The Magic of Moving Holidays

Did anyone see the comment on my "Lebaran Annoyances" post (that I've since deleted) that basically said "get with the culture or go home and quit complaining about it"?  Well, I'm sure this post will send him into apoplectic fits.

One of the things you can count on in the Western world is a stable calendar.  We're a business driven society, and business operates by the clock ('round the clock, in some instances).  Imagine what would happen if  President Obama came on TV and announced via presidential decree:  "We're adding an additional Sunday to this week so we can have another full day of NFL."  The shock wave would ripple the world.

All of the Indonesian calendars indicated Idul Fitri was on 30 and 31 of August this year.  Everyone (including myself) made plans based on the belief that these dates were valid.  And they were, until 30 August when the Minister of Religion changed the holiday to be 31 August and 1 September.  How can this be?  If I remember my early "culture training", it has to do with when the key religious figure sees the moon (but don't quote me on this).  If a night is cloudy, and they don't see the moon, they can't declare the end of the fast, and the start of the holiday.  Monday night must have been cloudy (I don't remember).

In any event, we're staying in the hotel an additional night.

Why the hotel?  The whole point of staying in the hotel was to avoid the fireworks.  We obviously can't ask the people in our neighborhood to forgo their tradition of exploding things until 3 AM simply because we don't like to be kept awake.  That wouldn't be neighborly.  Instead, we avoid the noise by checking into a hotel.  The end of the holiday is the biggest night for it, so we extended our stay to miss the final night.

Did it work?  No.  We still hear them.  But, we now actually get to see them with a spectacular vantage point.  And they are much quieter, so we're sleeping normally.

What do you think?  How would this go over in a Western nation?

Going Local

We've been in Jakarta long enough that we are living like and experiencing things like the locals.  A few examples:

1)  When we first moved to Jakarta, our "culture shock" class instructor informed us that the city shut down over Idul Fitri.  The help returns to their villages, the Muslims gather with their families, and the non-Muslims move into hotels because they don't have any help around the house.  Our first two years we "toughed it out" by staying at home without any help.  That's when we learned that Idul Fitri celebrations include fireworks until 4 AM.

This year, we planned to go to Singapore for the five days (Sat - Wed) that would represent the Idul Fitri holiday.  Our emergency trip to the US kibashed that plan.  Instead, we've checked into the Shangri-La Hotel in Jakarta.  The only downside is the spa is closed for the holidays.

2)  More nanny issues.  In May, we brought back the nanny who left us on the last Idul Fitri holiday.  Losing staff during this time is quite common.  They go home to their village and decide to stay, or just use it as an excuse to change employment.  In our case, it was presumably the result of our nanny's husband finding employment and deciding he no longer wanted his wife to work.  In any event, my wife convinced her to come back for the birth of our new child.

There were a few what can only be described as "power plays" early after her arrival that we should have taken as a warning sign.  Instead, we overlooked it and wrote it off as our lack of understanding of the culture.  So she joins us in May.  We pay her for May, June, July and her Idul Fitri bonus.  Because we moved to Singapore at the end of May, she worked just three weeks in May, a week in June, and a week in August - 5 weeks.  Received 4 months of pay.  Then tells us the Saturday after we we return from the US her husband doesn't want her to come back after Idul Fitri.

That was enough for me.  I told her she was done that day and to leave.  I did not pay her for August or her severance.  I'd like to see her try to collect.


The longer we are here, the more we understand many of the comments we heard when we first arrived that we used to consider stereotypical, even bordering on racist.   The comments come from the frustration of experience.

I think every expat comes here thinking they will be different.  They will show all other expats how to treat people with respect and welcome cultural differences.  Then the reality of poverty hits them.

For the most part, I've been insulated from it during my time in Jakarta.  My direct reports at work are all smart, college educated, and, by Indonesian standards, well paid people.  They've been great to work with.  As I've ventured out and interacted more with the people who are struggling, I've experienced the same complaints I hear from other expats and successful locals, alike.

The adage says that money changes people.  Lack of money does, too.

Lebaran Annoyances

I've said multiple times on this blog that I believe Indonesia does a better job assimilating and accepting religious differences than any other country in the world.  I still believe that.  And in my efforts to fit in, I've worked very hard to be accommodating with the various religious and cultural differences we've encountered.  This Ramadan season has been a challenge.

