So I have these married friends named Charles and Marie. They have two kids - Joshua (7) and Bethanie (4). I also have a friend/fellow teacher, Ashley. Last night, the 6 of us piled in Charles and Marie's vehicle and went to dinner. After that, we stopped at a store so Marie and Josh could go in to pick out a birthday gift for Josh's friend, Ryan. Charles, Ashley, Bethanie, and I remained in the car. The following conversation ensued.
Ashley: Hey, Bethanie, did you know that she has a baby?!
Bethanie: Nuh-uh! A baby?!
Ashley: Yup, a REAL baby!
Bethanie: Well, where is it at??
Ashley: She has to keep it in her bag.
Bethanie: Can I see it??
Ashley: No. It was premature, so it can't be around people. It has to stay in the bag.
Bethanie: Oh. Well, what's it's name?
Ashley: Yeah, what's your baby's name?
Me: Uhmmm.....
Ashley: Junior!
Me: I call it J.R. for short.
Bethanie: Well, I think its name should be...... ummmm...... collar!
Me: Oh, that's a GREAT name, Bethanie! Thanks!
Bethanie: Can I see it now?
Ashley: No. It has to stay in the bag. The light hurts its eyes.
Bethanie: Oh. Is it a boy or a gill?
Ashley: A girl. What color do you think she is?
Bethanie: Pink.
Me: Of course. Babies tend to be.
Ashley: What color do you think her hair is?
Bethanie: Green.
Me: I gave birth to a troll!
Ashley: Bethanie, what color are her eyes?
Bethanie: Green.
Me: To match the hair, naturally.
Ashley: How many fingers does little collar have?
Bethanie: Ummm....... (counts fingers on one hand)....... FIVE!
Ashley: And how many toes?
Bethanie: (Takes off one shoe and counts) FIVE!
Me: Oh, dear.....
Ashley: And Bethanie, what color do you think the baby's tongue is?
Bethanie: Green.
Ashley: What do you feed your baby??
Me: (Shrugs) Bethanie, how many noses does my baby have?
Bethanie: Two.
Me: And how many hairs?
Bethanie: Five.
Charles: (Rolls down the window. The car was getting stuffy.)
Bethanie: NO, POPPY, NO! YOU'LL BURN THE BABY'S EYES!!!!
Charles: Oh.... sorry..... I forget. (Rolls window back up)
Me: (Wincing from the screaming) We should whisper so we don't burn her ears too.
Bethanie: (whispers) OK. I have to pee.
Charles: (whispers) Let's go......
(They go into the store. Soon, all 4 of them come out together)
Bethanie: Where's the baby?! Show mommy!
Marie: Ummm.... yeah.... Bethanie came running in the store yelling that 'We had a baby in the car!'"
Me: Oh. Well, I'm sorry Bethanie, but I had to give her away.
Bethanie: Why?
Me: Well, a lady came by who didn't have any babies, and I felt sorry for her, so I gave her collar.
Bethanie: Oh.
(10 minutes elapses with us discussing various other things)
Bethanie: What was the lady's name?
Me: Huh?
Bethanie: The lady who has collar.
Ashley: Britney Spears.
Bethanie: Oh. Ok.
(A few more minutes passes)
Bethanie: Is she nice?
Me: Yes.
Ashley: She even has overnight privileges with her own kids now!
Bethanie: Good. Ok.
Marie: You know she's going to talk about this all night now, right?
Me: You're welcome.
07 October 2008
06 October 2008
cost of living
yesterday after church, i went to kfc for lunch.
i had a chicken wrap, fries, and a bottle of water.
then i went to the grocery.
i bought half a kilo of grapes, a rare red bell pepper, and toothpaste.
after that, i caught the angkota home.
everything costs more for now on account of idul fitri.
the day's grand total?
$5
i had a chicken wrap, fries, and a bottle of water.
then i went to the grocery.
i bought half a kilo of grapes, a rare red bell pepper, and toothpaste.
after that, i caught the angkota home.
everything costs more for now on account of idul fitri.
the day's grand total?
$5
02 October 2008
"but you're in indonesia now"
"i'm sorry. i'm american. i think like an american. i can't help it."
"but you're in indonesia now."
i wish
that 22 years
of thinking
a certain way
of acting
a certain way
of doing
a certain way
could be
so easily
erased
and replaced
in just
2 months
"but you're in indonesia now."
i wish
that 22 years
of thinking
a certain way
of acting
a certain way
of doing
a certain way
could be
so easily
erased
and replaced
in just
2 months
reasons why i should think less in the morning
when i woke up this morning, i was thinking.
Jesus sure is a lot like mosquito repellent.
so get this.
i've been thinking a lot about satan the past few days.
i've seen things. i've heard things.
he has this country in the palm of his hand.
things happen here.
people turn into dogs in the grocery store in broad daylight.
cats that speak english visit people's houses in the night.
it's real. it's scary. it happens.
back to this morning.
i was in the bathroom, busy doing whatever it is i do in the morning.
i saw 2 mosquitoes sitting on my shower curtain.
i often contemplate the evilness of mosquitoes. we are not on good terms.
but today was different.
i realized that i now have power over them.
my pembantu bought me this most amazing repellent thing last week.
i just plug it in, and it keeps mosquitoes out of my bedroom.
and my living room.
they are perpetually trapped in my bathroom (the only other room in my house).
i don't have to fear them biting me when my guard is down (when i'm sleeping).
and when i go in the bathroom, i already know they're in there.
i'm ready for them. and the entire room is white.
so no matter where they go, i can see them.
and i am bigger than them.
Jesus is like that.
when i'm with Him, i don't have anything to be afraid of.
He watches over me even when i'm sleeping.
satan has no power over me.
and when i leave my house, when i go into this country so controlled by demonic forces...
i see satan. he is visible. no matter where he goes, he cannot hide.
and the *I AM* is bigger than him.
