September 25, 2006
Time flies. We have been working on posting things to this blog for quite a few weeks now. We had a few technical setbacks to deal with, though. Our internet connection was down for about 2 weeks. We have a “high speed” connection (for Jakarta, that is) through the cable company. Like many things in Jakarta, though, it ended up being more complicated than we thought it should be. When we started having problems we contacted Uninet, our internet service provider, who tried to troubleshoot the problem over the phone. When that didn’t work, they sent a service tech to the house who concluded there wasn’t anything wrong with his company’s part of it. So, he made an appointment for the cable company to come to the house to take a look. Three or four days later, the cable company came and changed some of the connectors in the house, and now it seems to be working fine. We’re not sure exactly what he did, because our internet service has been, for the most part, OK for over a year and we’re not sure why it just stopped working.
Heidi wrote and we posted a synopsis of her trip to Scotland. It is funny to me how she failed to mention that we celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary over 7,000 miles apart. Somehow, we both seemed to survive and we were able to go out for anniversary the following weekend.
Things are in full swing with school and all of the activities the boys are involved in. Grant and Luke both came home with interesting pottery pieces from their ceramics class. They are both enjoying their soccer teams, too. Nash is really enjoying middle school and all of the activities he is involved in. He goes to track 3 times per week, and he has shown a real talent for running. He is one of the fastest kids in grade 6, and usually is able to keep pace with the 8th graders during practice. They only have two meets – one this Friday and another one the following weekend. Every person on the team was allowed to select 3 events to compete in, and then Nash was chosen to participate in an extra event – the medley relay (2 students run 100 meters each, then 1 student runs 200 meters, then Nash will run 400 meters). Nash has also been going to the drama club, which meets once a week after school. They have been preparing the kids for auditions for a small group to go to Beijing in November for 5 days. Nash found out last week that he was chosen to go, and he was so excited. He is one of 4 students from grade 6 (there will be 20 students in total from the JIS middle school) who will go to an annual event in Beijing where they do a bunch of acting / drama classes, workshops, and performances with 5 or 6 other international schools. They’ll also go to a few sights around Beijing, including the Great Wall. We are all jealous of Nash that he gets to go, and we are even trying to figure out if some or all of us can go with him. If not, we will definitely go another time with the whole family.
Millers in Shanghai
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Photos: September 2006 - Soccer and Bananas
We planted two banana trees about a year ago. They have grown from about 4 feet high to a height of about 20 feet, and both trees are starting to get some fruit. The photo above shows the bananas at a very early stage - each of the green things with a small white flower at the end is a banana. The photo below shows Grant and Mallory hiding in the trees next to the other banana tree - you can see the banana bunch in the top left-hand side of the photo.
Here's a shot of Grant on the field in his Argenina team uniform.
Pretty good photo of Grant and two of his teammates mid-air trying for a header.
Photos: September 2006 - Nash's Birthday
For his birthday, Nash received a couple of pictures for his room. The one above is of something in space, the one below is a poster of different currencies from around the world.
Nash also received the game Risk, which he has wanted for some time now.
Nash opened his presents right after coming home from track practice, so he was still wearing his gym uniform, but this is a photo of him playing Guitar Hero, a game he received as a present.
Instead of a birthday party with his friends, Nash took a couple of his friends, Rish and Guido, to the mall to go to the rock climbing wall and to go out to eat. They had a good time racing each other up the wall.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Photos: September 2006 - kids around the house
I don't think this picture needs any explanation. 
Mallory will often go into her room and close the door, then she'll sing songs, read books, sit in her chair, etc. 
I was just going to take a picture of Mallory, but she decided it would be fun to play peek a boo.
Here's Grant & Mallory in front of Mallory's bedroom window.
Luke and Mallory made a "fort" out of pillows.
Photos: Scotland Trip, August 30 - Sept 6, 2006
Standing in a field of Heather on Arthur's Seat
In front of the main gate of Stirling Castle
Jen and I with Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Palace in the background
Holyrood Palace. The Queen stays here a few times a year.
Letter: Scotland Trip, August 30 - Sept 6, 2006
I left for my trip to Edinburgh on 30 August and returned on 6 September. It was such a wonderful trip. I was so happy to meet my friend Jen Deem there who flew in from Michigan. Believe it or not, our flights landed within 20 minutes of each other. It was perfect timing.
