Snapshots of the week

Hello all!

It's been a busy week!

Mr. Viky and I take a selfie. 

The sister school to the church that I'm volunteering at has two classes of 10th graders. One class is the King class, and the other class is the Sung class. Students get to decorate their own rooms. As in my school in Peace Corps, here the teachers come to the students' classroom, not vice versa. 

What is society? 

Mawar Sharon Christian School (MSCS) has a lot of administrative procedures for how to prep for a class. Lesson plans for an entire quarter are due technically before the term starts, but teachers are about a week behind on that. Before teachers hand out any assignments, worksheets, projects, tests, quizzes, note sheets, or anything to students, they have to show it to the head of SH curriculum, then get her stamp of approval, then it takes 2 days for it to be photocopied. This means that the last minute lesson planning lifestyle is not allowed. It's for the best, though!

Literally, the stamp of approval.

I also moved into my apartment and can finally walk around in my short shorts and tank tops without fear of being seen! Though last night, I did go take out the trash in some questionably skimpy outfit, and of course was seen by 4 people in the 10 seconds I was out of my room. Sheesh!

I arrived here with 4 bags, and in 2 weeks, I acquired! Both those in the foreground and background are mine.  

Ms. Lies (pronounced Lease) modeling the view from the 19th floor, my new apartment!

Ta-dah! A panoramic of my apartment, from where I am sitting on the bed. 

Amidst all the chaos of moving and having no transportation (more on that in another post, though it's worked out for the next month, don't worry!), my free time on the weekends is spent with Vallen.

There is no better place to find a giant, lit peacock than at Surabaya Night Carnival!  

I'm not oddly sunburned, it's the shadow of my camera while I'm taking a picture. 

Watching a 5 minute 3D movie before going into my first haunted house. Nothing jumped out and me but I still hated it. 

He also took me shopping to get things for the kitchen, and then shopped for some rings himself! 

Big rings are all the rage for bapaks (old guys) in Indonesia now, and I suppose Vallen, at age 30, is on the cusp of being old? Hahaha. One of my other friends asked me to bring back a bunch of rocks for him to tumble into stones and then sell for the rings, and Vallen wanted to check them out. 

As advised by my new pastor (also an American) at "International Christian Assembly", Vallen took me to get bread and, well, chocolate, at a bakery. Real French bread, hooray! 

Below, you can see photos of when I went shopping with Miss Meyta. She is a new staff member at MSCS. She just graduated from a branch of Alabama University that is located, of all places, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She is 22, and she is a crucial part of the Student Support Services. She will help with counseling and the Life Skills class.

Miss Mey buying snacks for us! 

Mawar Sharon Christian School

I’ve translated this phrase, Mawar Sharon, for many people now, but really, where does this phrase “Rose of Sharon” come from? My mom told me that Rose of Sharon is used as one of the many titles for Mary in the Catholic Church. I also asked a coworker just now what she thought it meant, and she said that Rose of Sharon can grow and flower even in the desert. Hence, the host church where I am volunteering adopted the philosophy of growing a strong, faithful church in the midst of whatever surroundings there may be. 

The welcome desk

Lobby

Here she is, MSCS. While the outside of the school looks a little like the face of a transformer, the inside is clean and cozy! 

Words of encouragement fill the halls

As well as words of...caution?? : /  Yikes!

Whirlwind weeks

I finished work at “I Have A Dream” Foundation on July 17^th, flew out July 18^th at 6 AM, arrived in Surabaya at 9 AM on July 20^th, and went to the church for the first day on July 22^nd. I have also visited the church's sister school to see what that is like. Last Thursday (July 30^th) the senior high students arrived for the first time. As 10^th graders, most of them were part of the first class that ever existed at MSCS (the school began 10 years ago). However, a handful of the 29 10^th graders have been at MSCS only since middle school (grades 7-9), and 3 of the 29 are completely new to MSCS. 

"1st Batch" had already happened by the time I tried to explain that that was more for cookies than students...

  

The school building

The facility is a beautiful, clean building with 6 floors. The higher the floor, the older the students! 

Standard classroom, complete with President Jokowi and the VP's picture flanking the Garuda. Because this is, after all, still Indonesia!   

A candid shot of some teachers. The staff is overwhelming yuppies in their 20s and 30s. 

  The church and school are equipped with Western toilets, classrooms with the black lab tables just like I used in high school, a classroom with a full kitchen for Life Skills class, a (nearly empty) library, computer labs, an elevator that sadly only runs from 7 AM to 4 PM (meaning that the 6:40 AM and 4:30 PM arrival and departure forces teachers to walk up and down 5 flights of stairs), lockers for the middle and high school students, and so on!

Chem/Bio lab

Life skills classroom

The library that is rather empty at the moment.

Computer lab

Hooks for the little kids

Lockers for the big kids

It really is a beautiful school, but it is bursting at the seams. The school prefers to have moving classes for the middle and high school students, but it is not possible with the number of classes this year (pre-K-10^th grade). Just like Peace Corps, the teacher comes to the students’ classroom, not vice versa.

