I wear shirts with incorrect English. In my defense it was a birthday gift from teachers at my school. In their defense, I suppose that is why I am here teaching English. If nothing else, we can hope for a future with grammatically correct screen printed t-shirts. Now that’s a vision we can all unite [...]
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This past weekend my school held a graduation celebration and arts showcase. Class time was occasionally repurposed and weeks and weeks had been spent in putting together this event. The graduation was less of a ceremony and more of a representation since students will find out tomorrow whether or not they passed the National Exams [...]
This was an entry I almost didn’t post. The reasoning being I thought I would have to be bashing my host country Instead it became a perfect example of the iceberg. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons The iceberg is one of the first things we discussed upon arriving in country. I want to say it was [...]
I’m horrible with names. It occurred to me the other day when my neighbor called after her three-year-old son to come home so she could give him a bath. He was playing with my four-year-old host niece in the living room. I was in my room reading, and I perked up. She repeated the name [...]
In Indonesian villages, many people have home businesses whether it’s a toko (store with daily necessities like soap, shampoo, snacks, water, etc.), warung (a small restaurant) or salon, etc. On Sunday, I visited a school administrative assistant’s home. We visited one of her neighbors who has a kripik home business. Kripik are chips often made [...]
I’m going to keep this one short and sweet because the truth is I tried to avoid writing a post altogether by reblogging John’s post on our recent hiking trip to Gunung Raung, Java’s second tallest volcano. However, being the silly girl that I am, I reblogged it to a private blog and not to [...]
I recently celebrated one year of being in Indonesia. This journey has been long and tough, but let’s not kids ourselves; many people go through way more dramatic changes and endure more challenging things than I have or will ever understand. One thing I find fascinating is that most people who join the Peace Corps say they [...]
This past trip was too good to just put up one post with photos. Here’s some more sights seen around Ubud. Coming up next: celebrating a year in country, more updates, thoughts, photos and more! (I know I slacked off for a while but I’m trying to play catch up now)
Here’s what you need to know about Nyepi: It’s the Hindu New Year. The word Nyepi is derived from the word meaning “quiet” —makes sense considering the day is supposed to be spent in silence and introspection. Going along with that, everything else on the island stops for 24 hours beginning at 6 a.m. The lights go off; people don’t [...]
Favorite photos from last week and a teaser for my next post where I’ll explain more about all these fantastical things and my vacation… Reminder: mouse over for captions A little more context: These photos are from two different religious events. The first of which was the anniversary of the main temple in Ubud, Bali. [...]
Reminder: scroll over photos for captions. Also here’s a dorky video message from me (FYI I’m sporting the shirt my host family got my as a birthday gift in it.) I love my birthday, if for nothing else than the fact that everyone wears my favorite color! My birthday is St. Patrick’s Day. Yesterday was [...]
Share Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Lindblom Sat, Mar 17 2012 20:00:00 Share 5 DIY Projects to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Style – Lifestyle – GOOD The 8th annual Buy Nothing Day is here with creative calls to supplant shopping trips with community, parades, and empty shopping cart me… Good Share St. Patrick’s Day History: [...]
Reminder: scroll over photos for captions. Also here’s a dorky video message from me (FYI I’m sporting the shirt my host family got my as a birthday gift in it.) I love my birthday, if for nothing else than the fact that everyone wears my favorite color! My birthday is St. Patrick’s Day. Yesterday was [...]
A few weeks ago I went to a pesantren. A pesantren is an Indonesian Islamic boarding school. They are usually situated near a mosque and among other homes in villages, but there are also larger pesantrens in the cities. Usually men will live in one home and study and women in another. When I went [...]
I’m kind of, sort of excited about Valentine’s Day! This is a confession because usually I’m not the biggest fan of Valentine’s Day for the all-too-cliche reason of it just feels so forced and another holiday overrun by hallmark, candy companies, jewelers and the like. And though I won’t be doing much on Valentine’s Day 2012, [...]
Though the group I traveled with visited several places while on vacation in Bali last month, we covered the most ground the first day. We took an overnight train on Christmas from Surabaya and arrived in Ketapang, Banguwangi (Java Port) in the wee hours of the morning the next day. Though dreary from the train [...]
