Damn, it's hot!

Damn, is true. It is sweltering here at about 31*C, but really feels like 39*C. In other terms, it is 88*F, but feels like 102*F, and if you add in the humidity of about 85%, well, everyone is glowing. Yes, it is hot, sticky and I find myself moving towards any breeze that comes my way like a dog leaning towards the wind, while hanging out the car window. I have been sweating all day and felt really warm, as if I had a fever. A sore throat cold settled in the other day, with a lovely deep cough, which would make sense of a ever coming too. But alas, no fever, I think it is just the heat. I have never really spent continuous time in a hot tropical climate where the heat doesn't really let up, ever. So how does one react? Well, I find myself slightly irritable. And as a teacher of middle school kids, if you lose your sense of humor and lightness, things get ugly. So I am trying to be on my best behavior as it goes. 

Overall, I would say that in the heat you:

 1. eat less

2. drink more water and green coconuts

3. feel sticky all the time which makes bug bites insanely itchy

 4. invite yourself to as many homes with pools as often as possible

 5. shower at least twice a day (and my water was out the past two days. ugh!)

6. laugh less and complain more

7. be less motivated to do anything worth any physical effort

8. lock the kitties out of your house when they pounce on your head at 4:30am (regardless of snakes)

9. drink more (not water)

10. cook less and thank god I live near restaurants now

In all this complaining which I hate to do, I moved into my new place about a month ago and the pool is done. That doesn't mean it is completely full but swimmable at least. There is much to do around the perimeter and get the pump working, etc. but at least I can jump in and cool off. Lovely! My door opens right to the pool and company will always be there. I give up privacy for coolness. I don't care either. I am attaching a few pictures that I took the other morning. I will add a few better ones soon. 

I still don't have reliable internet at home, so when I get home on the weekdays, after a 25 minute sometimes harrowing motorbike ride or a 30 minute carpool and walk out to the rice fields, I tend to stay there. And on the weekends I walk to a place with internet but not always early enough to get all the calls in. I hope this will change soon. I either have to buy a stick that provides internet and pay a monthly fee or wait for my landlord to fix the situation. 

So I want to make some more phone calls but the timing is a bit off. I want to hear about the Jingle Bell run in Bend, the rain in Portland, the snow on Mt. Hood and everything in between.

Miss everyone!

Pic 1=My little round house, looking from pool.

Camping, Eating and Sweating

Time has been flying the past few weeks! I just spent the past week camping with my Grade 8 students in West Bali National Park on a remote island, for a coral reef survey. The Green Studies theme for this group is conservation, so we worked with an organization, the Odyssey Institute, and spent the days learning how to do a scientific study looking at reef indicator species: fish, echinoderms and the substrate. Our classroom was in the ocean: snorkeling and counting species. The kids did great although just imagine camping with 14 mostly immature boys where hormones and bathroom humor go a long long way. Needless to say I loved it all: the group of adults was refreshing, the kids were entertaining and the water was bathtub warm and beautiful. The weather was a mixed bag of extreme heat, and rain sprinkled with lightening and wind. But to sit around a camp fire and watch the stars and embers was something I didn't realize I missed so much. (Pictures coming soon) And to be able to swim in the water every day was so lovely. I brought a frisbee and the kids really took to playing 500 in the shallow water to cool down. That, charades and a cribbage board completed the entertainment factor. Oh and the fruit bats that flew overhead at night were the biggest I have seen so far. Outrageous!


