still safe.

so in case you've been reading more news reports today and are worried, let me assure you that we are still safe, but are definitely being affected more by merapi. today, a huge cloud of ash washed over merbabu and into salatiga. i talked to people who actually saw the cloud of ash waft down the mountain. we spent most of the beginning of the day wearing masks. we all thought it was just really foggy until we realized the trees and plants were turning gray... and then we started smelling sulfur. it rained in the afternoon which is good for us, because it washes everything out, but bad for the volcano because it can apparently make future eruptions worse. i've discovered that i'm pretty allergic to ash, or it at least enhances my pre-existing allergy condition. but that is nothing compared to the fact that at least 50 people died today, many kids. that breaks my heart. the evacuation zone has been widened to within about 2 miles of my house. the government is running out of money to take care of all the refugees. tens of thousands of people have lost everything they ever owned.

part of the reason the death toll is so high is because men keep going back to try and salvage what they can from their homes and crops or to check on their livestock. the president was here yesterday and he told them not to do that and promised that he would give them all cows when this is over with. in this country that is full of corruption and empty promises, my first thought is that i will hate him forever if he doesn't keep his word about that to these people. and in this case, i'm sticking with my first thought. no hope is better than false hope and lies.

oya - we could see the ash plume from yesterday's eruption from my front yard. but, conveniently, i woke up 30 minutes late and was in such a rush to get to work that i NEVER EVEN NOTICED IT. how does that HAPPEN?! i feel like i must be the most oblivious person in the world, because i didn't even see a volcano erupting right in front of me. aish.

so now that i'm thoroughly depressed from reading the news, it's time for bed. praying for calm tonight...