Family Trip to Asia

In June my parents and younger sister Anna came to visit me in Indonesia. They got to see where I lived and worked this past year. They met my house helper Ibu Lilis and tried some Indonesian food. We enjoyed learning how to play the Angklung and visiting the volcano with family friends. They also got to see my new house and tour the new school.

Then we all went to Thailand together. We traveled to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. We enjoyed seeing many temples, eating yummy Thai food, and meeting new people. We loved the elephants and getting a chance to ride them through the jungle. We also enjoyed learning how to cook traditional Thai food at Thai cooking school. In Phuket we had a chance to just relax and rest on the beach. We loved the delicious seafood and beautiful sunsets.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip. Scroll down to the bottom for the link to view all the pictures on my Picasa WebAlbum.
















To see all of the many pictures from our trip click on the following link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/clauson.emily/FamilyTripToAsia

Dear Grandpa

Dear Grandpa,

We all have many memories of growing up in the Clauson family. Sharing the kids table
at Birthday dinners, opening presents on Christmas Eve, camping in Carpentaria, and
sitting on the scaffold to watch the Rose Parade... to name a few. Spending time together
was always an important family tradition.

You were not a just a distance grandfather who would send the occasional card in the
mail. You were actively involved in all of our lives. From graduations and baseball
games, play performances and swim meets, you and grandma were always there, supporting
us and showing your strong sense of pride in the accomplishments of your grandchildren.

Your presence in our lives can also be seen through the many construction projects you
helped to build.  All of our childhood homes carry a mark of your hand. You had an
amazing talent for your trade and were always dedicated to using your skills to help
others.

As the head of the Clauson family, you not only made us laugh with your jokes,
entertained us with your stories, and impressed us with your sense of style and rhythm,
you also set an example for all of us. You and grandma have instilled in us a strong
sense of family, hard work, and compassion for others. Thank you for showing us how much
you cared and loved us throughout our lives. Thank you for welcoming Eddie and Esther
into our family. Thank you for being determined to change where you came from and build a
better life for your children and grandchildren.

We all cherish the memory of the times we spent with you and the Clauson family
traditions we shared. We hope to continue to make you proud as we start our own families
and carry on your legacy.

We love you Grandpa,
Heather, Eddie, Scott, Esther, Sarah, Emily, and Anna

Carl Robert Clauson

CLAUSON-Carl Robert Clauson "Bob", passed away on July 10, 2008 at the age of 83, surrounded by his loving family. Bob, a lifetime resident of Pasadena, is survived by Doralyn, his wife of almost 58 years, and their children and spouses, Barbara Clauson and Dennis Hanhi (Albany, Or), Carl and Sharon Clauson (Altadena, CA), Donald and Laura Clauson (Sierra Madre, CA), and Paul and Akemi Clauson (Chino Hills, CA). He has 5 grandchildren, Heather, Sarah, Scott, Emily, Anna, and 1 great grandchild, Kody Paul. Bob served in the Navy (Construction Battalion) during World War II. His work with the CB's was something he always remembered and loved to reminisce about. He was a master carpenter and his legacy remains in his craftsmanship of many fine homes and buildings throughout the Pasadena area, including Pasadena First United Methodist Church, where he was a faithful member. Bob will be remembered for his great sense of humor, his many stories, and his love and dedication to his family and friends. He was always available to help his family and friends with building projects or home repairs. During his retirement years, he enjoyed square dancing, lawn bowling, and Dixieland jazz. A memorial service will be held in his honor in the chapel at Pasadena First United Methodist Church, 500 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena CA, on Saturday July 19, 2008 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flower, kindly send memorial gifts to Vitas Hospice, 598 S. Grand Avenue, Covina, CA 91724 or the First United Methodist Church "Preschool Fund".

Finding my home

I can't decide if I hate airports or love them. They certainly give me mixed feelings.

I hate them because things are bound to not go according to plan. You have to plan on your plan not working out. This past week I spent 7 hours in the Hong Kong airport unexpectantly because I missed my connecting flight by only minutes. My flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong got delayed a couple of hours and I got into Hong Kong around 4 pm. My flight was supposed to take off at 4:15 pm but instead I got booked on the 11:30 pm flight from Hong Kong to LA.

As I sat in the Hong Kong airport I had a long time to think about airports. I sat there looking around and realized nothing about the airport made me feel like I was in Hong Kong. Perhaps that is what I love about them- airports seem country-less. Yes, there are slight differences between the LA airport versus Jakarta. But for the most part they remain constant, indistinguishable. In all airports you find people wandering around aimlessly; people looking lost and staring at signs that point them in the direction they need to go; and people running to their gate barely making it in time before their plane takes off, like in the movies. There are announcements going off overhead in various languages, but invariably also in English. And the more I fly the more I come to know what to expect in the airport.

Perhaps that is what I love- the consistency that I find. But I think I also have come to love this sense of being in a place that feels country-less.

As I sat there I felt more aware than ever that I was sitting in between two worlds. Two very different worlds, both of which have made their way into my heart. The world of the east that I was coming from... a world of adventure, challenge, and friendships. The place where I recently set up my new home and spent the last year learning to adjust to. The world of the west that I was going to... where I find my roots, my family and friends. The place that I will always consider home and where I find solace.

But then I am reminded of the verse from 1 Peter 2 that says "Friends this world is not your home, so don't make yourself cozy in it." Sitting in the airport that day I did not feel cozy. I felt tired and just wanted to go home. But I gained a new understanding that nowhere on this earth is my home and that is just as it should be. My citizenship is in heaven and that is where my heart should belong and feel at rest.