Here we go with round two…. From a speaking assessment in which students had to ask me one question in English (unfortunately most were rather unimaginative due to the lack of language skills, but I enjoyed these): “Why are you not yet married?” Do you hear the connotation in that? “Do you like tomatoes?” Sure, why not? [...]
One of the places visited in Bali was Gua Gajah in Ubud. It’s a Hindu cave-temple-scared-jungle place. Gua Gajah means Elephant Cave. The dense jungle, fountains and temple ruins made for an interesting different and beautiful landscape, take a peek for yourself: And last but not least a group photo in front of the entrance [...]
I wouldn’t make a very good housewife. This is because I am apparently incapable of satisfactorily performing household chores. I know it’s hard to believe but my Ibu (host mother) can verify this. She laughs when I try to help with householf chores, but it is only in the most endearing way. And now for proof… [...]
So I just got back from a splendid little vacay or liburan in Bali. I have tons of photos that will inevitably make it here, but for starters I thought I’d share some of my favorites that came Ubud’s Sacred Monkey Forest.
Though it is currently 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit and 65 percent humidity, it is indeed Christmas day here in Surabaya. Christmas Eve was spent with a small group of volunteers eating cupcakes, brownies, candy canes and other Christmas goodies while hanging out in the lounge at the Peace Corps office. We turned up the a/c and cuddled up in [...]
I’ve now been in-country more than eight months and in-service for more than six. (This is a week or so late, sorry!) That means I am 8/27ths or 29.6% done with my overall time here. OR I am 6/24th or 1/4th or 25% done with my service. I am a quarter done with my service [...]
(Hint: mouse over for captions.) I was just minding my own business, hanging out in the school science lab trying to check emails and be good and productive and all, when these little people came along and insisted I get nothing done. So of course, I had to comply. And because Facebook lies and says [...]
Something’s happening. I’m not sure if I can completely explain it, or at least not yet, but I’ll try. I’m starting to feel happy. And I’m not talking those brief moments of happiness like the eerie moment my Indonesia classroom becomes quiet for a split second or when a random breeze disrupts the stagnant air [...]
Thanksgiving, turkey, turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, pie, pie, pie. Food! American food! And not just any American food but Thanksgiving food!!!!! This is all that was running through my head during Thanksgiving week because at the end of it I knew those things would be a reality in my very full stomach. When you [...]
Nanowrimo was a fail. It was like trying to do a marathon without having run long distance before and with no training. Creative writing is a lot harder than I thought. However, I’m looking forward to trying it again next November. My other confession is a bit more obvious. I’ve fallen off the blogging bandwagon. [...]
As I sat surrounded by small piles of raw meat freshly carved from the still warm cow carcass, I took a minute to self-evaluate. This was my inner conversation: “How’s it going? Is this cool with you? You OK sitting right here?” “I mean, I guess. But now that I think of it, just the [...]
Did you know I’m kind of awesome at badminton? Me neither. My goal going into the second annual volunteer-staff badminton tournament was simply to not get booted in the first round. Somehow my amazing partner Pak Winarto and I not only made it to the last round, but we went ahead and took first place [...]
I have this compulsion to write, but… sometimes I’m afraid I’ll never be tormented enough or crazy enough (see video below) to write anything of substance. In order to break free from this incapacitating fear of failing, I’m going to write a novel in one month. Waaahhh…even as I type those words here, I’m regretting it. In the back of [...]
If you haven’t heard of Kawah Ijen, let me give you the lowdown. It’s a volcanic crater in East Java that spews sulfurous gases alongside the world’s largest acidic lake. As appealing as that sounds…it actually is. The harsh and beautiful landscape draws in a great deal of tourists and is just part of the [...]
I have a certain fondness for reading lights (I brought two with me to Indonesia) that I fear is being replaced by my recent infatuation with my headlamp. Also I think I’m developing a slight insomnia.
I like dancing. I really do. If you know me, this shouldn’t be at all shocking. The confession part of this…sometimes I shut myself in my room, pop in my headphones and dance it out in my room. I’m pretty sure my host family assumes I nap every afternoon. I’m here to tell you that’s [...]
A few photos from my recent trip to Borobudur. And speaking of photos check out the winners of the Peace Corps 50th Annivesary photo contest including fellow friends and Indo PCVs Elle and Paige.
