We Made It!

Well we finally made it to Rumbai Camp, Sumatra, Indonesia. It is extremely beautiful, looking as if we are actually in the jungle, because we are. We have bamboo trees as well as starfruit trees and Kade was floored to learn that he has his very own coconut tree. In fact we saw 5 monkeys walking in front of our house today not 30 feet from us. It is all still sinking in that we are really here.

As beautiful as all of this is there were a few times yesterday that I was unsure if getting here was really going to happen. Our day started off by leaving our Hotel in Singapore at 7 AM which sounds good except jet lag had the Getzingers up at 3:30 AM. At least we were ready to leave on time which isn’t always the case with us. Next came getting 16 pieces of checked bags loaded into a vans which can take some doing.

After we were all loaded we went the Singapore airline to get on Garuda Indonesian Air. A little different set up then say, United, who we flew to get to Singapore. First we get to the check in for baggage and the girl’s face was priceless when we said that we had 16 bags to check. Now here is where the day starts down the wrong path. First out bags were 50 lbs. per United Airlines requirements. In Asia the amount allowed in 44 lbs (20 kgs) In the US you are allowed 2 bags for each passenger so we had to pay for 6 bags extra out of Seatac.

Well now they are telling us that because we were in Singapore for more then 24 hours we had to pay again and not only that, because we would be going from an international flight (Singapore to Jakarta) and then switching to a domestic flight (Jakarta to Pekanbaru, Sumatra) we would be paying again once we landed in Jakarta. Now the real kick in the pants is that for a regional flight on Garuda Air (which includes Singapore to Indonesia) you are only allowed one 44 lb. bag per passenger which means we are paying for 11 extra bags not just 6 bags we paid at Seatac, as well as the 6 lb. over per bag ($2,200 in all)...TWICE! Well my expression must have been priceless as well because our Principal who met up with us in Singapore said, “Well that is just not acceptable!” and put in on the school’s plastic. She has been amazing this whole time making sure that things are taken care of and helping us through the travel difficulties.

Next up we get to Jakarta for a solid 4 hour layover. It was good that we had it because we had more difficulty with the luggage as we had to clear customs and then get all of it to the check in counter. I don’t know how she did it but Lory, our principal, was able to talk them out of having us pay again. Our 4 our layover became 5 hours as our flight was delayed.

Now I haven’t mentioned this, but picture our day of travel with not just Kade, Sydney, and Brooklyn, but also with our principal and her husband, the new principal and his wife heading to our sister school and another new teaching couple with 3 kids of their own ages four, three, and one and a half. All of the kids did really well (even Brooklyn) but it was a long day for all of us.

Finally we get out of Jakarta and on to a plane bound for Pekanbaru. Our airplane was a Boeing 737 circa 1981. Kade’s tray table would not lock into the fully upright and locked position when we boarded so I had to take a seat in the back of the plane all by my lonesome while Kathi and kids sat up front. The planes interior looked like that of 1976 AMC Pacer and was in about the same condition as you would expect of such a finely manufactured piece of machinery this many years later. A boy actually pulled of the armrest of the seat across from the isle from me. No lie.

Once we set the “Spirit of Jakarta” down on Sumatra and I kissed the ground that we made it off of the plane in better shape than that armrest, we are met by another couple from the school and Chevron and we board a tour style bus to head for home. They even had Diet Coke on the bus waiting for us. That was a little slice of heaven right there!

When we got all of our suitcases in the house the bus went on to the next house to drop of the next couple. We were finally home. Our cook had stayed late and had a great dinner hot and ready for us even though we were 2 hours late. After she left we took stock of our house and it is very nice. Tile throughout and extremely high ceilings. Kathi has already put up new curtains and is working to make it our own.

There is more to tell and Kathi will get up pictures soon. Right now she is asleep as we are still getting adjusted to the time change. Most of all we want to thank you all who have prayed for us as we have started this adventure. We have truly seen God working throughout this trip to make sure that we were able to arrive safely and with a sense of sanity. Please continue to pray that our family will adjust to our new surroundings and that this will be a great experience for our family.