Articles in All
Tanjungbalai Immigration Office Nightmare Continues
Friday, January 8, 2016
This is the day after my momentous trip to immigration to finally get my visa extension. So the question is, “Do I have it?” The answer, not surprisingly, is “No, I do not have it.”
I went there on my bicycle as usual. This time, I didn’t arrange to arrive when they opened at 8 a.m. I’d learned that nothing happens until 9 …
Ferry Ticket Confusion
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Today is the big day. It’s time for my trip back to immigration. Two days ago, I met up with Rea, and we put together all the documents that I needed. I thought that it would be easy. She had already written my sponsorship letters on a computer and printed them out the first time. I thought we could open the files …
Crushed in a New Year’s Eve Crowd
Friday, January 1, 2016
Happy New Year. Well, the end of the year was not exactly great. I was sick a lot and then I had all the problems with my visa and immigration. I had been hoping for a better experience. But it’s not really such a big deal. I just have to wait until January 7 and then apply for my extension again. And …
Nightmare of the Tanjungbalai Immigration Office
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Things have not gone well as far as my visa extension is concerned. In fact, it has gone horribly. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. I always have poor luck when it comes to such things.
I mentioned that the immigration office was closed on the day I went there the first time. I waited the weekend, and on Tuesday I went back. …
Another English Class Interview Project
Saturday, December 26, 2015
My get-together with the students was okay. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrible. At first, I didn’t think they were going to show up. I had sent the main organizer, Rismah, a message the day before to just touch base and let her know that I was still willing and able to do the project and that I’d be in the …
Falling Ill at Christmas and 1st Visit to Immigration
Friday, December 25, 2015
Merry Christmas to all.
I’ve been neglecting my journal lately. I guess I haven’t had anything interesting to say for a while. And then I became quite sick. It seems to be a Christmas tradition. The last time I was this sick was during the typhoon aftermath in Tacloban, and the illness struck right before Christmas. I tried to gut it out in …
Northern Sumatra Cycling Route
View route map for Northern Sumatra Loop – Tanjungbalai-Banda Aceh on plotaroute.com
SIM Card Confusion and a Chicken Dinner
Saturday, December 12, 2015
I had a few more experiences yesterday that fit in with my theme of cross-cultural differences and how hard it is to really, truly understand how things work in other places. It began when I realized that I’d used up all the data credit I had on my Telkomsel SIM card. I’d purchased the card along with a data plan that included …