For Boulder friends who requested my blog, here it is! For old readers, welcome back. When I move back to East Java on Saturday, I'll be updating this blog more frequently.
For new readers, a little geography (I apologize if the images are too small, google "Surabaya, Indonesia" and zoom out accordingly!)
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| I lived in Murukan during the Peace Corps, about 1.5 hours away from my new city, Surabaya. This is a picture of East Java. |
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| Zooming out to encompass most of Indonesia, one can see that Java is one of the main islands. Bordered by Sumatra to the west, Kalimantan (on the island of Borneo) to the north, Sulawesi to the northeast, and Bali immediately to the east, Java is the center of business of Indonesia, as the capital, Jakarta, is located in West Java. Indonesia has over 17,000 islands that make up its archipelago, and Java is just one of these islands! |
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| As I zoom out again, one can see that the major countries bordering Indonesia are Australia to the south (some Australian schools teach Bahasa Indonesia as a foreign language), Malaysia to the north (a portion of Malaysia is located on the same island as Kalimantan. These two provinces together make up the island of Borneo), Singapore (a dot at the end of the Malaysia peninsula), The Philippines to the north, and Papua New Guinea to the east. Just like Borneo, New Guinea (the world's second largest island after Greenland!) is an island made up of two countries' provinces: Papua is the western half of the island and belongs to Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea is the eastern half of the island and is its own country. |
My boss recently asked me why I didn't blog during my year of AmeriCorps with "I Have A Dream" Foundation of Boulder County. After all, this year was a new aspect of education for me, working in the American non-profit sector. My students' culture was also a new culture for me. I worked with Latino students, primarily first generation students from Mexico. I don't speak a bit of Spanish, which was a humbling experience when meeting parents who didn't speak any English. I found myself feeling embarrassed and unprepared to serve them.
So why didn't I blog? My short answer to my boss's question was, "I was living in the USA, so I was not overwhelmed by a new culture every day." Yes, I worked with Latinos, but I did not go live at home with my students. I was not invited in to eat as I walked down the street. The linguistic, religious and cultural nuances did not envelop me as they did in Indonesia. So, I did not blog. Also, honestly, I needed a break. Blogging about the US education system is exhausting, because I'd mostly have criticisms about it!
ON PLANES AND PACKING:
Now, however, I am on the cusp of returning. In 2 short days, I will hop on a plane that will, insha'Allah, bring me safely to Surabaya. After all, most of the recent plane crashes have been from Southeast Asia, and I get freaked out about flying. Really, what is stopping an enormous plane from freaking out and falling out of the sky!? Vallen (my boyfriend) is a Javanese Muslim who would not appreciate my flair for the dramatics and me stating that maybe I'll make it there, with the plane crashes and all. He, like many Javanese people (or just Javanese Muslims? I don't know), believe that one's words are a type of prayer, a wish that could come try. Therefore, don't say negative things...a real struggle for an American woman who thrives on drama!
So anyways, back to the real point of this post. An update on what is happening. I am currently packing, unpacking, and repacking 3 suitcases of my possessions to bring back with me. As I am aware of the lack of shoe and clothing choices in my size in Indonesia, I am bringing, basically, 2 suitcases of clothes and shoes. That leaves one suitcase for, well, stuff I can't seem to part with, as irrational as these material things are. A "Life is Good" mug from my mom (sentimental value), a Balinese painting (why didn't I just leave it there, since I'd be back!), American measuring cups...the list goes on. Here's to hoping my luggage is not too overweight!
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| An explosion of stuff! |
FLIGHT SCHEDULE:
Saturday morning at 6 AM, I fly from Denver to Minneapolis (I know, I know, not exactly the most direct route!) Nothing like getting ready for my 6:30 AM school day hours. Whilst enjoying the Midwest, I'll meet Julia and Lauren (from Carleton) on my layover, where we will enjoy...mimosas? I don't see why we shouldn't imbibe at 10 AM. After all, it's my last time in a setting where drinking is not readily frowned upon!
Then I hop on a 12-hour flight to Tokyo, arriving early Sunday morning local time. 2 hours layover, then on to Singapore, where I will stumble off the 7-hour plane ride into what should be soothing dimmed lights (at 12 midnight) because this is the world's best airport and I hear their airlines calmly raise the lights in a plane instead of throwing your retinas into disarray! At the Changi airport, I will do my best to find a place to lay my weary head for a few winks in an airport slumber-ette, and then primp for my reunion with Vallen the next morning. My last flight, at 8 am local time on Monday, is a quick 2 hours to Surabaya.
LIVING SITUATION:
For the first 10 days of my stay (through the end of July), my host church has booked a dormitory room for me to stay in. This set up is pretty hard to explain to anyone who is not, well, Indonesian or a Peace Corps volunteer! Basically, instead of a studio apartment, many college students rent a room in a house. This house is not a typical house. It's literally just a shared kitchen, and then anywhere from 4-10 single rooms off of a single hallway. Then, add a second story with 4-10 more rooms. In past dorms where I've stayed to visit friends, there is no AC and there are shared bathrooms. In this snazzy dorm (likely filled with college-aged, Bahasa Indonesia speaking ladies, as dorms are almost always one gender), I have my own private bathroom and AC. Doesn't get better than that for a dorm room! During those ten days, I'll be looking for an apartment in which to call my own, because I'm 26 and make enough money for my own place, darn it!
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| This is my street in Surabaya, but I'm not sure which of these houses will be mine! |