New Campus Update

Our new campus is coming along. While it isn't going to be finished exactly when we had expected, it still looks like we'll be able to move in and start school there in August. I wanted to post some pictures to give you an idea of the progress being made. The first set of pictures was taken maybe a month ago. The second set was taken last week when our staff went out and toured the building before most people left to go back to the States for the summer.

My future classroom.

I can't wait to move in and have a classroom all my own.

Jennie, Emma, and Molly walk down the unfinished stairs.

Last week our staff gathered to see the progress that's been made and pray over the new campus project before lots of people left to go back to the States for the summer.

This is the main building and is big enough for all classrooms and offices. Eventually a separate building will be built for offices, the cafeteria and the auditorium.

Workers are working around the clock to get the building done for school starting in August. Workers continued to work even as we walked around.

I was shocked when I walked in and saw my classroom was almost finished.

I've got a great view out my classroom of the sunset in the evening.

Unfortunately, the building project is not quite as finished as the pictures of my classroom make it seem. The outside still needs a lot of work. This is where our sports hall will be.

This is our future swimming pool. At least it has water in it! Do you think it will be ready for swim season next spring? Probably not. :)

Moving Day

With school finishing up and people leaving to go to the States for the summer, the time finally came for us to move. It seems we've been talking and planning about moving for so long and the day finally arrived. My current roommate Emma and I will be merging houses next year with two other single girls, Jennie and Molly. We had two trucks take all of our stuff from the neighborhood we are currently living in to our house by the new school. Then we spent many days after that setting up the new house and unpacking boxes. It should be all ready for us when everyone comes back in August for the new school year. Here's just a few highlight pictures of the day:

Jennie ran out of arm space so she carries the baskets on her head to save us a trip. :)

Here is our small pile of stuff to be moved. The other house had LOTS more.

When we arrived we found a new friend in our silverware drawer! Yikes!

Molly carried her suitcase all the way back to Bandung on the back of Lindsey's motorbike- about an hour drive. She said it was pretty painful.

And here's the living room of our new house.

Field Day

Well, I'm done! Last Friday was our last day of school. As I was warned your first year of teaching is the hardest and I would definitely have to agree. It's been a wild ride moving to Indonesia, adjusting to a new culture, learning a new language, and seeing staff members come and go, all while being a first year teacher. But He who called me has been faithful!

Last week the secondary students had semester exams. Then the last day of school was Field Day. Traditionally this day students don't have class but instead is a day filled with games. This year because it was our last day at our current campus we decided to do things a little different. Students got a chance to go to their normal classes for a few minutes to say goodbye to teachers and friends. There is a large number of students leaving or going on furlough at the end of this year. Then the high schoolers spent some time hanging out and signing yearbooks. The day finished with an all school worship service, with singing and sharing memories students had of the campus. The purpose of the day was to help us all say goodbye and transition to the next phase of our school.

The day begun in Staff Devotions with a time of washing one another's feet. Here Joey, our current director, washes Pete's feet. Pete will be our director at the new campus next year.

Here are my 7th graders on the last day of school. You've got to love middle schoolers! :)

My 9th graders hang out in my class one last time and we all say goodbye.

Lots of students spent time signing yearbooks before summer begins and friends leave for good or just for the summer.

Other students were tired of singing yearbooks and played games instead. They were cracking me up as my high school students played games called "Bunny Bunny" and "Bubble Game." But even as I stood and watched I couldn't figure out what the rules were.

And lastly, our all school worship service closes out the day, the school year, and our time at this campus.

Staff Banquet

So many end of the year events have taken place in the past couple of weeks. I've put up posts on the 8th grade banquet, High School banquet, and graduation. Scroll down to the next couple of blogs to get updated on them all.

One last banquet for this year- the staff banquet. This year it was held at an Indonesian restaurant and everyone dressed up in Indonesian dress, batik. We enjoyed a slide show of pictures from the past year, especially highlighting the staff members who are leaving. We ate a delicious Indonesian meal. Then after dinner we thanked those who've worked so hard on our building project. We also heard from different people who gave goodbye speeches for those staff members who are leaving. It was an emotional evening of saying farewell to people who have become more than just coworkers or friends, but family here in Indonesia.

After this we headed back to the school auditorium for our after party. We enjoyed yummy desserts made by some of the parents at school. Then we had our own version of American Idol, that we affectionately called BAIS Idol. We had our own Simon, Paula, and Randy for judges along with Ryan Seacrest as the host. We enjoyed performances from many staff members and text messaged in our vote for the winner at the end of the evening. It was a very bitter sweat evening as we cried and laughed together. Enjoy some of the pictures from the night:

My current roommate, Emma, and I

These are the girls that I'll be living with next year. The four of us have already found a house to live in by the new school.

Andy and Beccy are two of our staff members who will be leaving. Here they are with two of our Indonesian office staff.

Joey, our current director, says thank you to those who've worked hard all year on our new campus project.

Those staff members who will be leaving each said a little something to say goodbye to us all.

Here is the group picture we took of our entire staff.

Lindsey, the first grade teacher this year, will be leaving to go back to the States.

BAIS Idol! Here are our judges: Randy, Paula, and Simon.

Jennie sings to her skeleton from the science lab.

Larry sings to his wife, MC, our secondary lead teacher.

Here our Ryan Seacrest encourages everyone to call in their votes for the next BAIS Idol.

High School Graduation

We celebrated High School Graduation on May 30th. Fourteen seniors graduated and will be moving on to universities and military assignments all around the world. Some will go to university in the States, one will join the armed service in Australia, another in Singapore.

One of the seniors, Cassie, processes into the graduation ceremony.

The senior class.

Yay! The seniors celebrate by throwing their caps into the air.

Each senior got a table to display personal items to show the uniqueness of the student. Also, each senior got a different flavour ice cream cake. It was fun to go around and visit with each family and try their cake. :)