faraway

2005 was a busy year for our family. It sometimes stressful, sometimes boring and sometimes fun.

Galuh was pregnant for nine months. Much of it was spent in various states of nausea. At one point, she was so sick that she was admitted to the hospital for dehydration. Zach was very sad to see her there. On top of that, she was very busy. She had to wrap up her HIV/AIDS project at Project Concern International because her contract ended. She also helped out with PCI's Aceh program. Galuh also had to give up her acceptance to the Univsersity of Indonesia for a master's program in Communications because of the pregnancy. Galuh also won a philanthrophy research award from Ford Foundation and Pirac Foundation but had to give that up too due to the pregnancy. However, Galuh was able to complete her Guide to Volunteer Management book which has just been published in January 2006 by Mizan Books.

Jerome began the year by turning down two job offers, one in East Timor and the other in Nepal. Jerome decided to stay with the NDI Indonesia program to start a new program three year program in budget monitoring. That has turned out to be full of administrative problems which has been very frustrating. However, Jerome also had a chance to work in NDI's East Timor office in the early part of the year. Although this mean being away from the family for weeks at a time, the work in East Timor was very rewarding because the program is at village level. Jerome also went to Washington, DC this year to spend time at the NDI head office. Jerome also joined the regional board of Resource Alliance and attended a Board Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand in May. Jerome also monitored four local elections in Indonesia.

Galuh and Jerome gave a two-day training for WALHI in fundraising and volunteer management. Zach was there as well.

Jerome turned 40 in May and began the slow decline of middle age. But he joined a Fitness Club which he attends occasionally.

Galuh gave birth to Jacob in early November. The birth was a normal and pretty fast. Our trusted obstetrician, Dr. Harahap, delivered Jacob with the same competence as he did Zachary. Our deep gratitude to all his help. The arrival of Lil' Jake, as Zachary is fond of calling him, has rearranged our lives.

In 2005, Zachary has clearly established his position as the family three year old. The frequency that he askes "why" has reached at least twenty times a day. He likes to say "no". He wants to do everything by himself (like using knives). He plays with his toys all over the apartment so they can be found everywhere. He is very imaginative and very, very talkative. He likes Taekwondo, Mandarin and bugging girls. Despite that he is popular at playgroup. He still loves dinosaurs this year and especially likes to roar at people. He learned how to use a mouse and play computer games.

Jacob doubled his weight in one month. Way to go, Jake!

As a family, we travelled to East Timor, Singapore (twice for Zach and I), and vacationed on Bali and Lombok. We didn't make it to South Africa as we had hoped because of Jacob's birth. Maybe next year.

We bought a car which makes us feel like a real middle class family now.

Other blessing that we received in 2005 was we had a new canadian best friend, Court. We have been known him for 3 years but in 2005 our relationship become closer. He comes to our house every weekend. Zach asks us if he did not come at our house in the weekend. We really love him. But, this year we also lost one of our canadian best friends in Indonesia, Deb and Akas. They decided to go back to Canada. However, they are still our bestfriend eventhough they are in Canada. All the best for Deb and Akas.

Jerome and Galuh, Jakarta