Unfortunately, my suitcase was not in Edinburgh when I arrived. I had very long layovers in Singapore and also in London so I didn’t understand how one suitcase couldn’t make it. I went into the lost baggage office and talked to them. They had information that my suitcase made it to London, but didn’t seem to make it to Edinburgh (a short 55 min. flight!). I thought for sure it would be at the B&B by that evening since there were several flights from London that day. Boy, was I wrong.
I met Jen and we got on a bus and followed the directions to the B&B, one that was highly recommended by Rick Steves. It was very close to downtown and Arthur’s seat -- a perfect location. We dropped our stuff off…I should say Jen’s stuff off and met the owner of the B&B, Liz. She was fantastic. She was so friendly and hilarious and always gave us suggestions of where to eat…which we found even funnier since all of her suggestions were the exact ones Rick Steves has in his book. Now we know where he gets his ideas!
That day we walked all over. We found the city to be very beautiful and the Scottish people to be so laid back and friendly. Everyone we met smiled and talked to us and cracked jokes. I think that’s pretty rare in a lot of European countries. We really enjoyed it.
We loved walking up and down the Royal Mile, the old part of the city that goes from the castle down to Holyrood Palace. We toured the castle and went on a walking tour of the old city. It’s amazing to me to see how old the buildings are.
We went home that night only to find out my luggage still had not arrived so we walked to a huge department store (their version of a super Target…yes I loved it) so I could get some things. Because of the new limits of carry-on baggage that had been imposed on British flights, I was not able to carry anything with me except my passport, iPod, phone and a book. I had nothing, not even my cameras, so off we went to the store. Liz assured us it was much better to walk than to ride the bus and was ‘a wee distance’ down the road. We soon came to find out the Scottish definition of a ‘wee distance’ always means at least a mile!!! We were worn out and my feet had blisters from the shoes I had by the time we returned.
The next day was spent going to Roselyn Chapel and hiking up Arthur’s Seat…another Scottish ‘wee distance’…it was a HIKE not a walk which we had been told!!! It was great and the wind at the top was so strong we had to hold on to a cement pillar at the very top with all of our might! We were laughing so hard. It was beautiful to see the entire city.
We spent the rest of the day touring Holyrood Palace and walking around the city. We went to the statue of Grayfrier’s Bobby and walked around the cool cemetery where he is buried along with his owner. We came home exhausted hoping to find my luggage, but still nothing. Liz had spent a lot of the day calling the airlines and the airport and the delivery company for me. She was very frustrated because she hadn’t been able to talk to a single human; my same experience from the day before. That night I had just fallen asleep and Jen knocked on my door at about 11:00pm saying, “Heidi! I think your luggage is here!” Sure enough, it was there. They aren’t sure where it had been for almost two days, but I didn’t care. I was just happy to have clean clothes and cameras!
We went on a tour of Mary Kings Close which is an area of the original city built in the 1500’s. In the 1700’s they built a city hall over the top of the street. Everything down there has been so well preserved. It was very interesting to see the actual wallpaper on the wealthy apartment walls and the original plaster on the walls dating back to the 1500’s!
We went through the art museum on Sunday and then found the church. We also went to some fireworks that night. It was so cold!!! I thought I was going to freeze to death, but enjoyed every minute of it. It was nice to be cold for once. The fireworks were set off from the castle. It was an amazing setting.
We spend a good part of Monday in Stirling, a 45 min. train ride from Edinburgh. We toured Stirling castle and looked around the beautiful valley where many of the famous Scottish battles took place. It was so serene.
It was such a great trip. I came home with books about Mary Queen of Scots and a yearning to learn more of the history of that place. The weather was a little rainy for only a couple of days. It was fun to walk through the city and hear the bagpipe players. We didn’t have the guts or desire to even attempt to try haggis. I have nothing to prove. HE HE HA HA! I definitely would love to go back. Scotland is a wonderful country with very friendly people. I was thankful that Creed allowed me to go and cover the bases while I was gone with the school open house, soccer practices and games and everything else.
Unfortunately, my suitcase was not in Edinburgh when I arrived. I had very long layovers in Singapore and also in London so I didn’t understand how one suitcase couldn’t make it. I went into the lost baggage office and talked to them. They had information that my suitcase made it to London, but didn’t seem to make it to Edinburgh (a short 55 min. flight!). I thought for sure it would be at the B&B by that evening since there were several flights from London that day. Boy, was I wrong.
I met Jen and we got on a bus and followed the directions to the B&B, one that was highly recommended by Rick Steves. It was very close to downtown and Arthur’s seat -- a perfect location. We dropped our stuff off…I should say Jen’s stuff off and met the owner of the B&B, Liz. She was fantastic. She was so friendly and hilarious and always gave us suggestions of where to eat…which we found even funnier since all of her suggestions were the exact ones Rick Steves has in his book. Now we know where he gets his ideas!