Indonesia operates on a 13-month payroll system consisting of the standard 12 calendar months, and an extra month's pay for the Lebaron (Idul Fitri) holiday.  This is the Muslim holy month with fasting all month and a large celebration at the end.  It's the time when all the domestic staff return to their villages for a week to celebrate with their families.  It's a time when those who have are required to give to those who have not. 

 

 

I had no issue giving our domestic staff - nannies, drivers, maid, security and gardener - an Idul Fitri bonus, even though it was $1,000 out of my pocket.  It's in their contracts.  I didn't like paying extra to the trash collector or the "neighborhood security" (whom I think just collects money without providing any service), but I paid them anyway.  I did have problems with:

 

 

1)  The pool company adding an Idul Fitri bonus to their invoice.  I refused to pay this one.  I had my secretary call them and tell them that I considered it inappropriate for a vendor to charge me for the bonuses for their employees.  If I want to tip our pool guy over the holidays, that's my choice.  Trying to formalize it in the invoice from the vendor was ridiculous.  I half expected to see a charge on my cable and electric bills.

2)  We purchased some stone carvings from a "friend" of our driver.  One of the carvings had a splash of white paint on it.  I told the vendor I didn't want them unless they were clean.  He agreed to come back the next day to clean them, but wanted me to pay him today.  Reluctantly, I agreed and paid him.  The next day he did return to clean them, but brought someone with him to do it.  When finished, he asked me to pay the man.  I told him no way.  I wasn't buying a dirty statue and it wasn't my problem he had to pay someone else to clean it.  Then he said I should help him out and pay as part of an Idul Fitri bonus.  He became so insistent, and had been such a pain over the last few days, I finally asked security to remove him and ban him from returning.

 

 

3)  Our staff get this next week off.  It's the norm in Indonesia, and it's in their contracts.  They all asked for additional time off - with pay - and without wanting to makeup the hours somewhere else.  As expats, we pay our staff twice what they would make working for a local.  We just paid them two months of wages while we were in Singapore and the US (meaning, they didn't work).  Our generosity is tapped out.  I felt this request was out of line (the locals I spoke with agreed and were surprised I paid them while I was gone).

Maybe I'm just cranky.  Traffic this time of year is horrendous.  During the fasting month, Muslims get up very early and have a huge meal before sunrise.  This means most of them also come into work earlier than normal.  Then they don't eat or drink all day.  At 6 PM, they can break the fast (buka puasa).  Everyone wants to be home by 6 PM.  My 45 minute commute is now 2.5 hours - and that isn't fun.

Bottom line - I'm glad the season ends on Wednesday.

Finally! The word is getting out

A few weeks ago, my partners on the first game I did - Wurfeltod - released a new version.  Improved graphics, a few new features, and, most importantly, an implementation of what is known as the "Freemium" model.

"Freemium" is offering a base version of your application for free and only unlocking the full version and all features for a fee.  We released a "Lite" version of Wurfeltod with our upgrade.  It's free and has experienced the following downloads.

This increase in downloads has resulted in the following sales.



Not quite profitable yet, but getting there much faster now.

Game is now available

Candy Count is now available on iTunes.  Get it for free:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/candy-count-learn-colors-numbers/id454950461?mt=8

Why America is Losing

Most things in the world have become commodities.  Electricity is the same for you as a consumer whether its generation comes from coal, natural gas, water, or sun light.  It doesn't matter if the milk you drink comes from a farm up the street or across the world - it still tastes like milk.  Oil changes, airline flights, taxi's - everything is the same product.  There are only two true differentiating factors:  technical quality and quality of service - and the price you have to pay for each.

A synopsis of my recent traveling experience should highlight why America is losing to nations overseas.

1)  How Super Shuttle Lost my Business

When mechanical failure with the hydraulics delayed our initial flight out of Phoenix for 7 hours, this was, effectively, a cancellation for us.  We would not make our connecting flights.  This meant we needed a ride back to our house where we would stay another night.  I left a porter with my family to load the luggage and I went to find us a ride.

I've always been brand loyal - or disloyal, as the case may be (ask me some day about my Hollywood Video experience).   When I needed transportation, my first thought was to use Super Shuttle.  I walked to the spot - outdoors - where everyone in the airport said I would find the scheduler.  No one there.  A shuttle was about to leave so I knocked on the window to ask where I could arrange a ride.  The driver said:  "Is he gone already?  He should be right where you are standing."  He wasn't.  I asked the taxi stand if they knew where I could get a Super Shuttle.  They pointed to where I had just left. 

