Well I’ve been a bit slack and haven’t written a post for a while. Although I should have found the time I have an excuse, maybe. I was trying to finish off an essay. And YAY I have. I won’t worry about how it went for the moment.
So to catch up… oh wow… since Australia Day! Well I have been doing things outside of study and working but it isn’t all that exciting. Also the reason I haven’t posted. Well in this time I managed to master the Jakarta traffic and figure out the best way to get to the office. It is definitely not the direct road but seems a long way around. If you’ve never been, or haven’t figured out from my Facebook posts, the way Jakarta works is with its terrible macet (traffic jams) and one way streets, or at least where you can’t turn right and have to go past and do a U-turn. So often to get around you have to either deal with this, or find a better way. For me at the office this is to go around. And it has been working, I get to the office much quicker.
In my spare time I have been trying to get work done though I did do a few more exciting things.
On Monday last week I went out for dinner with my Indonesian class, minus one who was away on their internship. It was a delayed dinner as we had planned to take our teacher out on the day of the Jakarta bombings so that was out of the question then. It was great to catch up and hear about how everyone’s placements were going.
Another more exciting event was on Thursday we had the ACICIS farewell reception at the Ambassador’s residence. Again it was nice to catch up with participants that I haven’t seen in a little while and hear about their placements. I was also able to talk to some of the mentors and had a long talk with a consultant from Metro TV. It was all very interesting to hear about the industry and his background. A great night was had with a few glasses of wine which was lovely after a while without one.
ACICIS students at their Farewell Reception at the Australian Ambassador’s residence. Photo: Australian Embassy
Yesterday, as I was free of my essay I was able to go and do some exercise. This was in the afternoon after a lovely Skype session with Mum and Dad and Madison. She is a funny one and managed to turn off the computer twice. My exercising consisted of a brisk walk on the treadmill followed by laps of the pool. I can’t say how far I swam as I don’t know the length of the pool but it was pretty good for someone who hasn’t done actual swimming in a very long time. And my timing was perfect. Almost as soon as I got out of the water and headed in to change but the skies opened up and a big storm ensued. It was so loud and raining so hard. Typical Jakarta style but still always a sight to see.
Looking red and tomato like after a brisk walk on the treadmill. Photo: Olivia Skillern
Refreshed after a post walk swim. Photo: Olivia Skillern
Refreshed after a swim. Check out the goggle marks. Photo: Olivia Skillern
The lovely and scenic pool I am lucky enough to be able to use. Photo: Olivia Skillern
After my swim it absolutely poured! Photo: Olivia Skillern
So now it’s my last week of interning at the Australian Embassy Jakarta and we are in the new Embassy. It’s so brand new and very impressive. There is still the security aspect of being in the embassy but it’s also fresh and new. The embassy has been designed in a modern and environmentally friendly way which is very nice. It’s also very big. So refreshing for a new building to be built to exceed current size and ensure it doesn’t become too small, too soon. So I am now working in the biggest Australian Embassy compound in the world. For a week anyway.
Today is a public holiday for Chinese New Year but we were at work so there wasn’t much traffic getting to the office. Tomorrow will be a different story and I need to find a good route to work.
Oh and here is a fun tid bit made by one of the guys from work.
Oops again, really I’m back now Well I’ve been a bit slack and haven’t written a post for a while. Although I should have found the time I have an excuse, maybe.
