Tuesday, 22Aug06
Highlights: checking-in at the embassy, househunting, mall & movie
I’m getting started on the check-in process here at the embassy.
If any of you remember the old TV show “get smart”,,, getting into the embassy feels a bit like that. (= Security is the business they’re in. Even I feel slightly uncomfortable in there- and I’m an American! Ha ha.
As a Marine FAO (Foreign Area Officer), I’m the odd duck in a flock of geese; because I’m not a full time embassy staff/employee. (Army FAOs are…) I fall under the wing of protection- without having many of the benefits (housing, transportation privileges, finance & admin support...) =/ hmmm. That’s above my paygrade.
But that’s all-right, because I’m happy to be here! My purpose for being here is a bit unique anyways. (learning the culture, customs & language)
I rushed through Jakarta so quick 3 months ago, that I’m just now meeting my in-country boss. Ha ha. He’s a busy guy, but has been very supportive so far.
Housing is the next big issue on my agenda. There seem to be a lot of bureaucratic obstacles leaping up out of the floor-boards regarding “suitable” places to live,,, and the sadly necessary scenario of getting permission to live in whatever place I find. I know they have safety & security in mind,, I keep reminding myself.
It was good to see Col Richards again! although busy doesn’t seem to do his work schedule justice these days. He had about 3.5 seconds to smile & say hello today as we passed in the courtyard. (=
The embassy ate up a significant part of my day, and I can’t say I got a lot done there- but it was good to see the place. It’s interesting how bahasa Indonesia is such a rare skill set.
By 2pm, I ran back to the hotel to meet up with Lydia & Shinta and go house hunting with our first realtor. What seemed so organized in the e-mail trail leading up to today quickly unraveled when the realtor seemed to forget that she agreed to pick us up from the hotel & show us a few apartments & houses this afternoon. =/ hmmm.
A few last minute phone calls later- and her assistant showed up. We saw a very classy high-rise apartment, but the gym, pool, lobby,,, basically everything outside the actual apartment seemed much more impressive than “home” itself. =/ next!
Well that was it for today… so to kill time, the 3 of us went to the mall (Indonesia Plaza) to walk around.
Obligatory commentary: ok. The mall here is fancier than most malls in the states- and showcases stores (Gucci, Luis Vuitton, Calvin Klien, etc) that few Indonesians could afford, outside of Jakarta.
There were at least two live bands playing,, a bowling alley behind the Red Tomate restaurant, and one of the fancier gyms in town on the top level (possibly with apartment complexes above the mall). Fancy enough? Ha ha
Highlights: checking-in at the embassy, househunting, mall & movie
I’m getting started on the check-in process here at the embassy.
If any of you remember the old TV show “get smart”,,, getting into the embassy feels a bit like that. (= Security is the business they’re in. Even I feel slightly uncomfortable in there- and I’m an American! Ha ha.
As a Marine FAO (Foreign Area Officer), I’m the odd duck in a flock of geese; because I’m not a full time embassy staff/employee. (Army FAOs are…) I fall under the wing of protection- without having many of the benefits (housing, transportation privileges, finance & admin support...) =/ hmmm. That’s above my paygrade.
But that’s all-right, because I’m happy to be here! My purpose for being here is a bit unique anyways. (learning the culture, customs & language)
I rushed through Jakarta so quick 3 months ago, that I’m just now meeting my in-country boss. Ha ha. He’s a busy guy, but has been very supportive so far.
Housing is the next big issue on my agenda. There seem to be a lot of bureaucratic obstacles leaping up out of the floor-boards regarding “suitable” places to live,,, and the sadly necessary scenario of getting permission to live in whatever place I find. I know they have safety & security in mind,, I keep reminding myself.
It was good to see Col Richards again! although busy doesn’t seem to do his work schedule justice these days. He had about 3.5 seconds to smile & say hello today as we passed in the courtyard. (=
The embassy ate up a significant part of my day, and I can’t say I got a lot done there- but it was good to see the place. It’s interesting how bahasa Indonesia is such a rare skill set.
By 2pm, I ran back to the hotel to meet up with Lydia & Shinta and go house hunting with our first realtor. What seemed so organized in the e-mail trail leading up to today quickly unraveled when the realtor seemed to forget that she agreed to pick us up from the hotel & show us a few apartments & houses this afternoon. =/ hmmm.
A few last minute phone calls later- and her assistant showed up. We saw a very classy high-rise apartment, but the gym, pool, lobby,,, basically everything outside the actual apartment seemed much more impressive than “home” itself. =/ next!
Well that was it for today… so to kill time, the 3 of us went to the mall (Indonesia Plaza) to walk around.
Obligatory commentary: ok. The mall here is fancier than most malls in the states- and showcases stores (Gucci, Luis Vuitton, Calvin Klien, etc) that few Indonesians could afford, outside of Jakarta.
There were at least two live bands playing,, a bowling alley behind the Red Tomate restaurant, and one of the fancier gyms in town on the top level (possibly with apartment complexes above the mall). Fancy enough? Ha ha
posted by jonathan adventures at 3:12 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home