A few hours after we got back form camping, it was time for Thanksgiving dinner. I was graciously invited to a student's house, his parents hosting a sit down meal of 70 people or so. I had no expectations other than I heard the food would be excellent. I went with my co-workers, catching a ride on a motor bike, as it was in the neighborhood. The house was Bali divine and absolutely spectacular, with a view that was surreal. The company was great, food absolutely wonderful (full turkey dinner with pumpkin pie) and the house...well just check it out:

http://enzodalverme.photoshelter.com/gallery/G0000t9Wz6FClepQ

We just stayed up on the main floor, as all the rooms and private quarters were off limits. But you get the idea. I just walked around sipping these fabulous icy grapefruit cocktails the host kept feeding his guests, with my mouth gaping open and telling everyone that I really could live here. But in reality, it is a little big for my taste. :)

I did make a few calls home at school yesterday in this tiny window I had between teaching. It was so great to talk. I realize that I need to call home more often. It is just such a weird feeling. It makes me excited but homesick at the same time. I am happy in the moment then a bit sad afterwards. But then I look around, take a deep breath, drink in the humidity, find someone to play with and all is better.

The weather really is hot now. I had no idea what this could feel like. Like the cold-sideways Portland rain, the humidity and warmth just slowly sneaks under your skin and settles. Of course unlike P-town weather, this heat appears in the form of heat rashes, flushed skin and a permanent facial shine. A teacher yesterday said, "I feel like I am the only one who sweats this much." We all laughed at her silliness. Everyone has a glow. And if you walk anywhere, which all of us do all the time, you are just hot. There is no humility in the sweat that pours through your clothing. I spent most of the day yesterday with our middle school kids and visiting Indonesian middle school kids playing field games. It was so hot, with the sun just beating down, I had to pull them off the field every 10 minutes or so and make them drink water. One student was so hot even after drinking a bottle of water and sitting in the shade for 20 minutes, I bought him a green coconut from our little Warung (outdoor cafe) on campus to drink and he was better in a few minutes. The green coconuts replace electrolytes like nothing else. I try to drink one a day at school. But I need to figure out how to open them on my own and buy them near my house and store them in the fridge.

So now post T-Day, I am just gearing up for the next few weeks of school. My new landlord says I work too hard as he watching me return late every day. And since I leave before most are up and return almost at dark, it is true. But then again, I am the only one in my little complex that has a day job. And as most teachers know, the work begins after the kids leave the classroom. Which usually happens before school, after school, at lunch, on the weekends or during any possible break. Although my new motto is to not go in on the weekends now. Bali or not, teaching is time consuming. So until I switch careers, I am in the mix of working hard.

I have decided that I need a mosquito net in my new house. Screens or not, those little buggers find their way in and I have new bites in random places that the sheets can't hide. A friend had some camphor clear lotion the other day that takes the itch out of the bites and I just bathed in it. She ended up giving it to me. With the heat rashes and bites, it can be a mix of itching and squirming throughout the day. But it's really not that bad. A seriously hot shower (sounds counterintuitive but it works) will take the itch out of any rash or bite. And our little pool is almost finished where I live and that will be great! A day or two away...can't wait!

Off to do some errands now on this sunny Saturday: find a dry bag for my computer, buy a  mosquito coil metal tin, exercise and swim in someone's pool. Ahhhh, the weekends are nice.  More later!

"America is for wimps"

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.

Sleeping Sharks

I have to laugh right now because of my current situation. I just called Uncle Mike from The Quick & Easy Boys at 2:00am Oregon time (they just finished a gig in Bend), while I am cooking rice and lentils, as my neighbor is playing the Star Wars title song on his trumpet blaring into my house and my kitties are falling asleep like little drugged aliens after they ate their dinner, while I was squirting a stray cat from coming inside. My front door is open and it is just starting to get dark outside which means the local temple recording will soon sound at the 5:45pm call to Hindu prayer. I had to light incense since there was a cremation next door with my ceiling fan spinning constantly above. It has been a very hot day that I spent mostly at school prepping for classes while reminiscing on my last week diving in the Komodo Islands. There you go. Life in Bali. Nothing short of entertaining.

I did indeed see sleeping sharks, swimming sharks and many other amazing creatures under the deep blue sea. Before this trip, I had about 4-5 dives to my name (I can't exactly remember since I left all my PADI paperwork in storage and it was 20 years ago). This was a trip where I should have had at least 20 open water dives to be aboard. But I was allowed to dive. Barely.