Jesus sure is a lot like mosquito repellent.
so get this.
i've been thinking a lot about satan the past few days.
i've seen things. i've heard things.
he has this country in the palm of his hand.
things happen here.
people turn into dogs in the grocery store in broad daylight.
cats that speak english visit people's houses in the night.
it's real. it's scary. it happens.
back to this morning.
i was in the bathroom, busy doing whatever it is i do in the morning.
i saw 2 mosquitoes sitting on my shower curtain.
i often contemplate the evilness of mosquitoes. we are not on good terms.
but today was different.
i realized that i now have power over them.
my pembantu bought me this most amazing repellent thing last week.
i just plug it in, and it keeps mosquitoes out of my bedroom.
and my living room.
they are perpetually trapped in my bathroom (the only other room in my house).
i don't have to fear them biting me when my guard is down (when i'm sleeping).
and when i go in the bathroom, i already know they're in there.
i'm ready for them. and the entire room is white.
so no matter where they go, i can see them.
and i am bigger than them.
Jesus is like that.
when i'm with Him, i don't have anything to be afraid of.
He watches over me even when i'm sleeping.
satan has no power over me.
and when i leave my house, when i go into this country so controlled by demonic forces...
i see satan. he is visible. no matter where he goes, he cannot hide.
and the *I AM* is bigger than him.
30 September 2008
jepara
i went to the beach for vacation.
it was glorious.
i went to indonesian church for the first time.
i sang every song.
in indonesian and javanese.
i forgot that hati also means heart.
i wondered why we kept singing about our livers.
i seem to have a habit of becoming a part of the post-church receiving line.
i shook 200 hands.
i ate lunch with an indonesian family.
there were a lot of them.
and only a little food.
but they kept giving me more.
by 9 o'clock on sunday morning, i had already....
driven 2.5 hours
seen the sun rise
been to church
gone grocery shopping (3 times)
eaten lunch
gone silver shopping
seen a giant turtle at the coast
visited a sick man
conversation between me and a 4 year old in the pool:
bethanie: you're on my team!
me: what kind of a team? because if we're drug smuggling, i don't think i want to be involved in that.
bethanie: *stares at me blankly with her mouth drooping open*
me: *chuckles to self*
bethanie: oh! well. my drum doesn't muggle, so it's ok. you're on my team.
i played pool twice this weekend.
my game has not improved.
balls hit the floor.
i went for a long walk down the beach by myself yesterday morning.
i found a little sandal washed up on shore.
i started having so many thailand flashbacks.
i realized that i still haven't processed everything.
i never told anyone all that happened.
i still haven't cried for the things i saw there.
idul fitri started yesterday evening.
fireworks, rockets, and bombs were going off all night long.
as i fell asleep, i imagined that i was in London, circa 1943.
the walls of my house were shaking.
and i was heartsick for my lost neighbors.
charles and marie predicted that i will get married here.
they predicted the same thing about rio when she moved here.
her wedding is next week.
i can't figure out if today is tuesday or wednesday.
vacations have a way of doing that to you.
it was glorious.
i went to indonesian church for the first time.
i sang every song.
in indonesian and javanese.
i forgot that hati also means heart.
i wondered why we kept singing about our livers.
i seem to have a habit of becoming a part of the post-church receiving line.
i shook 200 hands.
i ate lunch with an indonesian family.
there were a lot of them.
and only a little food.
but they kept giving me more.
by 9 o'clock on sunday morning, i had already....
driven 2.5 hours
seen the sun rise
been to church
gone grocery shopping (3 times)
eaten lunch
gone silver shopping
seen a giant turtle at the coast
visited a sick man
conversation between me and a 4 year old in the pool:
bethanie: you're on my team!
me: what kind of a team? because if we're drug smuggling, i don't think i want to be involved in that.
bethanie: *stares at me blankly with her mouth drooping open*
me: *chuckles to self*
bethanie: oh! well. my drum doesn't muggle, so it's ok. you're on my team.
i played pool twice this weekend.
my game has not improved.
balls hit the floor.
i went for a long walk down the beach by myself yesterday morning.
i found a little sandal washed up on shore.
i started having so many thailand flashbacks.
i realized that i still haven't processed everything.
i never told anyone all that happened.
i still haven't cried for the things i saw there.
idul fitri started yesterday evening.
fireworks, rockets, and bombs were going off all night long.
as i fell asleep, i imagined that i was in London, circa 1943.
the walls of my house were shaking.
and i was heartsick for my lost neighbors.
charles and marie predicted that i will get married here.
they predicted the same thing about rio when she moved here.
her wedding is next week.
i can't figure out if today is tuesday or wednesday.
vacations have a way of doing that to you.
23 September 2008
what about the golden years?
i realized something about myself last night, lying in bed, feeling exhausted beyond measure.
i love to be needed.
i need to be useful.
this revalation accompanied another.
i have not eaten dinner yet this week.
and these two revelations are inextricably intertwined.
i have been needed this week.
i have been stretched thin this week.
i have fallen asleep while walking home at night this week.
and i would not have it any other way.
but then i had to stop and think...
what about when i'm old?
what happens when i'm unable to be quite so useful?
when my eyes don't see the same?
when my ears don't hear the same?
when my mind doesn't think the same?
what then?
i love to be needed.
i need to be useful.
this revalation accompanied another.
i have not eaten dinner yet this week.
and these two revelations are inextricably intertwined.
i have been needed this week.
i have been stretched thin this week.
i have fallen asleep while walking home at night this week.
and i would not have it any other way.
but then i had to stop and think...
what about when i'm old?
what happens when i'm unable to be quite so useful?
when my eyes don't see the same?
when my ears don't hear the same?
when my mind doesn't think the same?
what then?
22 September 2008
these are a few of my favorite things
riding a motorbike through the city at night is the most exhilarating thing...
next comes being aboard a fishing boat in the ocean with a bunch of leathery old fishermen and being the first one to spot those dolphins off the starboard side... and then keeping them my secret.
and then walking along all the narrow back roads, alleys, and paths through town...
being able to answer the questions that the indonesian people ask me as i walk along the road carries a sense of achievement all its own...
not getting any work done over the weekend because students keep coming to my room to hang out gives me a feeling of purpose which overshadows a lack of accomplishment...
and finally, sitting alone in my classroom, listening to bob dylan at the end of the day... that is positively euphoric.
next comes being aboard a fishing boat in the ocean with a bunch of leathery old fishermen and being the first one to spot those dolphins off the starboard side... and then keeping them my secret.
and then walking along all the narrow back roads, alleys, and paths through town...
being able to answer the questions that the indonesian people ask me as i walk along the road carries a sense of achievement all its own...
not getting any work done over the weekend because students keep coming to my room to hang out gives me a feeling of purpose which overshadows a lack of accomplishment...
and finally, sitting alone in my classroom, listening to bob dylan at the end of the day... that is positively euphoric.
