Wiser?

I got back from Medan just before midday and I'm now trying to put my life into some kind of order and get back to tried and tested routines. Fortunately Noi has been keeping things in order in addition to having ensured I was well-equipped for my little adventure. Where would I be without her? Answer: nowhere at all.

It's certainly been a busy and extremely interesting few days. I now know a great deal more about how the school in which I work goes about the business of getting its 'scholars' from overseas. In some ways it's a harsh process, involving far more rejection than acceptance, but that's the way of the world. The thought that you are involved in decisions that dramatically change lives could be burdensome but knowing that you've worked hard and behaved in good faith helps to ease the old conscience.

Apart from the intensity of the work there's also the fascination of being able to look out into a different culture. Whilst Indonesia might not be so completely foreign to me as some other countries in the region it is certainly disorientating in some fundamentals, being the same but different. We didn't get that much opportunity to explore Medan and environs but the little there was provided ample food for thought.

So, almost at random, three images: Two cheerful children in immaculately clean school uniform, a sort of peach top and brown skirt, walking along the side of an extremely busy road winding up a steep slope, presumably making their way home to one of the tired old shacks clinging to the edge. A whole row of trees supporting garish election posters for a posse of candidates, not one of whom would have inspired the confidence to have succeeded as a used car salesman. Or woman. The smile on the face of the door-girl at the hotel which remained, astonishingly, genuinely curious and friendly regardless of the hour of day, or the weariness of her legs.