The always entertaining and hilarious German dive master and boat owner, Vovo, was creative and I survived. He reminded me and guided me but was clearly used to pro divers. I was with my co-worker Teri and her husband Steve, who invited me along and worked out all the details.

Vovo's beautiful and sweet Indonesian wife, Yani, cooked us the best food I have ever had and three crew supported the trip. The boat was home away from and the weather perfect.

We shared the boat with a lovely Swiss father and daughter, who were 80 dives more experienced then me but very patient and kind.

Needless to say I learned an incredible amount and am in love with diving. I was especially nervous and scared with everything the first few dives. I had trouble clearing my ears, finding the right mask and breathing slowly, but it was all worth it. We dove in protected bays as well as open currents and saw sharks, turtles, scorpionfish, trigger fish, sea stars, sea slugs, sea worms, clown fish, manta rays, angel fish, grouper, and so many other kinds it was overwhelming. The coral was stunning and the fish came in every color possible. It was sensory overload for the eyes. And incredible will-power to not freak out in the mind. We are not meant to be 90 ft under water, and once I learned to trust myself and my equipment, I was much more relaxed.

Komodo diving can be quite dangerous with the currents and is considered a place for professionals. There were a few times that I had my hand held through the currents (thank god!) so I wouldn't panic or get swept away. We heard the stories that indeed happened with folks last year that were swept away and not picked up or found for days. No fooling. But we had Vovo and they did not. We also had his trusted crewman, Merajap, who was always in the speed boat waiting after each dive, battling the currents and looking for our bubbles. 

Vovo would brief us on each dive, what currents to expect, where to go, what depth we would be at, etc. One particular dive, Castle Rock, we dove about 90 ft into this bowl and there were so many fish all around, above and below that with the sun glimmering down, it was surreal. I wrote a poem.

"Castle Rock"


Descending down into the depths
Farther down than my ears wanted to go,
Farther than my eyes could comprehend, 
the world opened before me.


Shimmers, glints, shadows, 
Sunlight streaming down.
Losing sight of the surface,
Schools of fish living in beauty.


Here in this place we are guests.
With the coral cascading down
into the sandy bottom,
Where the sharks sleep.


Life continues in movement,
eating, attacking, breathing, dancing.
waters we pack heavy 
To be, in this light.


And stare in awe 
with mouths full of air,
with life all around
a constant flow moving before us.


Turning, staring, pointing, smiling,
we can't get enough of this place.
We don't want to leave, 
to believe it isn't our home.


Today here, tomorrow eager to return.
Breathe deep, breathe slowly
and again I will see the light
below.


Beyond the diving we did take the speed boat to Rinca Island to see the Komodo Dragons.

and spent a sunset watching thousands of flying foxes leave their roost in hunt of food.

Dolphins jumped and local fisherman fished.

The sunsets were mind-bending and the sunrises were beyond picturesque.

After our journey on the boat we went back to Flores Island (where we flew in from Bali) and spent a few days exploring, and getting our feet back on the ground. We went for a rainy hike in the rainforest, saw more rice fields, 

went to the market, meet some locals and then came home. 

Now I feel like I am in Indonesia.

"Am I Loose?"

That was the question that was asked to me on Monday as I was walking back to school from a quick lunch at home. Our little bamboo bridge is out for repairs so I walked the long way around, typically the scooter route. First of all, nobody really walks anywhere. It's all scooters. So there I was hoofing it up the hill, dodging scooters, across the cement bridge and this man pulled over concerned. I know the nice gentleman was asking if I was lost, but what I heard was, "Are you loose?" I pointed and said, "Saya guru Green School" (I am a teacher at GS). I had to chuckle at the 'loose' idea. No, currently I am not loose, nor even dating despite all the Eat Pray Love references that fly around. Maybe someday. Raaarrrh.

Another interesting thing about this week was my students teaching me how to download movies. I am a pirate now and apparently it isn't that illegal. I am still having trouble figuring it out, but all the kids are super keen on helping me. Teaching the teacher is way cool! I just took it for granted on how easy it was to find just the right movie for in the classroom. I am not a huge proponent of watching a lot of video in the classroom but when you have spent seven weeks studying a novel, it is fun watching how the book compares to the movie version. And despite the kids' best effort, I am technologically challenged; another teacher is downloading Lord of the Flies so we can watch it after break.