As a continuation of my last post on surviving three months as site, I’d like to take the moment to be a little more positive rather than hashing out the challenges and lack of accomplishments I’ve felt these last three months. I’m also going to brag a little because there are inevitable perks to being [...]
Just a reminder: Although Peace Corps is a 27 month commitment (per Peace Corps verbiage), volunteers actually serve for two years. The first three months in-country are usually dedicated to training. It is only after you complete training and are sworn in that you can officially call yourself a Peace Corps Volunteer, also commonly referred [...]
Went to Kawah Ijen this past weekend. These are my two favorite photos I took there. More posts coming soon. : )
Today was Idul Fitri. Hoorah! Or rather “Selamat Idul Fitri! Mohon maaf lahir dan batin.” Which translates into something like “Happy Idul Fitri, please forgive me [for any times I have wronged you] from my body and heart.” Today was all about family and celebrating a fresh start. It is, from what I understand, the largest holiday [...]
Here are a few of my favorite questions and comments so far (in no particular order): “Where is your husband?” “Your pimple is bigger….why?” This brought on the following conversation: Teacher: “Maybe you miss your family.” Me: “Yeah, that could be it, or maybe stress, or hormones. I don’t know. Teacher: “Maybe this week is [...]
Today was Hari Kemerdekaan, Indonesian’s independence day. (Fun fact: Indonesia has been an indepedent nation since 1945.) Today’s festivities included a ceremony at school complete with marching, the raising of the flag, singing patriotic songs and an inspirational speech by our school’s vice principal. There was also supposedly a televised broadcast from Jakarta at 10 [...]
I believe I’m right about where I should be. Wait, let me check…yup, feeling low. Today was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day for a no good, no apparent reason. The sun was shining, and it’s wasn’t nearly as wearyingly hot as it is most days. That was a definite plus. During pre-service [...]
It turns out an unresolved issue deciphering my right from my left, coupled with a surprising lack of coordination served me well during a marching competition of sorts. On Wednesday I “marched” five kilometers with four other teachers down the main road of our town while standers-by pointed, stared, laughed and snapped up plenty of [...]
Wedding season is in full swing here in Indo! The Islamic holiday, Ramadan, is nearing. According to several sources, this is what is pushing everyone to get in their kicks before the month of fasting, sleepless nights and who knows-what-else begins…thus making July a popular time for weddings. I’ve been to three wedding parties within [...]
I realize the position for Most Interesting Man in the World has been filled for some time by the Dos Equis man, but what about Most Interesting Woman? If she’s out there, my new goal in life is to dethrone her. If I can’t do that, then I suppose I’ll settle for the title Most [...]
Note: This is a lazy post, but it is also an attempt to make up for not sharing some of the many, many pictures I’ve been taking. More to come soon…. click here
My day started promptly at 5:30 a.m. to the sound of my alarm and the crow of a rooster in the distance. Once those roosters get started they don’t stop. I got ready and finished packing my things before catching an angkot to meet my principal. This was the day I would make the journey [...]
Hello again. How are you? I’m fantastic, thanks. Much has happened in the last week and it feels like ages and ages since I last updated. Let me catch you up to speed. Last Wednesday we all swore in as Peace Corps Volunteers. Yep, that happened. We are no longer trainees. In Peace Corps there [...]
The fine looking bunch in the photo above is the group of people I’ve been training with for the past few months. On Wednesday, June 15, 2011, all of us (except for two who unfortunately had to return home because of a family illness) will become official Peace Corps volunteers. This was our first group [...]
I have a dirty little secret. I’m still using toilet paper. Yeah, I know, it’s repulsive and wasteful. No need to worry though, I’m becoming enlightened on the subject. I’ve just finished a fascinating little read titled “How to Sh*t Around the World” by Dr. Jane Wilson-Howarth. One would think these are the sort of things in life [...]
Alright, alright so this isn’t exactly a Mid-Pre-Service Training Update because believe it or not we’re already more than halfway done. Swearing in is just a few short weeks away. I’m sure I’ve said this before, but I can’t believe how fast everything is happening. Yesterday we took our last Indonesian language exam; tomorrow we’re [...]
I can honestly say a year ago today when I walked off the graduation stage carrying my empty diploma case,* I had no idea I would be where I am today. Literally, I had no idea in the world where I would be located. I had just submitted my application to the Peace Corps and [...]
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