19 September 2008
i am NOT an extreme baller
3-on-3 basketball tournament this weekend.
game 1: 12 - 7 loss
game 2: 11 - 6 loss
game 3: a lot loss
game 4: 21 - 12 loss
i wish we had gotten to play the team of 7th graders.
i think we could have taken them down.
maybe.
game 1: 12 - 7 loss
game 2: 11 - 6 loss
game 3: a lot loss
game 4: 21 - 12 loss
i wish we had gotten to play the team of 7th graders.
i think we could have taken them down.
maybe.
this is us.
looking our best.
wet with sweat.
sun joon, me, won, joseph, joshua, yoojin, and glory.
me and the koreans.
excuse me?
indonesian friend: is it true that president bush dyes his hair based on who he is with?
me: what??
indonesian friend: my english professor told me that.
me: dyes his hair??
indonesian friend: yes. he might dye it gray if he is with old people and brown if he is with young people.
me: bush would look funny with brown hair.
me: what??
indonesian friend: my english professor told me that.
me: dyes his hair??
indonesian friend: yes. he might dye it gray if he is with old people and brown if he is with young people.
me: bush would look funny with brown hair.
14 September 2008
this is why i'm..... cranky
so i just graduated from college, right?
in typical college student fashion, i'm pretty amazing at sleeping whenever and wherever and through anything.
even here. in the land of constant noise. i sleep through blaring karaoke. i sleep through the southern baptist dorm's dance parties. i sleep through the guards talking on their two ways. i sleep through the 4.30 am call to prayer. i'm just awesome at sleeping.
until this week.
i found my sleeping weakness. a creature so small, so weak, so unassuming....
not once, but TWICE this week, a mosquito has made its way into my bedroom.
the first time it happened at midnight.
that nearly imperceptible buzzing roused me from my slumber....i could hear it faintly, but i couldn't see it anywhere.
due to my rational fear of getting bit in my sleep, i nearly succeeded in suffocating myself under my blankets.
as i neared the point of asphyxiation, i decided that breathing sounded good, so i stuck my head out. just my head. and then i realized that the mosquito was sure to attack at any moment, most likely causing permanent disfiguration to my facial features. i quickly decided i would rather him eat my arms. so those came out too.
i fell asleep.
he bit.
i swung.
he laughed.
i fell asleep.
he bit.
i slapped.
he laughed.
i decided more decisive action was necessary.
i grabbed my pillow, one blanket, locked the mosquito in my bedroom, and slept on the couch.
which is a foot too short.
last night, there was a similar occurance. this time at 3 am. a diminuitive sound.... a buzzing... lurking danger.... i was wide awake instantly.
i decided i wasn't even about to mess around with sacrificing body parts in order to save others.
i just took off for the couch, shutting the door tightly behind me.
once there, however, i found that all of salatiga had met earlier that day and decided unanimously to do everything in their power to prevent me from sleeping.
first, the geckos started talking outside my window. they are always quiet at night.
then... AT TWO FORTY-FIVE IN THE MORNING someone had the audacity to practice drums. for AN HOUR. then a man in the street started yelling. a mournful, wailing sort of yell. this made the dogs all howl. and to make matters worse, two imams at two different mosques decided to have a screaming match over the pa systems that are typically reserved for call to prayer. it sounded a little something like this:
mosque 1: hello? hellohello..... hellohellohellohello!
mosque 2: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NO! NO! NO!
mosque 1: YA YA YA YA YA YA YA YA!
mosque 2: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
mosque 1: HELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLO!
mosque 2: nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
this went on for quite awhile. at least until i fell asleep. at about 3:45. finally.
i'm going to go eat some chocolate ice cream now.
in typical college student fashion, i'm pretty amazing at sleeping whenever and wherever and through anything.
even here. in the land of constant noise. i sleep through blaring karaoke. i sleep through the southern baptist dorm's dance parties. i sleep through the guards talking on their two ways. i sleep through the 4.30 am call to prayer. i'm just awesome at sleeping.
until this week.
i found my sleeping weakness. a creature so small, so weak, so unassuming....
not once, but TWICE this week, a mosquito has made its way into my bedroom.
the first time it happened at midnight.
that nearly imperceptible buzzing roused me from my slumber....i could hear it faintly, but i couldn't see it anywhere.
due to my rational fear of getting bit in my sleep, i nearly succeeded in suffocating myself under my blankets.
as i neared the point of asphyxiation, i decided that breathing sounded good, so i stuck my head out. just my head. and then i realized that the mosquito was sure to attack at any moment, most likely causing permanent disfiguration to my facial features. i quickly decided i would rather him eat my arms. so those came out too.
i fell asleep.
he bit.
i swung.
he laughed.
i fell asleep.
he bit.
i slapped.
he laughed.
i decided more decisive action was necessary.
i grabbed my pillow, one blanket, locked the mosquito in my bedroom, and slept on the couch.
which is a foot too short.
last night, there was a similar occurance. this time at 3 am. a diminuitive sound.... a buzzing... lurking danger.... i was wide awake instantly.
i decided i wasn't even about to mess around with sacrificing body parts in order to save others.
i just took off for the couch, shutting the door tightly behind me.
once there, however, i found that all of salatiga had met earlier that day and decided unanimously to do everything in their power to prevent me from sleeping.
first, the geckos started talking outside my window. they are always quiet at night.
then... AT TWO FORTY-FIVE IN THE MORNING someone had the audacity to practice drums. for AN HOUR. then a man in the street started yelling. a mournful, wailing sort of yell. this made the dogs all howl. and to make matters worse, two imams at two different mosques decided to have a screaming match over the pa systems that are typically reserved for call to prayer. it sounded a little something like this:
mosque 1: hello? hellohello..... hellohellohellohello!
mosque 2: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NO! NO! NO!
mosque 1: YA YA YA YA YA YA YA YA!
mosque 2: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
mosque 1: HELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLOHELLO!
mosque 2: nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
this went on for quite awhile. at least until i fell asleep. at about 3:45. finally.
i'm going to go eat some chocolate ice cream now.
