Why I Truly am Here

I have only enough energy to post about one thing this evening. I could have posted about my boat ride along the Lombok Strait for my snorkeling adventure in the Gili Islands, and I eventually will.  Or I could have posted about the room upgrade I was given to a Private Pool Villa (I guess they felt bad I was almost washed out to sea at my first breakfast.) But, instead I will briefly post about dinner tonight.

My staff arranged for me to meet with some of  Lombok's students and alums. It's the first time I have actually had the opportunity to meet real live SU students, whom I treated to dinner at my hotel. What a wonderfully delightful group. I learned so much about them and the Sampoerna experience from a student perspective.  And they came bearing a bagful of fantastic Lombok gifts, two of which I am wearing in the picture.

The tourism is fun, but working with and getting to know students: that's why I do what I do. And I've missed it a lot this past COVID year. Thanks to everyone for traveling almost the length of the island to join me and I hope that August will bring us all together in Jakarta.



(Sadly our waitperson was not the most adept photograher.)

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