In my final month in Indonesia, I was brought full circle in many different ways, including a visit to the host family where I spent my first 4 weeks in Indonesia in 2004. This family has been very gracious, generous, and hospitable toward me, and continue to consider and call me "our son
Bayu."
Bayu was the Indonesian name given to me, and the name of their child who died in infancy.
Some of the first phrases I learned in 2004 were "
Terima kasih untuk memasak untuk saya" and "
Terima kasih untuk mencuci pakaian saya." Translation: "Thank you for cooking for me" and "Thank you for washing my clothes." These two phrases were used repeated, as this dear house-maid cooked for me and washed my clothes daily. It was a joy to return several years later and speak to her in
Bahasa Indonesia.
