Tragic news.
Trip Start
Jul 24, 2008
1
9
22
Trip End
Ongoing
Umalas,
Indonesia
Sunday, September 7, 2008
I am afraid that my blog will be a short entry this time. I have some tragic news to relate. One week ago Jon Bushell, the partner of Alex, (the new English teacher who started the same time as me) was killed in a motorcycle accident.
Life has been chaotic here since we first heard the news on Thursday night, but gradually the full facts have emerged. Jon was returning home from another day's driving instruction in Sanur, close to us here in Kuta, about thirty minutes drive. He had taken the road many times and knew it. Which is probably why he was not expecting to find a lorry parked on the bridge, (it had broken down and the driver had gone for help) With sunset approaching the sun would have been full in his face and with his reduced visibility he failed to avoid the vehicle. A passing woman in a taxi saw the accident and stopped, she got people to put Jon in her taxi and speed him to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
About two hours later, (which does give you faith in the British consulate here) A telephone conversation had been had with Jon's mother in England and they were phoning Alex. She was driving home and no-one was with her, but they did not check before telling her, (which takes away a bit of faith in the British consulate here) although once they had contacted her I suppose there was no way they could not tell her. After her initial reaction that it must be a very poor joke, Alex managed to find her way home and phone another teacher from school. Within two hours I was dropping off our headmaster to meet his wife at her villa. This swift reaction and support from school has been steadfast since then with every member of staff doing what they can to try and support Alex through this awful time. Both Ian and his wife, (who also teaches at the school) have been amazing, sorting out everything from liaising with the British consulate, to identifying the body and arranging passage back to England.
This last point was made particularly tricky as Alex needed to fly back with her Mother and sister, (who jetted out straight away and were here by Saturday afternoon). Here we were lucky in that Tom, (one of the founders of the school and a very well connected local man) was able not only to sort out the flights but also to escort Alex's family through customs at a much faster pace than is customary.
The support between teaching staff has also been very strong and has shown me just how much of a 'community school' I know belong to. I feel both grateful to have been allowed to become part of this community and reassured by knowing we are here to support any issues that any of us might have.
Jon was fully insured so his body should be repatriated with no problems. A small ceremony was held at school on Wednesday, where again the support was not only strongly visible from teachers who had known Alex and Jon but also from students and parents who had, of course, never met Jon.
I feel that saying anything else at this point would be disrespectful to Jon and to Alex so I will leave this entry by sending my best wishes towards Alex and to Jon wherever he may be, I hope he finds eternal rest.
Ixxx