12 September 2008
huh?
"Warning: Ike may bring 'certain death'."
May? Certain?
Wait. I'm confused....
Some people are too stubborn.
After students predicted otherwise, we won the season opener varsity soccer game!
6 - 1
That is outstanding....
Then I stepped on Ji Hyun's heels all the way to the showers.
Then I ran from one end of campus to the other, looking for my neighbor who doesn't have a phone, so people were calling me with important messages for her. She was nowhere to be found.
Then I was sweating a lot.
So I cleaned out my desk drawers. It's about time....
In other news...
Last night I ran a mile and walked another.
Did 75 situps and 4.5 pushups.
Then promptly went to bed.
It's good to remind myself from time to time why I hate exercising.
Oh, and "hot guard" AND his wife now know that I refer to him as such. Thank you, Yohanes.
May? Certain?
Wait. I'm confused....
Some people are too stubborn.
After students predicted otherwise, we won the season opener varsity soccer game!
6 - 1
That is outstanding....
Then I stepped on Ji Hyun's heels all the way to the showers.
Then I ran from one end of campus to the other, looking for my neighbor who doesn't have a phone, so people were calling me with important messages for her. She was nowhere to be found.
Then I was sweating a lot.
So I cleaned out my desk drawers. It's about time....
In other news...
Last night I ran a mile and walked another.
Did 75 situps and 4.5 pushups.
Then promptly went to bed.
It's good to remind myself from time to time why I hate exercising.
Oh, and "hot guard" AND his wife now know that I refer to him as such. Thank you, Yohanes.
11 September 2008
oh, my
we just killed a snake.
a very poisonous snake.
at the coffeeshop.
the kids found it.
i can't wait for my green boots to come.
why does mail have to take so long?
it's only the other side of the world...
*edit*
marie (the owner of the coffeeshop) did her research.
it was a blue temple viper.
if it bites, you die within minutes.
there is no known antidote.
her three year old daughter found it.
in the courtyard. in their home.
i've never been too wary of snakes.
all that is about to change.
a very poisonous snake.
at the coffeeshop.
the kids found it.
i can't wait for my green boots to come.
why does mail have to take so long?
it's only the other side of the world...
*edit*
marie (the owner of the coffeeshop) did her research.
it was a blue temple viper.
if it bites, you die within minutes.
there is no known antidote.
her three year old daughter found it.
in the courtyard. in their home.
i've never been too wary of snakes.
all that is about to change.
27 August 2008
20/20
I was going through pictures on my computer last night.
Deleting some old ones.
Trying to free up some memory.
It made me think about my college days.
Especially this past semester.
And the things I miss.
Most notably:
I miss insane AIM chats with Floyd from the very next room.
I miss Kate's poached pears and shaved ice.
I miss math parties with Dr. Lesko's family.
I miss talking endlessly with Colleen about farms and homeschools.
I miss being able to go to WHS anytime I want to visit Mr. E and my kids.
I miss the giggles of the girls I babysat.
I miss walking to the lake by myself in the middle of the night.
I miss spending the night on Josh's futon.
I miss Ruthie dropping by my room at random times and us inevitably ending up laying on the floor, eating junk food, and talking about ridiculous things for a long, long time.
I miss planning wedding things with Em.
I miss Lars, Joel, Ruthie, and whoever else we picked up along the way having dinner at Steak 'n' Shake on Tuesday nights.
I miss Settlers of Catan and Rook.
I miss Alpha dining salads and chicken patty sandwiches.
I miss late night talks with Kate as we laid in our bunks.
I miss waking up in the morning and finding Kristian in my room.
I miss replacing a meal with a bag of doritos.
I miss looking out my window and seeing the guys playing ultimate or football.
I miss hanging out at the Mad's bar talking to Andy.
I miss spying on people in the dark in Meg's car.
I miss doing photo shoots with Kristian for chapel.
I miss Bellwether and Darkroom shows.
I miss Kondo and church at CCC.
I miss being able to go home whenever I want.
I miss late night drives that always resulted in near death with Meg.
I miss front porch parties at Josh's house.
I miss bad horror movie night with Lars.
I miss Peking on Sundays after church.
I miss all day Tuesday and Thursday with Humberd.
I miss hearing David sing to me in philosophy.
I miss Dr. Lesko standing on his desk to emphasize a point.
I miss hearing Luke scream my last name.
I miss times in the Tree with Hyde.
I miss being one of the few people brave enough to skip day of (forced) worship in chapel and spend the morning at Steak 'n' Shake instead.
I miss going to Wal-Mart for absolutely no reason.
Deleting some old ones.
Trying to free up some memory.
It made me think about my college days.
Especially this past semester.
And the things I miss.
Most notably:
I miss insane AIM chats with Floyd from the very next room.
I miss Kate's poached pears and shaved ice.
I miss math parties with Dr. Lesko's family.
I miss talking endlessly with Colleen about farms and homeschools.
I miss being able to go to WHS anytime I want to visit Mr. E and my kids.
I miss the giggles of the girls I babysat.
I miss walking to the lake by myself in the middle of the night.
I miss spending the night on Josh's futon.
I miss Ruthie dropping by my room at random times and us inevitably ending up laying on the floor, eating junk food, and talking about ridiculous things for a long, long time.
I miss planning wedding things with Em.
I miss Lars, Joel, Ruthie, and whoever else we picked up along the way having dinner at Steak 'n' Shake on Tuesday nights.
I miss Settlers of Catan and Rook.
I miss Alpha dining salads and chicken patty sandwiches.
I miss late night talks with Kate as we laid in our bunks.
I miss waking up in the morning and finding Kristian in my room.