Miss Nensy modeling the elementary school staff work room

The high school teachers' workroom...the school is maxed out on space, so they all have to share this one room until they move to a new location next school year!

Students

While I have spent a few days at the school, today was my first day interacting with them in English. I have to say, I was pretty doubtful about their level of English after witnessing how everything happened in Indonesian on the first day of school. All communication with teachers is also in Bahasa Indonesia, so it’s a real blessing I speak it. Most of the teachers from pre-K-10^th grade speak either decent or pretty darn good English, but it is not always required that they use English when teaching. It will depend on the teacher and the subject. 

Team-building activities

Indoor playground!

Sports field for gym class

Anyways, the students. These students are SMART! Today, I heard references to “a short summary of WWII”, “9/11 and Al Quaeda, John Wilkes Booth and Abraham Lincoln, Miller’s “Paradise Lost,” Dante’s “Inferno,” “Girl Meets World”, and more! These students are nothing, I repeat, nothing like my students during Peace Corps. Many of them travel to MSCS from 20-30 minutes away. Some have drivers. Some visit other countries on Christmas and summer break. Some of them make movies and are in bands. I bet most of them have laptops, too. 

I find myself struggling already to bridge the gap in my mind between these students and those in Jombang. I have to hold back from widening my eyes as I tell people I meet here in Surabaya that basically one student in Jombang spoke conversational English, and their classrooms in Jombang are little more than 4 cement walls. I do not want to discredit the wonderful personalities and smart students I met in Jombang, but when I see firsthand the haves and have nots, those presented with countless opportunities and those who do not have opportunities, the gap is gaping.

First day seminar with the school pastor, Mr. Victor

Praise and worship with the students...including three students who were asked to dance in front of the screen the whole time. Needless to say, there were no smiles from these middle schoolers when asked to do this. : ) 

Back to Indonesia

Hello readers!

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!)

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. 

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!

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!

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!

This is my street in Surabaya, but I'm not sure which of these houses will be mine!

Another year has gone by...

...Well,  it's 28 days shy of a year, since I touched down in the good old USA after being away 27 months!

It's been a whole year since an Indonesian has "kindly" called me fat (I'm still bitter about that!), though recently one of my super skinny 9th grade students who is into modelling told me that the industry is opening up many opportunities for plus-sized models. Thanks, Janet!

It's been...well, 2 days since I last ate rice. (To be fair, my roommate Mustafa cooked Afghani food and that seems to often include rice!) In the past year, I've eaten rice about 2-4 times a month. I haven't missed plain white rice one bit, Indonesia!

While I continue to regularly wipe sweat from my face, it's in relation to working out at the YMCA, not in relation to biking 4 blocks to school, or, god forbid, waking up from a lazy afternoon nap only to be covered in sweat!

On the downside of being home, I've missed good nasi goreng (my own Indonesian cooking leaves a lot to be desired!), cap cay, and es degan. 

Some of my own attempts at nasi goreng, tempe, and cap cay are...okay.  

2 of my close friends have had babies since I've been home, so I've missed being there to hold their new babies, and if lucky, have one pee on me, since they don't always use diapers!

Welcome to the world, Mini Iik! Iqbal and Rosi's son is 4 hours old.  

It goes without saying that I terribly miss my boyfriend, Vallen. While Whatsapp, Skype, and Google Hangout have provided a variety of internet apps with which to continually lose connection mid-sentence, it will be wonderful to be together again. Prepare for the flood of happy Facebook photos that shall flood your walls, for I am a jealous person who has had to endure other couples' loving, smiling photos for 14 months without my loved one!

I'm also psyched to meet Mayra, Vallen's 2-year old niece. She runs to his side when she hears my voice and loves to watch silly movies of me trying to ask her how life is!

Miss Mayra! 

Here she is playing at home on her favorite little car

A mere week or 2 after I arrive, one of my best friends, Nining, will have her baby! Determined to pick me up from the airport, I can imagine that a 9 months and 2 weeks pregnant Nining may go into labor in the car on the way home will all the excitement! What a way to start my 2nd round in Indonesia!

Nining and her husband, Hari, on vaca in Bali.

\

Here Comes the Bride

The following is an article I've written for The Emic, the Sociology/Anthropology's quarterly newsletter to all its department alum. It should appear in The Emic this week!

***

The jingle of the hand-held drums begins abatik. Her new face, whiter than ever, drips sweat at the edges from the scorching sun. A mountain of fabric, flowers, and a crown adorn her head, weighing her down. She smiles not, displaying her reserved beauty. Guests turn as she passes, following her short but significant journey.

nd a heavenly chorus of Arabic voices blends perfectly together. She teeters down the aisle on 4-inch heels, gripping the arms of her parents. Her steps are careful, her legs swaddled by beautifully dyed

From the other end of the rented tent, her betrothed approaches, flanked left, right and behind by his extended family. His lips are tinged pink; he wears make-up for the first time. In his pointed shoes, he shuffles along; catching the eye of his laughing pal, he smirks back. One cannot help but smile at the nervousness, a friend decorated in shiny clothes, about to become a man.

