Good friend Marion left Aceh on February 4. People are always coming and going, as it is just how things work here - most people have short 3-months, 6-months contracts, and I'm an anomaly (21 months and counting!) But I was still sad to see her go. She's off to bigger and better things! She'll be working in Sudan for the next 9 months doing monitoring and evaluation for an American NGO. Good luck Marion!
On February 8, Irwandi Yusuf, 46-year old former rebel strategist was sworn in as the first democratically elected governor of Aceh province. He'll be in power for the next 5 years. Irwandi was a political prisoner and escaped from his prison cell when the tsunami waves crushed down the wall. He studied Veterinarian Medicine at Oregon State (down with the Beavers!) and was a professor at the university in town. He won overwhelmingly with 37% of the popular vote in a pool of 8 candidates. Most of his support came from rural areas where there was a strong support for the GAM movement. Many observers are curious to see how he'll interact with the Jakarta-backed provincial parliament, if he will be able to move his agenda forward. His top priorities include providing employment opportunities to ex-rebels, introduce a performance-based system in the civil services, strengthen health and education sectors, and target anti-corruption. He has also said that he will reevaluate the sharia law and its implementation because it discriminates against women and the poor.
Flower boards along the main boulevard
wishing the new governor success
An accountant in our office got married on February 11. She did not tell ANYONE she was getting married, even her friend of 5 years who she carpools everyday. About a week and half before the wedding, everyone had a wedding invitation waiting on their desk in the morning. How do people keep secrets like that? I would just burst!
The year of the flaming fire pig arrived on February 18! Sheep (baaah = me!!!) are suppose to have a great year. According to some website:
At pig's table, sheep has the seat of honored guest. Luck and good fortune in romance and business are the gifts offered to the lucky sign this year. Gifts of money may surprise the sheep. The pig smiles on family and will shower the sheep who becomes engaged or married during this year with many blessings. Sheep born in this year will receive good fortune from the banquet host. The shy sheep or one who cannot decide may miss the advantage of all the opportunities that this year brings.To follow tradition (Year of the Cock in DC and Year of Dog in Aceh), I threw a Chinese New Year party last Saturday night. Deb and Graeme were kind enough to let me use their house. Guests were requested to wear red and we had decorations from Medan and even Beijing. Graeme was in Beijing a few weeks prior and picked up all sorts of fun wall hangings, lanterns, and a golden pig filled with candy from the Beijing Wal-Mart! Alexa and I made about 100 wontons and another 100 or so of spring rolls - both big and small. It was good fun and there were lots of beer cans to be cleaned up the next morning! Always a sign of a good party!
On Monday night (Day number 2 of the flaming pig year) I found out I got into LSE! I had put in an application back in December to study MS in Local Economic Development. So it looks like I will be in London starting the end of September! I'm currently trying to figure out my whereabouts between now and when I land in London. It looks like I'll be leaving Indonesia on July 15 when my work visa runs out. I also have about 30 days of leave that I need to take. So it looks like this is the plan (as of today)
May 24 - 28 -- Bali for Vi's birthday bash
May 28 - June 30 -- China*
July 1 - July 27 -- Aceh to close shop
July 27 - August 15 -- Travel around the region**
August 15 - Sept 20 -- US (August 18 in Rhodes Island for Sarly's wedding)
* Think I'll be in Beijing for a couple of weeks and then will travel around
** Friends! Let me know if you have any suggestions or want to meet up somewhere
Feel free to shoot me an email if you'll be in London next year or if you have friends who are there. I'll need new friends to hang out with!
That's all for now! The end of an era is in sight!
More about Chinese Horoscope for the year of the pig.