I miss replacing a meal with a bag of doritos.
I miss looking out my window and seeing the guys playing ultimate or football.
I miss hanging out at the Mad's bar talking to Andy.
I miss spying on people in the dark in Meg's car.
I miss doing photo shoots with Kristian for chapel.
I miss Bellwether and Darkroom shows.
I miss Kondo and church at CCC.
I miss being able to go home whenever I want.
I miss late night drives that always resulted in near death with Meg.
I miss front porch parties at Josh's house.
I miss bad horror movie night with Lars.
I miss Peking on Sundays after church.
I miss all day Tuesday and Thursday with Humberd.
I miss hearing David sing to me in philosophy.
I miss Dr. Lesko standing on his desk to emphasize a point.
I miss hearing Luke scream my last name.
I miss times in the Tree with Hyde.
I miss being one of the few people brave enough to skip day of (forced) worship in chapel and spend the morning at Steak 'n' Shake instead.
I miss going to Wal-Mart for absolutely no reason.
26 August 2008
And in other news...
Dear Floyd,
As requested....
Sincerely,
A
My schedule, with additional commentary included.
Period 1: Spanish
I am not a Spanish teacher. I have never been to Spain. I do not speak Spanish. I do not enjoy teaching Spanish. But I do it anyways. In my Spanish class, there are 2 Confederate boys, 2 Koreans, 1 Indian, 1 Russian/Afghani/Chinese/Filipino, and 3 Americans. (The 2 Confederates are American too. So technically, there's 5 Americans, though most have spent most of their lives outside of America and would not claim to be American). We speak a mixture of several different languages more than we speak true Spanish. And the Spanish always has a..... unique.... accent. Surprisingly, one of the Koreans has the best Spanish pronunciation. I've heard rumor that he started the class last year, then dropped it.
Period 2: Math 7
These kids eat straight bowls of sugar for breakfast, I'm convinced. All of them are pleasers, so it's not too hard to keep class under control. But they would clearly rather be pretending to be inchworms on the floor or attempting to juggle three fuzzy dice in one hand or using farting noises as a form of communication. After period 2, I am ready for a nap.
Period 3: Algebra II (11th grade)
There are 7 of them, and our whole class has only ever met together 3 times. Someone is always sick, on any given day. This is easily my most chill class. Being upperclassmen, they're just more mature than my other kids, and so I can be really lax with them. Since they're in 11th grade and are just now taking Algebra II, they have labeled themselves as "bad" at math, so that's tricky to work around, but they know how to work hard and play hard, and I love them. Third period is always a good time.
Period 4: Prep
This is a block period. On Tuesdays, I teach Spanish during this period, which is like torture. You can't learn a language for 90 minutes. There's a point at which you just stop absorbing. And it's right before lunch, which makes it seem about 248 times as long.
Lunch
I jaga (guard) the girls dorm food every day at lunch. The dorm pembantus set it out, buffet style, in the lunch pavilion, and I just have to make sure that the 7 dorm girls are the ONLY people taking the food. The plus side is that I get a free hot lunch every single day. The down side is.... umm... I don't think there is one. Maybe the fact that we have chicken legs at least 2 times a week. I don't like dark meat.
Period 5: Algebra II (9th grade. And one 8th grader)
This is the class of brilliant kids. The kids who will take geometry next year, Pre-Calc after that, and AP Calculus their senior year. There is one American in the class. There is one Dutch girl in the class. The rest are Asian. Because Asians are good at everything. Asians always get a 4.0. When I grade the Asian kids' papers, I just put 100% on the top. I don't even have to check it. OK. That's a lie. I check it. But the 100% part is true. (BTW, there are NO Asian kids in the 11th grade Algebra II class. Because they are all brilliant enough to take it in 9th grade.) This is also the quietest class I have. Like, they never talk. I ask, "What is 1 + 1?" And they all get REAL interested in whatever is happening on the floor all of a sudden. They are excellent note takers, and if I am working an example problem on the board, most of them have already solved the problem before I am done writing it down. Of course, no-one will volunteer an answer, except for the rare occasion in which someone chooses to whisper it at a decibal that not even God Himself can hear.
Period 6: Prep
This is the second block period of the day. This is the period in which I actually do work because by this point, I realize that if I don't do it now, I will have to stay after school.
Overall... Teaching is good here. I can't imagine ever truly enjoying teaching in the States after being in a place like this, where discipline is never an issue, where I am always shown respect, where I can be friends with my students, where I can hang out with them outside of school and a lawsuit is not involved, where I have a support system of Godly teachers who would do anything for me, and where summer never ends.
As requested....
Sincerely,
A
My schedule, with additional commentary included.
Period 1: Spanish
I am not a Spanish teacher. I have never been to Spain. I do not speak Spanish. I do not enjoy teaching Spanish. But I do it anyways. In my Spanish class, there are 2 Confederate boys, 2 Koreans, 1 Indian, 1 Russian/Afghani/Chinese/Filipino, and 3 Americans. (The 2 Confederates are American too. So technically, there's 5 Americans, though most have spent most of their lives outside of America and would not claim to be American). We speak a mixture of several different languages more than we speak true Spanish. And the Spanish always has a..... unique.... accent. Surprisingly, one of the Koreans has the best Spanish pronunciation. I've heard rumor that he started the class last year, then dropped it.
Period 2: Math 7
These kids eat straight bowls of sugar for breakfast, I'm convinced. All of them are pleasers, so it's not too hard to keep class under control. But they would clearly rather be pretending to be inchworms on the floor or attempting to juggle three fuzzy dice in one hand or using farting noises as a form of communication. After period 2, I am ready for a nap.
Period 3: Algebra II (11th grade)
There are 7 of them, and our whole class has only ever met together 3 times. Someone is always sick, on any given day. This is easily my most chill class. Being upperclassmen, they're just more mature than my other kids, and so I can be really lax with them. Since they're in 11th grade and are just now taking Algebra II, they have labeled themselves as "bad" at math, so that's tricky to work around, but they know how to work hard and play hard, and I love them. Third period is always a good time.
