Eukharistos

Eukharistos, is the greek word meaning “grateful” 

Inspired to appreciate small things in my life, I would write a short note on what I really appreciate during my stay in North Halmahera.

1. The green nature of North Halmahera.
This is enough to take me to live here forever. Don't forget the coconut trees! It's majestic in the time of sunsets! Grab your cam fast, bro.

2. Nearby mini-markets around.
One even can be reached by 3minutes walking. In small city like this we don't really have those big shopping mall or hypermarket around, just some small kiosks around and yes those mini markets (prob 3-4 units). Amazingly, we can find almost all basic needs that we used too use in the big city. From soap and shampoo, hair vitamin and acne-cream to spaghetti and Mr. Potatoes. Yes, all is complete here, not forget to mention the fair price. Yes, no need to bother travel far away from the city to get your hair washed properly and stomach stuffed enjoyably ;)

3. Blue ocean and amazing corals
Yes, just go with the 5-minutes wooden-boat trip to several islands around. Make sure you have your own googles and snorkels (must have item). Doing snorkeling or swimming in the free ocean is really like visiting those swimming pools in the city. You can do it regularly, cheaply and fantastically. All you can EXPLORE.

4. KIDDOS!
Interacting with those sincere-kids is the best thing I could have, and the good news is it becomes the part of my daily job. Fair enough? ;) NOPE, don't you ever think I was a huge fan of kids or the woman with the calling-of-teaching-kids. NOT AT ALL. Before this, I was really awkward gals when it comes to interact with children, in whichever ages. I loved to interact with teens/youth, who can be asked to discuss ideas or so. Not some pre-school kids that couldn't even speak or write... But heck yeah, all has changed. I fall in love with kids, here. Not just kids, but KIDS of North Halmahera :) They area amazing gift and blessing for me. They are somehow the reason I am still here and able to overcome all these challenges around. From english teaching, drawing and games, concepting about kids-event, to gardening. It's truly a privilege from GOD :) All is fun, and fun is ALL of them :)

5. Errrr, the color of sunsets on the leaves and trees.
YES! Kinda hard for me to find the subject for it, but yes that it is. The color! It never goes wrong! Wonder how amazing The Creator is! As human, we could be really wrong when it comes to mix the color, painting, etc. Sometimes it's just not right. BUT, in the nature? Yes, that wild nature. NEVER, it will never happen. As you see how brown mixes with green, and goldie light of the setting sun, and ahh......... it just never goes wrong. Look up and see. You'll see how amazing it could be :)


6. That feeling when you ride motor bike along the well-covered road of North Halmahera, with the soft wind comes through your face!

NOTHING MORE TO EXPLAIN, that's just it.


7. Good food.
YES, once you settled down you'd finally find some good food around. I decided to stop craving for those city-based unreachable options of food once I got here. And yes wisely enough, as only by that you could start to enjoy the disguise delicious taste around. Could be local or even the imported-one ;) Yes, some locals such as Cakalang Fried Rice/Noodle (cakalang is smoked tuna fish), Manado Porridge (lost of yum vegetables), Banana/cassava boiled with coconut milk (the traditional one and yum!), the spicy fofoki (spicy fried eggplant. supa delicious!), dabudabu sauce (fresh tomates + chilly smashed and fried together with coconut oil), fried mulu-bebek-banana (beyond amazing), brenebon ice, tinorangsak fried duck, yellow rice, .... and some imported-food that can be easily found are gado gado (the only one of Oma's gado-gado, newly open in front of Nirwana runs by her daughter), different kind of penyet at Damonge (the chilly sauce is the best, yum), Chicken noodle of Karianga (sadly it's recently closed until further notice :/), NyukNyang of Makassar (hmm), Chinese food at 88, Star, D'Joy, Mie Jkt etc, not bad as what I heard the chefs are also imported :p, Padang Rice (of course :p as the rendang is sooo gooood), CFC ( so basically crispy fried chicken, french fries and burger, but pls just don't expect too much, they are kinda different then the real one :p), Martabak & Terang Bulan, etc etc etc etc etc... well life is good.  ;)


8. The way the city is.
I don't know, hard to explain.  But yes it is. I took a couple of travel to several nearby cities and to Java Islands last two months. STRANGE ENOUGH to find I hate those cities and really miss this small city. Well, I guess there are some reasons that can be explain psychologically related to self-belonging, being settled, unwanted change, bla bla bla. BUT this is not it is! It is just the sums of all amazing pieces (that I have written above and prob down bellow) that make I love this city! And it's different with all those big cities around, well one of them is small tho. BUT Yes, it's just the city! I still remember how I was SO HAPPY when I was dropped of from the speed boat and stepped my feet to this land again. The small voices inside me scream YEAH GOOD TO BE BACK! And that only moment I realize I am in love with ALL in this city, the scenery, the trees, the road, the river, the ocean and THE PEOPLE (including the most annoying ppl hehe).

9. Sitting on the beach just to ponder on life and GOD.
Pick one beach and sit there. Play your playlist, and look around. You'll be amazed.


10. Some of the government contacts I had during my hardest time of partnering.
It was really pain in my ass to make contact with local govt. You just didn't know how I struggle every second to swallow all the pains and tears. Just woke up the other day and go the their office to be able to make a successful and sustainable partnership.... BUT, by the end of the event (it was a kind of farming competition in collaboration with farming) I FOUND GREAT PARTNERS. Without luxurious moments or mesmerizing promises we just did. They are far older than me, (20-30 years) BUT they have become my friends, partner in crime *ehm* development. :D Glad to have those friends where you can just pick the phone up and said "Pak,, would you please help bla bla, please come bla bla, do bla bla, and voila....it happenned :)" No gain without pain, broh. Even tough I decided to pause my visit to their office at least 1 month :p Need some recovery after those brutal surgery of coordination and partnershit..opss...ship ;P( They are bored with me too, anyway ---> small shark ;p )

11. My boarding room.
Kinda like it. Has officially become my cave. Dangerous enough when it comes to the PMS moment, or lazy moment. Won't get out for an inch from that comfort zone :p. But yes glad I have "home" here, finally.

12. Fine internet connection
Not really good, just ok. Well in the city though, as in some villages we barely can connect. BUT, it's enough. I can still make phone calls, texting, and opening devotion source in the internet, facebooking and tweeting sometimes. So, Even though I couldn't download the updated important software for my phone/computer (took you weeks and still failed) I'm still connected to the outer world and my fam :p

13. Enjoying it's peacefulness
Despite of the vertical conflict that is happening and some traumatizing moments back years ago. I found this city is peaceful. Yes, come and feel the pace and you'll agree with me.

14. 3 days studying in this peaceful yet agonizing city gave me pretty good score. And I am really EXCITED to mark this city as the check-point for me to the next jungle HE has prepared for me :)

more to come.

(to be continued)
kezzy.