Not ready to book a taxi - really, two, with 5 people and 11 bags - I walked back inside to help with the bags.  Off to the side, I noticed a guy in a Super Shuttle uniform reading some electronic device.  I ask him:  "Are you the Super Shuttle guy?"

"Are your bags outside ready to go?", he says, not even looking up at me.

I point to the carousel where the porter has finished loading the bags and is heading our way.  "They are right there on their way over."

"When your bags are outside I can put you in the system."

"They're headed this way now."

"I can't put you in the system until you're outside."

"Um, oookay", I reply and walk away.  I meet up with everyone and inform them we won't be using Super Shuttle because the guy was a jerk (I think I actually said "asshole").

As we walk past him to head outside, then he walks up and says:  "Ready to go?"

I say:  "No thanks.  I'm going to use someone who actually wants me as a customer."  That's how we ended up in the limo.

If I'm in his place, and someone locates me standing around at another service's counter, I think the first thing I say is:  "Where would you like to go?"  Then he could follow it up with "Policy prevents me from entering you in our system until you are standing by the curb, so when you're ready I'll be happy to book you for a ride to Mesa."  Of course, that would require hiring someone who is interested in actually doing some work.

2)  The Value of Business Class

There is not a lot you can do from a technical standpoint to improve on an airline flight.  You either arrive in one piece or you don't.  So the only way an airline can charge more is because of the service aspect - the perks.  People fly Business Class for those perks.  The primary perk being the size of the seats and the ability to lay flat and sleep well.  The secondary perks are the "expedited services" you receive.  There is a priority line at security.  Bags are tagged with "priority" so they are the first to arrive in baggage claim.  And a key for international travel, you get to be the first off the plane.  In fact, most flights don't let the coach passengers deplane until everyone from First and Business Class have already exited.  This really helps shorten the lines for immigration and customs.  It's a huge perk and well worth the extra fare.

Delta didn't do that.  In fact, they let Economy passengers come crashing through our cabin in the mad-rush style people often try.  I never understand the guy sitting in 49F who thinks he just has to be the first guy off the plane so he whips off his seat belt as soon as the plane comes to a stop and rushes to the forward cabin as the others stand up and collect their bags.  The crash of people made collecting our bags a challenge.  Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific would never have allowed it.

3)  Singapore Economy Class is Better than Delta Business Class

To save money, I'll often book our shorter flight in Economy.  Usually, the LAX to PHX and the Singapore to Jakarta flights, each about an hour, I'll book us in Economy.  I find it wasteful to fly Business Class for such a short flight.  The perks are warranted on a 19 hour flight.  Not so much for 1 hour.

The last leg of our trip was from Singapore to Jakarta and we flew Economy.  We were tired, the kids were fussy, and we only had three seats, instead of the four I had booked on our flights from Singapore to Phoenix and back.  Both our boys were listed as "lap infants".  Ugh!  Booking mistake on my part.

Examples of what Singapore Airlines personnel did for us:

• Before the flight took off, filled our sippy cup with milk for the 22 month old, then washed it when he was done.
• Brought two sets of stuffed animals, puzzles and coloring books to help keep the kids calm.
• When my son was throwing a crying fit, and I had separated myself on the mostly empty flight, three of them surrounded us to help try to calm him down.  One even dried his tears.
• My wife was breast feeding and trying to eat her meal.  The flight attendant cut her food for her.
• One of the flight attendants pretended to call the pilot to ask if it was okay to name the plane "Bambang" at my daughter's request.  Of course the answer was "yes" - which thrilled my daughter.
• We were the last to exit the plane.  On the way out, my son's diaper - about one size too large - chose that moment to fall out of the bottom of his shorts and hang around his ankles.  One of the flight attendants attempted to remove it, found it full of his "business" and put it back on him so we could clean him after exiting the gate.

I will fly Singapore Airlines anytime I can from now on.  They are amazing.

Overall, I always felt with the American workers that I was making them do their job and they wished I wasn't.  With the Asian workers I felt like they were glad their job was servicing the needs of my family.

On the flip side - and this is something my Asian colleagues often point out to me when I rave about Asian hospitality - on every flight to and from an American destination, when passengers saw how many bags I was carrying (5) with three kids and a wife in tow, at least one person always offered to help.  To and from Asian destinations - zip.  A good friend of mine in Indonesia who spent several years in the US in school always reminds me:  "In the US, if you get a flat tire, someone will always stop to help you.  In Indonesia, someone will stop to help, but you'll need to pay them for doing it."