Period 4: Prep
This is a block period. On Tuesdays, I teach Spanish during this period, which is like torture. You can't learn a language for 90 minutes. There's a point at which you just stop absorbing. And it's right before lunch, which makes it seem about 248 times as long.
Lunch
I jaga (guard) the girls dorm food every day at lunch. The dorm pembantus set it out, buffet style, in the lunch pavilion, and I just have to make sure that the 7 dorm girls are the ONLY people taking the food. The plus side is that I get a free hot lunch every single day. The down side is.... umm... I don't think there is one. Maybe the fact that we have chicken legs at least 2 times a week. I don't like dark meat.
Period 5: Algebra II (9th grade. And one 8th grader)
This is the class of brilliant kids. The kids who will take geometry next year, Pre-Calc after that, and AP Calculus their senior year. There is one American in the class. There is one Dutch girl in the class. The rest are Asian. Because Asians are good at everything. Asians always get a 4.0. When I grade the Asian kids' papers, I just put 100% on the top. I don't even have to check it. OK. That's a lie. I check it. But the 100% part is true. (BTW, there are NO Asian kids in the 11th grade Algebra II class. Because they are all brilliant enough to take it in 9th grade.) This is also the quietest class I have. Like, they never talk. I ask, "What is 1 + 1?" And they all get REAL interested in whatever is happening on the floor all of a sudden. They are excellent note takers, and if I am working an example problem on the board, most of them have already solved the problem before I am done writing it down. Of course, no-one will volunteer an answer, except for the rare occasion in which someone chooses to whisper it at a decibal that not even God Himself can hear.
Period 6: Prep
This is the second block period of the day. This is the period in which I actually do work because by this point, I realize that if I don't do it now, I will have to stay after school.
Overall... Teaching is good here. I can't imagine ever truly enjoying teaching in the States after being in a place like this, where discipline is never an issue, where I am always shown respect, where I can be friends with my students, where I can hang out with them outside of school and a lawsuit is not involved, where I have a support system of Godly teachers who would do anything for me, and where summer never ends.
08 August 2008
Tujuh belas
Yesterday was a celebration for 2 reasons.
1. Indonesian Independence Day is soon. (Tujuh belas)
2. Teacher meetings are OVER!
In honor of these two events, the school’s Indonesian staff (kitchen ladies, guards, groundskeepers, office workers, IT guys, etc...) decided to plan a special day for us westerners. And by “plan a special day for us” what I actually mean is “play ridiculous games to make everyone look silly so that we can laugh at them.” It was great! We split into ten mixed (native/foreign) teams and had lunch at our respective team tables. At first, I was the only westerner on my team and the only one currently at the table fluent in English (my teammate Yohanes is quite fluent, but he was a coordinator and was therefore busy giving people instructions). This was not conducive to team bonding. Eventually, Ashley (a fellow teacher), who was on a team with about 4 white people, saw my plight and joined my team.
Over lunch (which was sticky rice, spices, an egg, and vegetables to be eaten with the hands), we divided up the tasks – who would play which games. As soon as we finished eating, the fun began! We started with Makan Kerupuk. This game involved tying a kerupuk (a rice cake of sorts) from a long string, hanging it from a clothesline, then making people eat it without the use of their hands. For those of you who are familiar with rice cakes, you know that they are light and catch wind easily. This was a game that I had volunteered for..... It also did not help that Indonesians are really short and so my kerupuk was hung at about neck level. I got second place in my round (of five competitors). My Indonesian teammates cheered for me relentlessly. They also laughed a lot as I chased my kerupuk around through the air with my tongue out trying desperately to even get a lick. I’m just thankful that they used plain kerupuks (rather than shrimp flavored ones. I had already found a fish head in my lunch, and that was trauma enough for the day).
The second game was whole team tug-of-war. My team definitely lost in the first round. Interestingly enough, a team with mostly women and children can beat a team of mostly Indonesian men. This occured several times throughout the tournament. This was undoubtedly the most “normal” game of the day. The last round was incredibly intense and long with much bursting of blood vessels and screaming and cheering on the part of all involved.
Third, we played Mengambil Koin dalam Semangka. For this event, five watermelons had been slit all over their rinds and 100 rupiah coins had been shoved into each slit so about 1/3 – ½ of the coin was left sticking out. The watermelons were hanging on ropes from the kerupuk clothesline. Contestants had to use only their mouths to remove the coins from the watermelons and spit them into bags held by other team members. To make things especially difficult, 2 people from different teams were using the same watermelon, meaning that you had to fight with someone else pushing your watermelon around, and you also had to make sure that you spit your coins into the correct bag. And oh yeah, the watermelons were freshly painted with powdered charcoal mixed in cooking oil, which gave the watermelons a nice black fingerpaint-like surface. This was a particularly amusing game as contestants pushed and shoved each other around while trying desperately to chase a watermelon around with their mouths and getting their faces, necks, hair, shirts, backs, etc. coated in a nice layer of black oil.
The fourth event was also a fairly “normal” game. Each team designated 2 persons who stood on opposite ends of a roped off grassy area. Each contestant had a spoon in their mouth. One person from each team had a marble on their spoon. They had to carry the marble on the spoon in their mouths to the other end and transfer it to the spoon of their teammate who then had to walk back to the other end. If you dropped your marble at any time, your team was disqualified.
The last game seemed pretty easy..... It was soccer! However, in typical Indonesian fashion, there were a few twists. First, every player had to wear a sarong (an Asian wrap-around skirt type thing that is fairly restrictive and reaches to the floor). Also, any time hot guard (I don’t know this guy’s name, but he is easily the best looking guard we have here) decided to blast music through the sound system, everyone playing had to stop everything and dance. (Please see picture below) It was akin to musical soccer (if there is such a thing). This was my third event (after the kerupuk chase and tug-of-war), and it was wonderful. The greatest moment was when someone (not while I was playing) kicked toward the net and the ball went under the goalie’s sarong and got stuck. As the goalie stepped backwards to try and get the ball out from under their sarong, the ball popped out the back and right into the net. Also, I think I might have injured an Indonesian man. We tangled in a rush for the ball and he went down hard. I got the ball. Furthermore, I was complimented on my great dancing, thank you very much.