They meet, and he takes her hands. She bends down slowly, burdened by her dress. He slips off his shoe, stepping on a raw egg. She washes his foot in water, ornamented with fresh flower petals. He helps her up and they come face-to-face, ready to proceed forward together. 

This is just the opening act of a traditional Javanese wedding reception. As a Peace Corps volunteer, I was privy to attend, even be a “bridesmaid,” in many weddings. These sacred ceremonies are seeped with cultural values and religious reminders.

Beauty: The make-up a woman wears makes her skin shades whiter. White skin is highly valued in Indonesia, as the standard of beauty is a white, Western woman. The make-up artists also apply shadow on the woman’s nose so as to make the nose appear longer, thinner, and pointer.

Gender: Men from both the woman and man’s family lead the wedding, symbolizing the male as the leader of the family. The woman shows that she will serve her husband well as she bends down to wash her husband’s foot.

Religion: Islam is woven into the ceremony with the enchanting al banjarian music. A Muslim leader gives a speech, reminding the woman and man of their roles in the relationship. The ceremony ends with an Arabic prayer thanking Allah.

While I, an outsider, can only glean meaning from these extravagant ceremonies, it remains clear that these two days of ceremony and receptions reflect key Javanese and Muslim values the people work hard to uphold. 

For more behind the scenes info on weddings and other celebrations, see my old blog post here. 

Phantom Limbs (Indonesian habits carry over to the USA)

Today my pastor, Matt, turned to me and said, "Saya mau makan. (I want to eat). I've been meaning to tell you that!"

I was speechless at first, but eventually answered with "Monggo!" (Go ahead). He responded with a thank you, "Terima kasih."

I attended a meeting a few weeks ago for newcomers to the Boulder Valley Christian Church, and I shared that I was in Peace Corps. Earlier that day, Matt had shared that he travelled to Indonesia a few years ago and became deathly ill. Someone gave him some nasty pills which, he claimed, would make Matt feel better. Matt recounted how the toilets are not more than a porcelain hole in the ground with 2 raised places for your feet on either side of the hole. His sickness led to him facing the hole, feet replaced by hands...anyways, he remembered a few phrases and wanted to share that with me!

***

Believe it or not, Asia and Indonesia have come up so much in the last few months. It's hard to believe I didn't know a lick about it 3 years ago! Tonight, in fact, a Peace Corps friend Joe and I are meeting for dinner. He moved to Lakewood, and it'll be the 2nd mini-reunion with an RPCV from my cohort. (I met Lea and Tammy in Chicago in July). 

Here's a few more fleeting traces of Indonesia as I've been going about my business in Boulder, CO.


1. Remember how Indonesian students show their teachers respect by taking their teacher's hand and bringing it to their cheek, forehead or lips? That's called salim. 

The salim Miss Sarah party, where all 200 students salim-ed me at a final flag ceremony. 

2 weeks ago, my student Cristian extended his hand for a handshake and I waited for him to salim me! After an awkward pause, I attempted to explain that I got confused and was waiting for him to do that. This idea was met with confusion and the belief that I was nuts more than any cultural understanding. Oh well!

2. Every time a see a baby, I have a strong urge to ask the mother or father to hold him/her. Which was fine in Indonesia, but not fine here. So far, I've resisted from grabbing the baby. So far. 

Intan's baby

Indah's baby

3. The middle school girls are very chatty at homework time. Once I let an "Ayo!" slip. They didn't catch it, but I'd just said "Come on, let's go!" in Indonesian.


4. I read with an English Language Learner (ELL) 4th grader a few weeks ago. It was mentally challenging to NOT explain the English to her by using Bahasa Indonesia. I'm so wired to teach through translations...


5. Sometimes I crave nasi goreng, Indonesian fried rice which probably single-handedly gifted me 5 pounds because I ate it so often! But I fry it up here in my American kitchen anyways!

Nasi goreng (left)

6. The middle school girls saw my Indonesian Facebook profile picture, where I am wearing kebaya. They were pretty confused. "What ethnicity are you?" they asked me. They saw a caption of a photo where I wrote, "I miss my friends and family in Indonesia." I explained that I was referring to my host family, and that were I to be Indonesian, I'd be one white, white, white one! They asked about the headscarves they saw women wearing in my picture. I explained they are Muslim, so they cover their heads, arms and legs. They asked if that meant the covered women were married. I said nope, all women young and old can cover up. It's a choice. I was quite surprised they'd never heard of a hijab, nor did they know its meaning...

I was pendamping (an attendant) at my friend Indah's wedding. Nov 2012