Interior Traveling

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By Petra Moelker-Pronk

Like most expats, I came here for new experiences and, most of all, a lot of travelling. Therefore, frustration was high when life was put on hold in recent months. Suddenly, we no longer had the world as our playground. I felt kind of trapped and just wanted one thing: to get back to normal as soon as possible.

But as time passed, something started to slide. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have an overflowing to-do list to finish, and it actually felt very relaxed. That realization opened the door to a different reality. Instead of the planned trip to Bali, I did some interior travelling. Looking for the source of that strange peace.

Viewing your own life with the eyes of a stranger, like an unknown landscape, can yield some surprising insights. Especially if you use a travel guide with some Big Questions, such as, What do I actually want? What is really important? Do I see that reflected in the way I organize my life?

What I saw when I looked back was a boring, straight highway. Most of my life had been about meeting deadlines, which meant constantly juggling time. Social contact, relaxation or my own projects – the interesting, winding side paths – were always incidental. Something I never got around to, because there was always something more urgent. However, urgent is not the same as important.

In that respect, COVID-19 was a wakeup call. For the first time, “work” had a healthy place in my life: amidst other things that are also important and deserve to be taken seriously. Like time for myself, for reflection, my own book… And also, time for family, friends and connection. Because during the long weeks at home I realized to my surprise that that was the only thing
I really missed: social contact. Travelling is a luxury. If you have to, you can perfectly do without. But the ordinary things I had always taken for granted – the joy of dinner with friends, sharing your highs and lows, laughing uncontrollably over crazy stories – proved to be the things that really matter.

Ordinary life is now resuming. Carefully, I start to dream again. Of travelling to Holland, seeing our children and all those beautiful countries that we would still like to visit. But I am kind of reluctant leaving my wonderfully quiet cocoon, entering the outside world. Truth is, I don’t want to go back to normal anymore. What I do want is to create a new normal: life carefully balanced around the things that are dear to me.

I also realize that’s not going to happen all by itself. I will have to actively steer my way towards a new routine, redefining myself in the process. Life is progress, learning, growing and adapting to that growth. As Michelle Obama said in the documentary “Becoming” when someone asked her how she felt about getting back on track after 8 years in the White House, “It’s not getting back on track, but it’s creating my next track.”

Ramadan 2020

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Ramadan 2020

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The month lasts 29–30 days based on visual sightings of the crescent moon, in accordance with numerous biographical accounts compiled in the hadiths. 

From dawn until sunset, Muslims refrain from eating, consuming liquids, smoking and sexual activity. All Muslims observe these restrictions unless they are traveling, ill, menstruating, breastfeeding, elderly, pregnant or diabetic. Fasting is safe for healthy individuals, but those with medical conditions should seek the advice of a healthcare professional. Those who participate in fasting will either see weight loss or sometimes weight gain. This is usually attributed to your metabolism adjusting to this new schedule. Before dawn is when the first meal of the day (known as suhur) is had, as well as the morning prayer. During Ramadan, Muslims redouble their focus on salat (prayers) and recitation of the Quran, as well as good deeds and charity.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the current order for all mosques and places of worship to close in order to reduce the spread of the disease, many are likely wondering how this will affect the celebration of Ramadan. So far, the annual Ramadan bazaar has been cancelled to encourage social distancing. In lieu of a physical bazaar, the government has set up an online portal for Ramadan vendors to conduct business on this platform, with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) encouraged to provide delivery services, according to the Borneo Bulletin. 

Otherwise, the fasting and prayer aspects of Ramadan should continue without interruption despite the ongoing pandemic. This means that it is important for those who are not observing to remain respectful and supportive of those observing the holiday. When out in public, refrain from drinking, eating and chewing gum, even when in your car. Do not offer food or drink to friends who are observing Ramadan. 

If you are not observing Ramadan, you are somewhat able to maintain your normal routine. Purchasing groceries is allowed as is ordering takeaway or delivery from local restaurants. Ordering delivery and pickup from restaurants, who are likely losing revenue due to the ban on in-house dining, is encouraged and a great way to help local businesses in these difficult times. 

To learn more about Ramadan visit the Outpost holidays page or read this article from a previous edition of POP. Stay safe during social distancing and have a happy Ramadan everyone!

Online Learning: Easy Access to Academia

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With the internet being an ever-expanding place, the opportunities to learn whatever you want, whenever and wherever is most convenient for you, are unlimited. For many expats, continuing their education abroad is a priority and, now more than ever, the ability to learn from the comfort of your home is essential. Even if you aren’t interested in obtaining a Ph.D. while practicing social distancing, there are plenty of ways to keep you and your family entertained and expand your knowledge on anything from art to technology to history. 

 

ONLINE COLLEGE

If you are like me, you have varying interests that make sticking to one topic difficult or nearly impossible. There are many colleges that offer classes through online educational platforms like Coursera and edX. Both online learning sites offer free or low-priced courses taught by professors from universities like Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, MIT and many more. You can access course materials and lectures for free, and some courses, for a fee, even grant you certificates upon completion, which you can put on your resume or LinkedIn profile. Check out this Business Insider article for a full list of universities that offer remote learning and the courses available.

 

MUSEUMS

Whether you are an art connoisseur or just enjoy the whimsical experience of walking through a gallery, art is something that anyone can appreciate. No matter your age, educational background or walk of life, there is always something to learn and relish through the experience of a museum. Now, you can visit some of the most famous museums in the world, right from your living room couch. Places like the Louvre, the Guggenheim, the Smithsonian, the British Museum and others offer online tours where you can virtually walk their halls and view all their exhibits for free. Other institutions like the National Gallery of Art and NASA offer virtual tours and online exhibits along with audio lectures about the history of different art pieces and artifacts. You can find the full list of museums offering online tours here.

 

ADDITIONAL COURSES

There are so many online classes and remote learning websites out there that it can be overwhelming to get started. Here are some platforms that can help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Khan Academy: If you could use some helpful home-schooling materials for your kids, check out Khan Academy, which works with many secondary schools to offer a depth of information on different subjects. They have short, informative lectures that build on past lectures to provide learning at a manageable pace. With the current closure of many schools, Khan Academy can provide a way to keep students on track. 

CodeAcademy: Technology can be daunting, sometimes even scary. For those who want to conquer web design and flex their creative muscles at the same time, CodeAcademy is just the resource for that. You can learn a variety of formats from HTML, Java Script, CSS, Python and many more. They have videos of real-life see demonstrations and step by step instructions so you can always refer back to prior steps if you get stuck. 

TED-Ed: If you have never heard of TED talks, you are in for a treat. These lectures can be anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour and cover a wide range of topics from space theory, mental health, technology’s impact on the world and so many others. The range of subject matter makes it easy for you to take learning at a casual pace or take on more serious topics when you feel like it. Their library of videos and podcasts is constantly expanding so you will never run out of material. 

 

No matter where you are or what is going on in the world around you, there is always a way to continue learning. Challenging yourself mentally is a great stress reliever, regardless of whether you have lofty aspirations or are just looking for a fulfilling way to pass the time. Take your education into your own hands and check out some of the websites mentioned here. You never know what you may learn today.