Overall, my team got second place. We were called to the lunch pavilion to receive our prize, which was a big box wrapped in brown paper. When we opened it up, we discovered more boxes filled with three packs of Oreos! We all walked away with our pockets shoved full of chocolatey/creamy goodness.
In other news, I think my lack of Indonesian language skills has proven troublesome with my pembantu (house helper). Tuesday, I left a note asking her to cook something for dinner with the chicken that I had left thawing in the fridge. When I got home that night, the chicken was back in the freezer and I had no dinner. Today, I again left a note, this time with the chicken thawing in the sink. When I got home, I again had no dinner, but (much to my consternation) this time, I also had no chicken either! I found a note on the table that read as follows:
Buat Nona:
Ibu minta maaf itu tulang ayam.
Saya bawa puling.
Terima kasih,
Ibu Santi.
(For Miss:
I’m sorry that there are bones in the chicken.
I will return it.
Thank you,
Ibu Santi)
That is called “motivation to learn the language”.
1. Indonesian Independence Day is soon. (Tujuh belas)
2. Teacher meetings are OVER!
In honor of these two events, the school’s Indonesian staff (kitchen ladies, guards, groundskeepers, office workers, IT guys, etc...) decided to plan a special day for us westerners. And by “plan a special day for us” what I actually mean is “play ridiculous games to make everyone look silly so that we can laugh at them.” It was great! We split into ten mixed (native/foreign) teams and had lunch at our respective team tables. At first, I was the only westerner on my team and the only one currently at the table fluent in English (my teammate Yohanes is quite fluent, but he was a coordinator and was therefore busy giving people instructions). This was not conducive to team bonding. Eventually, Ashley (a fellow teacher), who was on a team with about 4 white people, saw my plight and joined my team.
Over lunch (which was sticky rice, spices, an egg, and vegetables to be eaten with the hands), we divided up the tasks – who would play which games. As soon as we finished eating, the fun began! We started with Makan Kerupuk. This game involved tying a kerupuk (a rice cake of sorts) from a long string, hanging it from a clothesline, then making people eat it without the use of their hands. For those of you who are familiar with rice cakes, you know that they are light and catch wind easily. This was a game that I had volunteered for..... It also did not help that Indonesians are really short and so my kerupuk was hung at about neck level. I got second place in my round (of five competitors). My Indonesian teammates cheered for me relentlessly. They also laughed a lot as I chased my kerupuk around through the air with my tongue out trying desperately to even get a lick. I’m just thankful that they used plain kerupuks (rather than shrimp flavored ones. I had already found a fish head in my lunch, and that was trauma enough for the day).
The second game was whole team tug-of-war. My team definitely lost in the first round. Interestingly enough, a team with mostly women and children can beat a team of mostly Indonesian men. This occured several times throughout the tournament. This was undoubtedly the most “normal” game of the day. The last round was incredibly intense and long with much bursting of blood vessels and screaming and cheering on the part of all involved.
Third, we played Mengambil Koin dalam Semangka. For this event, five watermelons had been slit all over their rinds and 100 rupiah coins had been shoved into each slit so about 1/3 – ½ of the coin was left sticking out. The watermelons were hanging on ropes from the kerupuk clothesline. Contestants had to use only their mouths to remove the coins from the watermelons and spit them into bags held by other team members. To make things especially difficult, 2 people from different teams were using the same watermelon, meaning that you had to fight with someone else pushing your watermelon around, and you also had to make sure that you spit your coins into the correct bag. And oh yeah, the watermelons were freshly painted with powdered charcoal mixed in cooking oil, which gave the watermelons a nice black fingerpaint-like surface. This was a particularly amusing game as contestants pushed and shoved each other around while trying desperately to chase a watermelon around with their mouths and getting their faces, necks, hair, shirts, backs, etc. coated in a nice layer of black oil.
The fourth event was also a fairly “normal” game. Each team designated 2 persons who stood on opposite ends of a roped off grassy area. Each contestant had a spoon in their mouth. One person from each team had a marble on their spoon. They had to carry the marble on the spoon in their mouths to the other end and transfer it to the spoon of their teammate who then had to walk back to the other end. If you dropped your marble at any time, your team was disqualified.
The last game seemed pretty easy..... It was soccer! However, in typical Indonesian fashion, there were a few twists. First, every player had to wear a sarong (an Asian wrap-around skirt type thing that is fairly restrictive and reaches to the floor). Also, any time hot guard (I don’t know this guy’s name, but he is easily the best looking guard we have here) decided to blast music through the sound system, everyone playing had to stop everything and dance. (Please see picture below) It was akin to musical soccer (if there is such a thing). This was my third event (after the kerupuk chase and tug-of-war), and it was wonderful. The greatest moment was when someone (not while I was playing) kicked toward the net and the ball went under the goalie’s sarong and got stuck. As the goalie stepped backwards to try and get the ball out from under their sarong, the ball popped out the back and right into the net. Also, I think I might have injured an Indonesian man. We tangled in a rush for the ball and he went down hard. I got the ball. Furthermore, I was complimented on my great dancing, thank you very much.
Overall, my team got second place. We were called to the lunch pavilion to receive our prize, which was a big box wrapped in brown paper. When we opened it up, we discovered more boxes filled with three packs of Oreos! We all walked away with our pockets shoved full of chocolatey/creamy goodness.
In other news, I think my lack of Indonesian language skills has proven troublesome with my pembantu (house helper). Tuesday, I left a note asking her to cook something for dinner with the chicken that I had left thawing in the fridge. When I got home that night, the chicken was back in the freezer and I had no dinner. Today, I again left a note, this time with the chicken thawing in the sink. When I got home, I again had no dinner, but (much to my consternation) this time, I also had no chicken either! I found a note on the table that read as follows:
Buat Nona:
Ibu minta maaf itu tulang ayam.
Saya bawa puling.
Terima kasih,
Ibu Santi.
(For Miss:
I’m sorry that there are bones in the chicken.
I will return it.
Thank you,
Ibu Santi)
That is called “motivation to learn the language”.
