Driving up that night, in the rain, coming into a new environment, taking in the sights and sounds of our new community, walking into our first Indonesian house, trying to calm a restless and exhausted child, I didn't even realize there was a house next door.
My memory of that day of travel and first night in Salatiga is a bit foggy, clouded by sleeplessness and jet lag, a cranky toddler, the long travel day and the buckets of rain pouring down on us as we were driven from Semarang to Salatiga - a one and a half hour drive that turned into three hours that day due to traffic and weather. As we drove up to our house I remember thinking that it was dark (due to rain) and very... jungle-y. Well yes, we do live in the jungle. But one thing I remember not recognizing - the house next door.
The house next door has become many things to us and I hate to admit that those first few days, especially that first afternoon moving into our home, I had no clue it even existed. It's a place of play for our child - multiple times a day he is over playing with our neighbors. It's a place of answers as our neighbors slowly and with simple terms we can understand explain culture and life in Indonesia. It's a place of family, as Cade has become one of theirs and we have too - they have taken us under their wing, invited us into their family and opened their hearts to us. It's a place for our goat, Cade's first Indonesian pet and a way to help our neighbor pursue his dream. It's a place of laughter, love, learning, and yummy food.
Looking back now, I can't believe there was ever even a moment that didn't notice the house next door. One thing is for certain, I will never forget the house next door nor the people who make it a home, and make this place our home.
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