Greetings from Yoshie who is now in Timor-Leste:
As Corona virus pandemic is on the news headlines, my thoughts are with you.
Is everyone around you all right?
How is the situation in Nashville?
Masami and I safely arrived in Dili, Timor-Leste on Thursday last week.
We do not have a direct flight from Tokyo, so we had to stay overnight in Dempasar (Bali, Indonesia) and take a LCC flight (as this is the only flight connecting Dili to other parts of the world).
We were a bit worried because we had so many luggage, but everything was all right.
Dili is a beautiful place; a tropical island. Our Embassy and Ambassador's residence is located on the seaside boulevard, pretty closed to the U.S.Embassy.
So the view from the terrace of our place is just magnificent!
I love the view of the blue ocean and Atauro island just in front of us.
The climate is tropical; hot and humid. As we are still in rainy season, it rains everyday in the late afternoon.
We had a unprecedented rainfall last Friday evening and the town was badly affected by the inundation.
Even the President's palace was inundated and damaged, so Masami's Presentation of the Credential Ceremony (official recognition as Ambassador of Japan by the President)was postponed!
This is a developing country, so the life is not easy. We have difficult time shopping what we need, but slowly, we are getting used to our new life here.
The Timorese in general are very kind, relaxed and happy people and our Embassy staff are all very nice.
I am grateful for that.
I brought my dear dulcimer with me. It had to be checked-in during our travel, but the Airline people were kind enough to take good care of it and it is in perfect condition! I am so relieved.
I will write more when I find time.
Love,
Yoshie