didn't need a heat rash. Jeez. I had been bit by the smallest insect that somehow got me in bed. I looked to see this painful bite and it was so small it looked like a pin prick. But it hurt so badly I couldn't bend over for a day. So now when I see the giant spider scurry in my bathroom, or the small biting flies nesting near the whiteboard, or the multi-colored millipede-thingy in my bed, or round hopping bugs on the stairs, or giant black bees near my desk at school, I don't flinch as much. I just swish it gently away. Then I shiver with, "what was that?" It's all good.
6. Love sitting outside at night and watching the fireflies dance through the ride fields. That and the raucous thunder and ligthening that woke me up the other night, shaking the bed, blinding the house and freaking out the kitties who huddled in the crook of my arm. I tried to count "1 one thousand, 2 one thousand" to see how far it was away. I didn't make it to "1." It was right over head. I have never experienced that intensity before, ever.
7. Attempted a night out with GS folks to hear Jason Mzak play. By the time we made it to the south of the island, and into the gigantic concert venue (near the beach), we caught the last song and two encores. It was a long night in the car after an already two hours in a sticky, rusted little bus, to&from a VB game that I co-coach. The kids play for about 20 minutes but there and back to GS takes two hours in traffic. So after getting back to GS at 5pm and heading straight to a concert (via picking up people at various places not along the way, dinner and outrageous traffic) it was another five hours in the car. I got home at 2:30am. Next time after working a 10 hour day, I think an additional five hours in the car isn't worth it. Call me crazy.
Well. That's the latest for now. Pictures soon.
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