Which leads me to my excitement: Break! I have always wanted to work at a school that has an October break and finally we do! It is our mid-term and since we have been working since August 1, all is absolutely deserved.  Developing curriculum, grading and planning all happen outside the teaching work day, so most of us have put in weekend time as well. On that note, I can justify the huge expense to fly to West Flores and experience a dive trip for the week. I haven't been diving since the early 90s, and I am excited. I am going with another couple and we are joining a few others for the week on a dive boat, with stops on Komodo to visit the dragons. Should be fun! And as usual, I am concerned about leaving my baby kitties, but all is good. Folks from the village and my Pembantu will help feed/watch them. I can't just leave food out all day because who knows what will come in and munch it. (Got to love the open house living). The other day, I had the another Bamboo Village cat, puppy, neighboring village cat, as well as a little mouse investigate the food bowls. And I was home.

The kitties are growing like mad and still think it is quite fun to play all over me early in the morning. This can be between 3am-6am and since there are no doors in my place all I can do is gently throw them through the mosquito netting and off the bed. It doesn't work at all. I am the field where the soccer game is played; I am the hill that is hiked up and down; I am the surf with the waves rolling back and forth. You get the idea. No sleep and little kitty claws all over me at 4am makes for a slightly grumpy teacher. It quickly has become a double shot day.

The last bit of news is our 6.0 earthquake that we felt at school today. It was centered in Nusa Penida, which is about 12 miles SE from Bali. As I was teaching Grade 7,  all of a sudden the building moved like someone downstairs had grabbed a hold of each pole and was shaking it violently. We quickly gathered out on the field and had all classes line up to be accounted for. I explained to my group that the nature of bamboo as a building supply was to be flexible, pliable and incredibly strong. It tends to move easily, almost sway unlike a concrete building that would absorb the impact more. So all is well and now I know I am not crazy for waking up in the middle of the night a month ago, feeling my bamboo house shake. Apparently we had another one then too.

Still can't believe I live in the South Pacific.

Writers & Rain

Right when I feel like I am sinking into the rainy jungle battling moldy clothes, gecko poop and mosquitoes, I had the exciting opportunity to attend the opening gala of the Writers and Readers Festival in Ubud last night. It was at the main temple on the main street and was a stunning glitz and glamour presentation. There were various speakers: from the temple chief (a descendent of kings), director of tourism, Festival founder/director to various sponsors, local authors and even a beautiful Balinese dance performance. Of all the nights to forget my camera! The festival hosts famous authors from around Indonesia, SE Asia and all over world for that matter, presenting workshops and lectures for five days. It is lovely for the soul. I think I need it.

I happened to meet up with the Festival founder/director last night, whom I admire immensely. For eight years now she has created an exquisite literary event, with a tight budget and large overhead. And all on the island of Bali, where I know things take shape in a whole different form. I mentioned to her that I might want to get involved and volunteer next year. I can't stay in the jungle for ever you know.

I am going to two luncheons this weekend with Alexander McCall Smith (Lady's #1 Detective Agency) and DBC Pierre (Vernon God Little). I also hope to buy a day pass for either Sat, Sun or both days. Since I work and don't want to commute in at night, I am stuck home until the weekend. But what a treat! We also invited a few authors to speak at the school for the students. Two have already come and presented on how to write a fantasy novel and the value of organic gardening while helping street kids in Jakarta. Two more speakers will arrive Friday that are equally as interesting with one young dynamic woman called Climate Girl sharing her conservation work and another female photographer from Australia, who has created children's books on endangered animals after running into a mountain gorilla in Rwanda and learning there are only 600 left in the wild. Very intriguing indeed. I will recap that event after this weekend.

