Day 3- This was the day we got to meet our sponsor child and family for the first time.
The driver Made, arranged by Helen Flavel, picked us up at 8am and off we went for our long drive. We found Made to be very nice and extremely helpful. We stopped at Pacung Indah for coffee on the way, what glorious views. Arrived at The Learning Centre and was shown around by a lovely young man. the Centre is very good with an extensive library, all donated by sponsors etc. There is a kindergarten with stacks of toys, paints,books etc and 4 new small tables and chair sets. We took some books on Australian animals, picture dictionary's, pens, pencils, chalk and other learning equipment which they were very grateful for. There was a class of older children in session so we showed them on the map where we were from and answered a few questions. They gave a big clap when I spoke to them in Bahasa Indonesian, of which I know just a little.
On to our sponsor child's home with Made and the chap from the Centre.
We stopped at a local market as we wanted to take some rice etc for them. The system there was a great idea, you just told the stall holder how much you wanted to spend and they make up a suitable batch of rice, eggs and spices, great idea.
We got a very warm welcome from the family, our sponsor child is a 7yr old girl and is such a sweetie, but of course just meeting us was a little daunting and she was a little shy. These wonderful people who obviously have very little had a plate of grapes and bottles of drinking water ready for us. We were invited to sit on the only thing they had in their tiny lounge area, which was a small straw mat. We were extremely humbled by their generosity and thoughtfulness.
We had taken a bag of toiletries and personal gifts for each member of the family, also a suitcase of clothes, linen and homewares for all, these were things that I had cleared from our cupboards at home and bought cheaply. For our sponsor child we had a bag of school stuff plus toys, hair ties, backpack etc.
We looked at the things that we had taken for the little one with her and left the family to go through their things in their own time.
Unfortunately some of the clothes we took for the child were too small, so we said to give them to whoever needed them in the village.
Mum and Dad were ever so grateful and shook our hands many times.
We had been given many pairs of unwanted prescription glasses and bra's from people at home that as I had mentioned that some people cannot afford glasses and I had heard bra's too. So as we were leaving we showed these bags to them, Mum was happy as there were suitable bra's for her and some of the neighbours found that they all of a sudden could see clearly after trying on some specs. We took some pics of them so that I could show them to the people who donated so that they could see that they went to a good cause.
I can't wait to visit again, hopefully next year.
Off to our hotel, and I know some people will not like this but it was the Melka. I don't feel that I should have to avoid telling about this part of our visit because of flamers, I think that everyone should be allowed to tell of their experiences without getting shot down in flames.
When we arrived we were told that the room that Helen had booked for us had been given to someone else who had complained, haha. After they showed us another room, I then promptly complained, as it was rather bare and drab. We were then given a suite for the same price (200.000), which included a rather nice breaky.
The hotel has 2 nice pools for guests and then 2 pools for the dolphins. We did go in one of the pools with the dolphins and they were very interactive with me but not John for some reason. I fell in love with the Orangatan, he was really friendly and held my hand and inspected it for ages, he has a large area for movement and exercise which is quite high and seemed to get plenty of care and attention.
If anyone wants to know more about this place they can email me.
Made stayed in the hotel but we only paid 80.000 for his room and breaky, and of course we paid for dinner and all the meals while he was with us for the two days, which doesn't amount to much afterall and he was invaluable with information and translations.
We went to The Rambutan for a nice dinner, unfortunately Richard and wife was not there as they were on their way to New Zealand for a holiday, we were the only ones in the restaurant so I guess things were very quiet.
The next morning was Sunday and we knew that our sponsor child was going to be at the Learning Centre, so we went back to market which was on the way back anyway and bought a few sets of clothes for her that would fit, and also an outfit for ceremony's, so that she could join in. we briefly called in to pass these on and said our goodbyes.
What a great job the Foundation is doing.
More to come.
Cheers Maureen