So, import Asian labor to the American service industry, but make sure all the passengers are American.

New Game for the iPad

Skewering the American Service industry will have to wait until tomorrow (which happens to be an Indonesian holiday).

Today I want to announce that my new game - Candy Count - will be on the market very soon.  We've already submitted it to Apple for review so it should be available for download in about a week.

This is an iPad only application.  Free version gets you the basics but the upgrade gets you the full fun!

If you are looking for a fun, entertaining way to teach your kids their colors, how to count, and mathematical concepts of sets and greater than/less than - this is the game for you!

Be sure to like our Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/CamigoKids

Traveling Travails

These last few weeks I have definitely lived my moniker of the Travelling Technologist.  Dating back to 12 July, my travels have included:

• Singapore to Jakarta
• Jakarta to Singapore
• Singapore to Tokyo to Los Angeles to Phoenix
• Phoenix to Los Angeles to Tokyo to Singapore to Jakarta

 The last two trips accompanied by a 5 year old, a 22 month old, and a 2 week old.

The trip from Singapore to Phoenix wasn't bad.  Our five year old is easily entertained by the in-flight movies, food, and sleeping.  Her only issue is learning to modulate her voice according to the situation - and recognizing that even though the headphones prevent her from hearing her speak, it has no effect on the rest of us.  Our two week old was equally easy.  He just wants to eat and sleep in two hour shifts.  As long as we're not working our way through security at the start of his eating shift, we're all set.

That leaves our 22 month old to reign holy terror over our travels.  Thankfully, of the 70 hours or so of flying and transferring, he was only fussy for 150 minutes - less than 5%.  An extremely frustrating, patience-trying, procreation-questioning 150 minutes, but manageable.

A few of the more interesting stories from this globe-trek:

1)  Airport security in the U.S. is unlike anywhere else in the world.  Of all the airports we've travelled through, all of which required a pass through security, the U.S is the only one that required removal of shoes and the full-body scans.  Yet for all the focus on safety, the U.S. based airline on which we travelled (Delta) did not require child-restraint belts for our lap-infant.  Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Garuda, and Lufthansa all required lap infants to also be latched to their parents via a seat belt that attaches to the adult seat belt.  My guess is the reason Delta doesn't require it is because, in an attempt to avoid more delays, they are using all of their extra seat belt material to make extenders for the obese travelers.

2)  Our daughter is at the age where she is trying to be helpful.  When some of her help started to include a fully packed bag moved from its location by the front door back to the bedroom where we were packing other bags, I felt it time to mention to her that "help" involves making the situation easier, not harder, and that the best thing for her to do is to ask "how can I help" and wait for an answer before jumping in and doing what she thinks is most helpful.  After our trip through security in LAX on our way to Phoenix, I almost reminded her of that conversation - I ultimately decided seeing the results was lesson enough.  On this particular occasion she felt it would be helpful to remove my silver watch from the bin it shared with my laptop and place it on the silver table next to the scanning line.  She then handed me my laptop to return to my carry-on.  When I get to the gate and realize I don't have my watch, she informs me where she "helpfully" placed it.  A quick rush back to security where I proceed to make a fool of myself by perfectly describing every aspect of my watch except for the brand (I said "Guess" - they thought I was joking; my watch is a Casio).  This required speaking to a supervisor because the agent holding my watch was unable to return it to me solely by my description of "Silver with a white face, the bottom half of the face is digital and there are three digital images of fish". Apparently the brand is more important than a detailed description.  They eventually return my watch to me after I fill out a few forms and run back to the gate to retrieve my passport so they had a record of to whom they delivered the watch (I still don't understand that part - they never officially booked it into the lost and found).

3)  On what was supposed to be the last day of our trip - 11 August - we arrive at the airport, check-in, and then go back to our home in Mesa.  In the last two years, I've travelled nearly 100,000 miles on non-US airlines and have only experienced weather delays.  Due to the lateness of scheduling this trip, US-based airlines were the only viable options (half the cost of Singapore and Cathay Pacific).  The first leg of our trip home was on Alaska Airlines.  They landed, pulled up to the gate, and then promptly experienced a 9 hour maintenance delay due to a hydraulics leak.  We missed our connecting flights and had to fly out on 12 August instead.  On the bright side, my kids experienced their first limo ride!

