My journey at East Flores Dec 2005 - Nov 2007 Part 1: the Beginning

Lately, I've been thinking of the precious time I had when I was working with Wahana Visi Indonesia in East Flores during 2005 - 2007.

Only 2 years (really short time) but with a huge experience for myself that help me to understand more about life and all its beauty..

That's why now I share to you all these stories, good times, and sometimes probably bad times, based on my personal experience and the beauty of children and comminities there who I miss the most

Hope through this journey, you can feel what I feel and learn that simple things in your life will enrich your life forever...

So we will start at the decision I made and the fear I had as consequency of the decision

I was learning in college about Environmental Engineering and after graduating, I never worked in that area.

Then while I was working already in Wahana Visi Indonesia, I heard this opening of water project team leader in East Flores.

While thinking to apply, I could say I brought some fears with me. 

First, I had never went away from home all my home. I lived in Jakarta, Indonesia my whole life. The farthest place I have ever been was only Bandung, back in my childhood, it was only 4 hours by cars and the longest time I have to spend there was only 2 weeks max.

So I didn't know how I would have to live outside my home...

Second, I would go to a place where I didn't know anyone before. I only knew it was the place where Wahana Visi Indonesia worked and they had a special program to help communities get clean water, but that's it.. I didn't know how I will work there, what to expect, who will be my partner in work, will we get along at work?.. It's clearly totally blank for me..

But I said to myself, "This is what I dream when I apply to Wahana Visi Indonesia at a very first place. If God provided me with this opportunity, why should I be afraid? just go and see what happen"

So I apply that position and God grant my wish :)

Let me tell you first about where is East Flores and how to go there

From Jakarta where I live in, we have to take the plane for 2 hours to Bali, and from Bali there's a connecting flight for another 2 hours to Maumere.

Maumere is in Sikka district, the middle of Flores Island. From there, it's still 4 hours by car to Larantuka, the capital of  where I will stay for work and it is such a winding road. If you're not strong enough, you will get carsick. and usually that will happen the first time you go by road to East Flores from Maumere...

So this is when my journey started...
In December 1, 2005 I flied to Maumere and got picked up with the people from East Flores ADP. Thank goodness, the driver back then (Om Toni) was a very good driver and understood the first time traveller like me need smooth driving and good music so I could relax and arrive there with good condition :)

And I remember, he gave me Manado music by Tantowi Yahya, which later on I became interested to learn Manado language (at least from the song)

Here are some pictures I took at first time I arrive in Larantuka on the way to the office
This is the uniqueness of the city... one side is the sea

The seaside 

Another seaside from the city that is close to Adonara Island

Another side of the city is mountain 'Ile Mandiri'. People said during rainy season, just be careful of the flood coming from the mountain, because it will bring big rocks in the flood...

Me and Mount Ile Mandiri

In short stories, that whole month is my orientation month there. Getting to know where the office, who the staffs were, including the field officer who will help me with this water project, the progress of the water piping installation (yes, they have started the project before I was accepting this role) but still I was feeling lonely since it was December where everyone was also busy preparing Christmas and I cannot go home because it was my first month there.... probably the most lonely time I had was in the end of December where the office closed from Christmas to New Year and I just stuck in Larantuka because I feel like I cannot go anywhere by myself because I didn't know anything anyone there..

And the worst thing happened next is the rainy season. It was so different from Jakarta...

The rainy season there was really heavy and scary for me... it hit really bad at the roof so everyday I just got scared because of the rain

Others have told me to listen carefully during the heavy rain.

Because Larantuka is located between mountain and sea, the rain would probably cause flood and not just regular flood. The flood was coming from the mountain and it probably brought rocks (big and small) to the cities.. So they warned me, if I heard sirene or information about the coming of the flood, I had to follow with other people to the rescue place. So if it rained, don't sleep too soundly.. 

That's the best warning you had when you were in new place hahahahhaha

so I remember my heart was pounding so badly when I heard the rain started so heavy at night

and every night, the same situation happened hahahah.. what an unique experience I had in my early time there... really not good impression :)

So after first month, hmm I just wish with the coming of new year, things will go smoothly 

And then... the next journey began..... :)