That day we walked all over. We found the city to be very beautiful and the Scottish people to be so laid back and friendly. Everyone we met smiled and talked to us and cracked jokes. I think that’s pretty rare in a lot of European countries. We really enjoyed it.
We loved walking up and down the Royal Mile, the old part of the city that goes from the castle down to Holyrood Palace. We toured the castle and went on a walking tour of the old city. It’s amazing to me to see how old the buildings are.
We went home that night only to find out my luggage still had not arrived so we walked to a huge department store (their version of a super Target…yes I loved it) so I could get some things. Because of the new limits of carry-on baggage that had been imposed on British flights, I was not able to carry anything with me except my passport, iPod, phone and a book. I had nothing, not even my cameras, so off we went to the store. Liz assured us it was much better to walk than to ride the bus and was ‘a wee distance’ down the road. We soon came to find out the Scottish definition of a ‘wee distance’ always means at least a mile!!! We were worn out and my feet had blisters from the shoes I had by the time we returned.
The next day was spent going to Roselyn Chapel and hiking up Arthur’s Seat…another Scottish ‘wee distance’…it was a HIKE not a walk which we had been told!!! It was great and the wind at the top was so strong we had to hold on to a cement pillar at the very top with all of our might! We were laughing so hard. It was beautiful to see the entire city.
We spent the rest of the day touring Holyrood Palace and walking around the city. We went to the statue of Grayfrier’s Bobby and walked around the cool cemetery where he is buried along with his owner. We came home exhausted hoping to find my luggage, but still nothing. Liz had spent a lot of the day calling the airlines and the airport and the delivery company for me. She was very frustrated because she hadn’t been able to talk to a single human; my same experience from the day before. That night I had just fallen asleep and Jen knocked on my door at about 11:00pm saying, “Heidi! I think your luggage is here!” Sure enough, it was there. They aren’t sure where it had been for almost two days, but I didn’t care. I was just happy to have clean clothes and cameras!
We went on a tour of Mary Kings Close which is an area of the original city built in the 1500’s. In the 1700’s they built a city hall over the top of the street. Everything down there has been so well preserved. It was very interesting to see the actual wallpaper on the wealthy apartment walls and the original plaster on the walls dating back to the 1500’s!
We went through the art museum on Sunday and then found the church. We also went to some fireworks that night. It was so cold!!! I thought I was going to freeze to death, but enjoyed every minute of it. It was nice to be cold for once. The fireworks were set off from the castle. It was an amazing setting.
We spend a good part of Monday in Stirling, a 45 min. train ride from Edinburgh. We toured Stirling castle and looked around the beautiful valley where many of the famous Scottish battles took place. It was so serene.
It was such a great trip. I came home with books about Mary Queen of Scots and a yearning to learn more of the history of that place. The weather was a little rainy for only a couple of days. It was fun to walk through the city and hear the bagpipe players. We didn’t have the guts or desire to even attempt to try haggis. I have nothing to prove. HE HE HA HA! I definitely would love to go back. Scotland is a wonderful country with very friendly people. I was thankful that Creed allowed me to go and cover the bases while I was gone with the school open house, soccer practices and games and everything else.
Photos: 15 Septmeber 2006 - Emmanuel Foundation 2
I gave an award (towels, dish soap, dishes) to two ladies who took 2nd place in the cooking contest. 
We handed out fruit to the kids.
And we helped give out food (soup, rice, and bread) to the parents. This foundation collects left-over buffet food from about 10 of the high-end hotels in Jakarta and distributes it to the 8 kampung (or neighborhoods) they work with.
After we finished we went to eat lunch (we had brought food for everyone to eat) on the steps outside the local mosque, the largest in this particular area of Jakarta.
Photos: 15 Septmeber 2006 - Emmanuel Foundation
On Friday, September 15th, the whole Ford office spent the day working with the Emmanuel Foundation (a foundation we support with vehicles). We went with a dozen or so people from this foundation to one of 8 neighborhoods (they called them slums) they work with, providing education about water treatment, food preparation, health, etc. We planted trees in and around the streets, helped distribute food and medicine, provided some entertainment, read stories to the kids, etc. Here are a few photos from the day:
Reading stories to the kids.
Distributing medicine.
Planting trees.
The crowd of kids being entertained by Ford employees.
No Indonesian event is complete without a song or two or ten. One of our employees opened the day singing a song - I don't think too many people heard her, though.
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