 

4)  On our return to Jakarta via Tokyo and Singapore, we were unfortunate to have a 7 hour layover in Singapore.  We arrived in Singapore at 1 AM and our flight left at 8 AM the following morning.  Thankfully, Singapore's airport has a "Transit Hotel" in each of their terminals.  After checking in for our 8 AM flight we checked-in to the Transit Hotel.  Small, clean enough, and built like a cave, we struggled with trying to get the kids to sleep, finally sleeping for an hour before leaving for our flight.  Not a bad experience, but not one I'd like to do again.

5)  The last leg of our travels - the morning flight from Singapore to Jakarta - happened to be 60 of the 150 minutes our 2 year old went loco.  Thankfully, the plain was mostly empty.  Had it been full, I'm sure at least one person would have complained about his ear-piercing screams.  To top it off, as we exit the plane and are packing the stroller - which we gate check - we noticed his diaper hanging out the leg of one of his shorts.  He had, ahem, "done some business", and the weight of it caused the diaper to slip off his rump and fall to his ankles.  I'm glad I wasn't the one to clean the mess underneath.  My wife was gone for 10 minutes.  At least he carries his own weight in the airport....if you don't count the fact he's walking AWAY from me (I'm in the red pants and gray shirt behind him, walking the opposite direction).

6)  I'll post a longer entry on this topic tomorrow.  America doesn't know service.  If you really want to understand why companies are shipping their call centers, manufacturing, and everything else they can to Asia, don't just look at the price.  You have to examine the attitude.  Our experience in Economy Class on Singapore Airlines was far superior to our experience in Business Class on Delta.  Airport workers in the U.S. come across like you are interrupting something more important when you just want them to do what their company pays them to do (the gate agents for the severely delayed Alaska Airline flight were a notable exception).  Workers in the hospitality industry in Asia welcome you like an honored guest at a State dinner.  In the U.S., they treat you like the odd kid with smelly clothes who just had the audacity to sit at the table of a clique two levels too high for his High School social status.  I provide several examples of the stark differences in my post tomorrow (Hint:  We wouldn't have been in a limo if the Super Shuttle representative hadn't been such a jerk).

We're now safely at our home in Jakarta and, for the most part, managing the jet-lag quite well.  My daughter starts school at 6:40 AM tomorrow morning.  That will be the true test of how well our sleep schedules adjusted during our two days of return flights.  I'm prepared to continue my jump in to the coffee consumption pool with both feet.  I'll probably need the caffeine.

New Rules

Spending the last few weeks basking in Americana reminded me of several rules I wish we could implement to the benefit of all.

1)  End Internet Anonymity.  I get that you enjoy your handle of 'IAmUrBoss'.  It expresses your, ahem, creativity and I'm all in favor of your First Amendment right to be a fool.  But anonymity has led to such hostility, incivility, and online fraud I think it must end.  How likely is someone to post racist comments in response to a news article if they knew people would know their real identity?  How much more successful would sites like eBay and Craigslist be if buyers had verified names and addresses of the sellers?  The First Amendment protects your right to be as hateful and idiotic as you choose.  I doubt our Founding Fathers had the cowardice of anonymity in mind when they fought for this right.

2)  Require Loud Music in Public Bathrooms.  I don't know when commercial designers deemed public bathrooms to be the place to escape from the hustle and bustle of America's fast-paced life.  Whenever it was, they should rewind the clock and start over.  Public bathrooms should inspire task-focused behavior - get in, get out - and a sense of urgency.  I propose loud music for two reasons.  First, playing Barry Manilow at top volume encourages everyone to make a hasty visit and clear the way for the next in line.  Second, it prevents others from hearing the cacophony of sounds that a porcelain bowl does a fine job of echoing and amplifying.  There are few things more muscle-tensing than washing your hands a few feet from a person struggling through the effects of a plate of bad oysters.

3)  Dress Codes in Grocery Stores.  I know it is hot in Arizona in August.  This summer has been especially brutal for everyone.  This doesn't mean that a triangle bikini top is now acceptable clothing for walking through the butcher's aisle at Safeway.  I don't care if you look like Jessica Alba or Jessica Tandy.  Let's leave the bikini tops for the pool, the beach, or the public park.  You don't see me wearing a tuxedo to a pool party.  And to that guy standing next to his broken down car on the 202 wearing nothing but sandals and jean-shorts cut to his hip joint - that's not appropriate under any circumstances.  Ever.  Not even in the privacy of your own home.

