We lived in an incredible apartment complex, opposite a large shopping centre. Our apartments were known as Waterplace Apartments, the reason why became obvious to us on exploration of our grounds. Huge swimming pools, a fake beach, a lazy river, a spa pool, waterslides and a toddler pool was to be our playground for the year - an oasis in yet another bustling metropolis.
The difference between Surabaya and Lagos is immeasurable - the standard of building was so much higher, and everything was available at great prices! Caleb's school was about a kilometre walk from our apartments, along cobbled road, past well manicured gardens and a serene pond, complete with snow white geese and schools of fish who scrambled over one another to reach the sweet bread the hoards of visitors would throw in.
Little Neriah was not quite a year old when we moved in, barely tottering around on her baby-chub legs. But within a year measured by daily walks to school and the hours of running the paths around the swimming pools in the apartment, her legs became more steady, stronger, faster and longer. When we left Surabaya, Neriah was almost two - chattering, tumbling, dancing and most of all jumping around like a baby kangaroo.
Our first trip was by train to Jogyakarta and coincided with Neriah's first birthday which we celebrated at the temples. Highlights of this trip were: the toilet on the train (a hole with a view down to the track below), the gado gado which could be purchased in a little leaf at main train stations, the incredible painted wheels of the bechak, the cheap, crazy busy street markets and the temple tours. We expected to take a lot of photos at the temples, being constantly asked if people could take OUR photo was not what we expected.
We also managed to get to Bali, where Caleb completed a Freediving course, and Neriah and I played a lot in the water.
Our third trip was back to New Zealand to await the birth of our little baby boy, who was born in February. Caleb arrived back just in time, a whole 12 hours before my contractions started. Levi was born quickly and beautifully, a lovely water-birth marked his entry to the world.
Our return to Surabaya was made a lot easier thanks to my wonderful mother joining me for the flights and to help us settle back in. We had a lovely relaxing time, not sightseeing, but just being. Walking and shopping and feeding ducks and swimming.
Our time in Surabaya was short and sweet, the transition made easy by the wonderful ladies I met through playgroup, baby music group and the time volunteering at local orphanages. Caleb's time was spent playing social netball, learning golf, enjoying our kids and establishing an awesome service programme at his school.
However, short and sweet was all it was, with a decision being made for Caleb to return to full-time study to complete his Masters of Educational Leadership, so in June 2013 it was back to New Zealand for the next chapter in our life.
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