It's been nearly three weeks since our last post and there's a lot to catch up on, including Gran and Papa Joe's visit and our long weekend in Singapore.
But I'll start with our decision to extend our stay in Bali until December. The idea that perhaps we should stay longer in Bali had been growing stronger for me since shortly after we arrived. I wasn't sure how Lynn felt and wanted to wait to discuss it with her until we were more settled in with new friendships and a positive daily routine.
One evening in mid-February, we were reading the notice from Maret about re-enrollment, which we received several days after it was originally sent, and were startled to learn that the deadline to re-enroll was that very day - which fortunately was only just beginning back in the US.
We had no choice but to discuss our feelings about staying in Bali right then and come to an immediate decision. Fortunately both Lynn and I felt it was the right decision to stay in Bali for the fall semester.
It had taken us a tremendous amount of effort to resettle in Bali. Already a month and a half had passed, and we were only starting to feel settled. Before we knew it, if we stuck with our original plan to leave in July, we would be preparing for our return trip home.
More importantly we are enjoying our time here, it feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity, and there is so much to explore that there was no way we would feel ready to leave by July.
So we called Maret to see if they were willing to hold a spot for the girls, and fortunately the administration was understanding and accommodating about holding a place for the girls for the spring semester.
Once the decision was made, I felt I could relax. Before we were feeling pressure to fit everything we wanted to do into a compressed time frame. It seemed counterproductive to come to a place in part to experience a
slower pace of life, and feel stressed and rushed about our time here. Now we could take a deep breath, and move at a more relaxed pace.
The decision is not without its downsides. We'll miss our friends and family. There are events and gatherings that we had planned to attend that we'll miss. There are practical challenges in staying away longer.
When we told this news to the people we are closest to, who profess to miss us the most, they were all in favor of us staying away longer. I'm trying not to feel bad about that.
Those who miss you the most also love you the most, and thus we overcome our selfish desire to see you sooner in favor of supporting a decision that's clearly best for you -- and that so manifestly makes sense.
ReplyDeleteAnnounce that you're staying in Bali for several years, rather than just one more semester, and you'd have received a very different reaction!
Wow! So excited for you all--I think the decision to stay longer is a great one. I can't believe that it has already been 2 months and I'm sure time is just flying for you as well. Lynn will certainly be missed here at Crowell, but maybe we'll come visit you in the fall once Leah turns 1. :)
ReplyDelete-Monica
I am so in awe of all of this...I had all these quirky questions but as I finally read thru all the blogs they were mostly answered. I thought the bug/lizard issue would be somewhat like I experienced in India, and it seems to be. Give them their space and the give you theirs. I also figured you would have some electronical issues. I had no idea how they would handle all of that but I figured being associated with the Green school would help but it seems your driver is your best ally. I thinks it only proves itself how the youngest, Charlotte, is the most helpful in language translation. they want so much to be a part of it all their brains are sponges to all. I am enjoying your experience so much I hope now that I can access the link I'll be able to connect more to you. Congrats on your decision to stay I think it was a very wise choice considering all you have gone through to be there and how much more you have to experience. XOXO Cathy
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