4)  Require News to be Newsworthy.  Remember when the news discussed wars, major cultural events, and important community events affecting schools and quality of life?  If you do you are probably over the age of thirty.  Those stories are gone.  Instead, we have every news station in Phoenix reporting on a YouTube video containing closed circuit video from a London hotel of a man so drunk he couldn't walk and did several face-plants stumbling down the stairs.  Or we hear about yet another actor arrested for heroin possession.  Neither of these topics are important.  Both of these topics drew eyeballs, which attracts advertisers, which generates money for the news shows, which encourages them to deliver more stories like these.  When did all news go tabloid?  Enquiring minds want to know.

5)  Change the Question on the Ballot Form.  During elections, we're asked a very simple question:  "Who do you cast your vote for the position of _____?"  I think we should change the question to:  "For the next 4 years, to whom do you entrust the economic viability of the United States?"  The results would be quite different, I imagine.

6)  Hold Ratings Agency Accountable for their Opinions.  The major ratings agencies - Moody's and the S&P - the same agencies that rated mortgage backed securities as AAA (a rating that means "no risk") and just downgraded US Treasuries to AA+, are duplicitous.  On the one hand, they boast that their ratings provide an accurate picture of the health of a particular investment vehicle.  They discourage investors from buying anything that does not have a credit rating.  Then, when they completely blow it, like they did with mortgage backed securities, they shirk responsibility and culpability by invoking their First Amendment right to have an opinion.  "Our rating is just our opinion and should not be taken as fact".  This is a quote from the CEO of the S&P when under questioning before the Congressional Finance Committee.  Well, given the opinion they had of mortgage backed securities, I guess we know how accurate their assessment of US Treasuries is.

What rules would you implement?

Checking In

Sitting in a Starbucks.  6 months ago I didn't drink coffee.  Hadn't had a full cup in 36 years on this Earth.  now I tolerate 5 glasses a week (I used to gag at the smell).  All in the name of enjoying coffee at a cafe with my wife.  Married life has forced me to learn to "like" three C's:  Coffee, Country music, and Cuddling.  

The things we do for love.

My father-in-law spends all his time either at work or finishing the house he just bought.  This means our house, the one in which he sleeps, has the bare bones amenities.  No cable, no internet.  Hence, the posting paucity....and my presence at Starbucks.

A few key items to check in with:

1)  I mentioned in my last blog we're in Arizona for a family emergency.  We recently learned that our 5 year old niece has two holes in her heart requiring open heart surgery.  Damage to lungs that have worked too hard for the last 5 years is complicating the situation.  Out of respect for the private nature of their parents, that is as far as I'll delve into the topic.  Tough little girl going through some tough times.  Hope our presence can provide some peace of mind.

2)  The grand opening of our Kid to Kid store was on Thursday, 4 August!  Finally, my business ownership dreams have come to fruition.  I have no intentions of quitting my job.  It would just interfere with the awesome job my sister is doing running this little enterprise of ours.  I will "manage" this team just like I manage my current team:  put the right people in the right role and then get out of their way.  So, I'm staying out of my sister's way.  Feel free to friend us on Facebook.

3)  I have a new game launching soon for the iPad.  My iPod game (Wurfeltod) is averaging 3 sales per day.  We need 100x that to consider it a success.  For my new game, I've partnered with a group in Shanghai.  The owner of the company is a friend of my friend who got married in Shanghai in May.  We met at the wedding and started talking games.  The new game is called "Candy Counter - Learn Colors and Numbers".  Those who were around when my daughter was two will know this as the "Dessert Game".  I played it with my daughter every night after dinner to teach her colors and how to count to ten.  We used a Fun Pack size of M&M's candy.  I would empty the pack on the table and ask her to separate it into the various colors, then name the colors.  If she was able to name the color, it remained on the table.  If she couldn't name it, I ate them.  Then she had to count each candy in each color.  She ate any number she knew; I ate the numbers she didn't.  She learned very quickly how to prevent daddy from eating her candy.  Now it's a game for the iPad with a tentative release date of 19 August.

I'm working out of the Phoenix office while we're here.  I'm busier here than I am in Jakarta....crazy!  Lots of meetings, but I have a lot accomplished and have some new initiatives to bring back to my team I'm excited about. 

We return to Jakarta next Thursday.  Short but important visit.

Back to regular blogging when I get to Jakarta.