And on the subject of cool women, my sister Thea (from AK) is coming for Christmas! I am so excited I can't stand it. We will not be running around rainy cold Portland trying to sustain sanity with the family chaos but traipsing around beautiful Bali, dodging buckets of warm rain, humidity and loads of tourists. (December is the other high season). I will be moved into my new place by then and have good handle on temples to visit, beaches to walk and reefs to explore.

Speaking of rain, I think it might be here for a while. It has rained for two days straight now and I am a bit nervous. Apparently it doesn't stop raining until April. I thought we had another month before it came  but we'll see. It rained today at school during my prep and I had to move from my room (upper level) because the mist and droplets were getting on my computer. I experienced Monsoon season in Nepal but apparently this is nothing like that brief torrential spell. Here the classrooms become louder, lightning is a concern with sports and things turn into mold. I went to bed with rain, woke up to rain and put on a pair of pants this morning. Although clean they appeared dirty. I looked closely and discovered it was mold! Yes, bring on the vinegar squirt bottle. I think moving out of the Bamboo Village soon might help since I will be living in more open rice paddies. Then I just have to keep an eye out for the snakes that like the rain in the rice paddies. Another tip I received today was don't bring your Bali clothes home. Once you get home, you realize how gross your Bali clothes can get. Ugh, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

That's it for now. The geckos are chirping (and pooping) in my ceiling, the kitties are asleep (until they decide to play soccer on my head at 4am), the rain is pounding outside (and inside dripping on my laptop) and I am going to watch a movie from my care package! Yahoo! One that wasn't pirated from the theaters, stops 1/2 way through or ends in another language.  :0

Up and Down: Life in Paradise

I can't help but acknowledge that last week was the hardest yet here is paradise. I hit a low I wasn't expecting that sent me swirling into my head and the dark crevices of grey matter. What had I done moving across the world, giving up my known everything? The excitement and newness has worn off and reality set in. What sent me into my dark place was nothing in particular but a combination of everything. I was tired, homesick and frustrated at myself, my life, my job, etc. I think when I kept hearing, "Bali is paradise" and "you are so lucky" or "be open to the vibrant energy of Bali and good things will happen all around you," I was expecting great things...yesterday. And the reality is that change takes time and I am not on vacation. I am working and trying to find my place here, while adjusting to a major life shift. I had a scowl on my face around school (not in the classroom of course) and my village. I was unhappy and nothing could get me out of it. Period.

But living in a world with few walls or privacy, lends to intense human transparency. Everyone knew. So I had many wonderful co-workers and neighbors ask me what was wrong? Where was my happy face? What could they do to help? I cried a lot last week, so no happy face was in sight. But all things are in balance and I realized I was the only one who could pull myself out of my trough, and so I did. Thank god. I am better. And I am here. And my word of the day is acceptance. Pity party is over.

A few significant highlights at the week's end also helped. I left school on Friday after a long day of teaching and meetings and was told I had a care package in the office. I was so surprised!! I was offered assistance in carrying it across the river to my bungalow and I said, "no." I was so proud I wanted everyone to see what I had in my arms! Thank you Kari!!! (And Ed, Arlo and Brad!) I came home, fixed a refreshing icy drink, put my feet up and experienced Christmas all over again. I was stunned. I cried again, but this time in slobbery, thankful, happy sobs. I love love love getting treats from home. What a joy. And so much unexpected! Movies, books, clothes, food, toiletries, notes, etc. I think that saved me. Seriously. I piled it all on the little table and took a picture. And I stared at it for a long time, letting the kitties climb in and out of the box and wrappings. Then, I actually watched a movie that worked. Oh, the simple things in life.

Also I joined a group of 100 GS families and teachers and rafted the Ayung River on Saturday. It was a guided trip with lunch and so lovely. Being on the river just eases the mind. Being in the flow (literally) is calming and empowering at the same time. I needed that. I think we all did. The group was great, the kids had a blast, our guide was hilarious and it was fun.

Ebb and Flow. Yin and Yang. Happy and Sad. Up and Down. All is as it should be.