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Flooded Tent

I slept OK last night on a cot I borrowed from the Belgians. I like to sleep on my side, and it was a bit narrow for that, but I think in a couple nights I'll have it figured out. I'll probably have to give it back on Saturday. I'm sure they are leaving some of the things behind that they have set up and put in place, but I doubt the cots will stay. It's very beautiful here and enjoyed the full moon over the soccer field where we are staying. Once in a while two or three water buffalo cross the soccer field, munching their way along.

Shortly after 7 AM Melvin and I walked down the dirt road towards the main street. Our driver's house is next to the street. He drove us over to the daily NGO meeting which begins on the TNI (Indonesia Army) base at 7:30, and is chaired by the UN. Progress is reported, concerns voiced, and meetings announced. When we arrived back from the meeting we made a to-do list and began organizing the tent. Melvin and the driver went over to the SP house and picked up the remaining supplies which had been stored there while the move was made to this camp. We also talked about what we'd like for living space and the internet cafe. I then spoke with the Belgians and was able arrange for two IDP tents in which we will live. IDP stands for 'indigenous displaced persons' . The tent we are currently sleeping in (20' x 18') will become the internet cafe for NGO use.

A phone call from Rob sometime in the morning informed us that the missing VSAT parts won't make it to Medan until January 31. I found that very discouraging to hear. Today was the first day that the cell phones worked beyond 11 AM. Previously the system would not work after that time, and the only reliable way to get messages through was to use SMS text messages. Even then, sometimes those wouldn't reach the phone 'til after midnight. After lunch I set up the network printer and then wrote an e-mail. We planned to start digging the trench but waited until after 5 PM. It was over 110° in the sun during the afternoon! We didn't finish digging the trench, as it go late, and we wanted to go eat. We have a local driver and pickup truck we are hiring for about $45 per day. So we went into town again for dinner, and it was more of the same at the same place.

Shortly after dinner it began to rain, and it rained for a couple hours. The tent is heavy canvas, and doesn't leak, which is good. The rain came down quite heavily, and ended up flooding the tent. At first we didn't notice the water coming in. I discovered it just before my iBook bag became soacked. Fortunately we had six Rubbermaid totes to hold things, and we could also set our belongings on those as well as the two plastic tables and six chairs. Soon we had a small stream flowing down one side of the tent, a couple inches deep. Thankfully the area where Elias and Melvin were sleeping was a small mound, and they had a dry spot. I put my cot in the corner where it was a inch or two deep, and that was fine. I ended the evening reading for a while, going to sleep just before 11 PM, the latest I've been up since coming to Indonesia.