Stayin Alive...

Hey...

Well I haven't written anything about us lately so here is the update...we are alive! We feel very safe here besides the creatures that live in our house. I was casually walking into our computer room last night to check my email when I stopped dead in my tracks and started to scream...what was there you ask?? This is no halloween horror story but instead a spider...the size of my hand looking like a small child. Needless to say my fears are gradually being conquered...thank goodness for bug spray (raid) just point and spray. I also forgot to take a picture but god forbid we ever see another one I wil make sure I take one before I get Jeff to kill it.

The rainy season is slowly coming, it was suppose to start the end of September but we haven't had much yet besides a few days, the weather is really hazy, not a lot of sun and this definitly isn't what we signed up for when we said yes to moving to indonesia...the frogs have started to come out and greet us as well...but they dive into our swimming pool and die so we generally meet them at their funeral.

Jeff is keeping busy at work and discovering just how inefficient people are around here so that tends to be a bit frustrating.

Our couples bible study begins tomorrow night at our house so this should be a great experience for all...

But I think that is relatively all that is new in our lives...boring huh? The creatures in our lives are overriding the blog.

Until next time...

Who needs a truck?

Here are some pictures of things you may see while driving down the street in Balikpapan...it's ok to laugh, we still do...


































































How many people can you count? Keep in mind there are probably 2 kids and one or two of those females are pregnant...most likely...and we thought the CTrain was packed??








































































Fence anyone?










































































I have yet to see one of these eggs get broken, incredible!

An Update....Save the Date!!! August 25, 2007

Well we are doing better and better everyday, the power is fixed, no more vicious amounts of bugs and the rats under our kitchen sink have been evicted and oh ya we set a wedding date...FINALLY!!!...Saturday August 25, 2007 (in Calgary)....Save The Date!! We want you all to be there...

I (Lori) have started volunteering at an orphanage and will also be starting to teach English soon...We have met some new friends and this weekend was really busy...we have two dinner parties...it seems like thats what all the expats do to socialize, maybe because the restaurants aren't all that good...

For all of you who stay in hotels often or at all...on your way out the door...grab all the toiletries (shampoo, toothbrushes, soap etc.) that you haven't used and get it to my mom's house, whenenver I make a trip home I will bring them back. The orphanages here can hardly pay the rent so grabbing those types of things for the kids can be very helpful and they love it.

Thanks so much...keep in touch...

Upper Floor....

So here is the continuation of our house pictures. I will update with more information soon.

But for now....When you come up the stairs the living room is to the right























and the master bedroom to the left.





















There are two other bedrooms upstairs as well with 2 bathrooms. Downstairs there is one bedroom/office and a bathroom as well.

House Pictures

This is our downstairs living room....the room you walk into from the front door....this leads into the kitchen/dining room....

the brown windows/doors walk out onto our patio/swimming pool....

Well thats the main floor...I am heading out to do some grocery shopping so I will post the upper floor later on...

Address Update

JL. Polantas 38
Markoni Atas. RT. 34, RW 10
Balikpapan, Indonesia 76112

Phone number: 011 62 542 745831

Home at last....well sorta

Well we moved into our house on Friday (6th) and it has gone anything but smooth. Our first night the power was out...all night...well not really, a breaker just got flipped so we ran the generator all night for nothing...rookies I guess.

We met our friends the geckos that very night and unfortunately I think they are doubling in numbers. So our first night...didn't start off good...no power, reptile things...we wanted to go home.

Things are looking up, I got internet today...dialup....I think I used dial up about 8 years ago when we first got internet at home so its like taking a few steps back. Regardless I don't feel as cut off from the world as I did before. My mom informed me that to call us you have to put a 011 in front of the number and it takes about 8 tries to get through, when you do get through it is a very bad connection. Good luck!!!

Narsiah, the housekeeper, is taking very good care of us although I am starting to feel very lazy.

I tried to upload some pictures of the house but it is not letting me so I will try later on today and see what happens....check back.

Take care,

The food sucks...

Hello again...

When people asked us what we would miss the most when we left Canada we never thought it would be running water you can brush your teeth with or knowing what exactly we are eating. Chicken or fish....you never know!

We move into our house tomorrow (Friday) so that will all change, i've never been so excited to cook before. I have meals planned from the moment I get in there.

Along with moving in our internet won't be set up for another week or two so our communication will be limited. I have a mobile phone and that number is 081 350 268060. I have no idea how to dial it from Canada or anything and remember its a 14 hour time difference....ahead.

Our home address is
Jl. Polantas 38
Markoui Atas RT.34, RW 10
Balikpapan, Indonesia 76112

Our home phone number is: 62-542-745831

Check your rates for calling Indonesia, without a calling card we pay $3.oo/minute to call Canada. If you have a computer/internet there is a program called Skype you can download and it gives you very very inexpensive long distance....such as 0.001 a minute.

Well just wanted to update everyone on our information and sorry we haven't sent postcards or anything, Balikpapan has none but I will see what I can do....

Keep in touch....

A long awaited update...

Goodmorning everyone,

Well after talking to my mom it has been brought to my attention that people are "upset" that I haven't been updating the website more frequently, we see it as going to bed at 8pm and waking up at 7am and well not doing much...regardless I do apologize and will do my best to change this habit....so the interesting facts in our lives....well since last time....

Jeff is feeling a bit under the weather today, yesterday, Saturday, we spent all day outside lounging around by the pool, our first real day outside since we've gotten here...air conditioning is our best friend...anyway he got a bit sunburnt, more like looks like a tomato so he has a bit of heat stroke I guess but is laying in bed and drinking lots of fluids so he will be better in no time...otherwise we are both healthy and happy. No other sickness to report.

We have started going to a non-denominational Christian church, the only English speaking church, held at the Blue Sky Hotel in Balikpapan.

I have joined the BEWC (Balikpapan's Expate Women's Association) there are events everyday of the week from golfing to yoga to tennis to bridge and canasta. The Canasta games on Wednesday afternoons have been my favorite with a few yoga classes in there as well....



We found a house....

Yes the only one you can really see (red roof)....we haven't moved in yet, October 5th - Thursday, is the date we think so once we do there will definately be more and better pictures of it. We lucked out with finding it...3 bedrooms, western style home, only 6 months old and a swimming pool. Excited is not the word for it.

When we first arrived in Balikpapan we were living with Brad but since then we have moved into Le Grandeur Hotel, not a bad place to be but living out of a suitcase is definately becoming difficult.

We now have our own driver, Heri, and it seems to be working out just fine...he's about 35 and yes ladies hes single...kidding. But no he treats us really good, tells us where the good places are to eat so hey whats not to love.

I also apologize that we haven't included more pictures and such and let me give a brief explanation of why. Being that we are a HUGE minority in this country it is not really encouraged to stand on a sidewalk and take a picture so this meaning we are always in a moving vehicle...also...the Muslim culture that it is, taking pictures is very frowned upon so little by little you will get to see the city of Balikpapan...

Until next time...