24 July 2008
Procedures
Most schools have set procedures in case of fires and tornadoes, right?
At least where I'm from they do.
But, boy... at this school we have:
Fire procedures
Earthquake procedures
Violent storm procedures
Intruder (pre-hostage) procedures
Hostage procedures
Bomb procedures
Evacuation procedures
Any my personal favorite.....
Demonstration on road in front of school procedures
Wow.
That's all I have to say about that.
At least where I'm from they do.
But, boy... at this school we have:
Fire procedures
Earthquake procedures
Violent storm procedures
Intruder (pre-hostage) procedures
Hostage procedures
Bomb procedures
Evacuation procedures
Any my personal favorite.....
Demonstration on road in front of school procedures
Wow.
That's all I have to say about that.
20 July 2008
Home
So here I am. Indonesia. Last night was rough. As soon as I got dropped off at my house, I realized how incredibly, incredibly alone I was. I knew only one person in the whole country - Hannah, who was gracious enough to pick me up at the airport. I don't speak the language. I don't share the religion. Everyone else was in bed. I couldn't use my phone to call anyone. I couldn't use my computer to write anyone. It was me and only me. So I decided to unpack to take my mind off things. Even that was hard. I didn't want to unpack because once I did, it would really mean I was home, and who wants home to be such a lonely place? I did it anyways. Set up house. Moved things around. Went to bed. And was hit with the loneliness all over again, there in the dark. I needed someone to talk to. So I prayed myself to sleep. Good choices.
Today was much better. There were no clocks in my house except for the alarm clock I brought, but I managed to guess the time difference, set my clock accordingly, and wake up in time to walk to church! I went to church on campus here, so it was mostly teachers and missionaries serving in the area. A family took me out to lunch at an Indonesian restaurant, and then Hannah took me out for the rest of the day. In typical girl fashion, we went shopping! On Hannah's motorbike, of course. I got shampoo, a clock, fruit, kitchen supplies, and a cell phone! Picking out a cell phone here is no easy task. Here, one's cell phone is a status symbol. I would be content with the cheapest phone on the market... But that's not such a hot idea. I would never get any respect. So I went midrange. I like my phone. And it wasn't all that expensive. (~80 USD) Then we rode home through the alleyways. I met a lot of new people today. I made home more home today. And most importantly, I FEEL more at home today.
Today was much better. There were no clocks in my house except for the alarm clock I brought, but I managed to guess the time difference, set my clock accordingly, and wake up in time to walk to church! I went to church on campus here, so it was mostly teachers and missionaries serving in the area. A family took me out to lunch at an Indonesian restaurant, and then Hannah took me out for the rest of the day. In typical girl fashion, we went shopping! On Hannah's motorbike, of course. I got shampoo, a clock, fruit, kitchen supplies, and a cell phone! Picking out a cell phone here is no easy task. Here, one's cell phone is a status symbol. I would be content with the cheapest phone on the market... But that's not such a hot idea. I would never get any respect. So I went midrange. I like my phone. And it wasn't all that expensive. (~80 USD) Then we rode home through the alleyways. I met a lot of new people today. I made home more home today. And most importantly, I FEEL more at home today.
18 July 2008
I have seen God work in so many little ways, even on my flights.
For example, I have had window seats the whole way.
The lady I sat next to on my first flight was a great lady who teaches in an international school in Papua New Guinea. She was encouraging.
In L.A., then again in China, I met a girl from Jakarta who teaches English there. We're friends now.
On my second flight, the seat next to me was empty so that I could sleep comfortably.
I have had absolutely no problems with security or being comfortable or not being able to sleep.
I got to see the sun rise above the clouds.
What could be better than that?
I'm almost there!
For example, I have had window seats the whole way.
The lady I sat next to on my first flight was a great lady who teaches in an international school in Papua New Guinea. She was encouraging.
In L.A., then again in China, I met a girl from Jakarta who teaches English there. We're friends now.
On my second flight, the seat next to me was empty so that I could sleep comfortably.
I have had absolutely no problems with security or being comfortable or not being able to sleep.
I got to see the sun rise above the clouds.
What could be better than that?
I'm almost there!
12 July 2008
oh, the horses of instruction
every time
i say goodbye
to someone
i ask myself
if i really
want to do this
i say goodbye
to someone
i ask myself
if i really
want to do this
11 July 2008
i see God in people
Mega
- She is my Indonesian contact and my friend. She has helped to secure me my visa, she bought me a plane ticket from Jakarta to Semarang, she has taken care of other arrangements, and she reminds me on a near daily basis how much she is praying for me.
The ladies at the nursing home
- They have decided to adopt me as their prayer project for the time I'm gone.
Brian
- My "cousin", who drove all the way out here to see me before he left for Cali.
The woman
- She came to my yard sale and bought nothing. She handed me five dollars anyways, because she knew she wanted to be a part of something bigger than herself. As she left, she turned back and almost whispered, "Keep your eyes on Him, and He'll take care of you."
Joanne
- She owns the building in Chicago where the Indonesian Consulate (who apparently never answer their phones) is located. Dad dialed her number on "accident", after exhausting all the consulate extensions, to no avail. She gave us the fax number of the consulate, advised us that they answer faxes quicker than phones, and she also gave us the phone number of her personal security guard in case we need further help, since she herself is on vacation next week.
Martin and Gerald
- My Kenyan father and brother, who prayed blessings upon my life and ministry while we all stood in their living room together on a sweltering day.
Nathan
- Who prayed over me in a gas station parking lot in Michigan.
Jim
- Who has hired me on as a girl on his farm (among all the big boys) to provide me with a job to earn money before leaving. He also tells me how much he prays for me and reminds me often that whether or not I believe it myself, I am a missionary, sent by God.
Marty
- The 66 year old woman I tutored this week, who had me give her my name so she could put me on her church's prayer list.
Katy
- Who is driving all the way out here to be with me the weekend before I leave.
Mom
- Who is making special meals for me all week, since I won't get any of my favorites for 3 years.
Dad
- Who has done so many "dad" things for me, like calling the Indonesian Consulate while I was at work and printing off CDC pages on what vaccinations I need.
Bellwether
- The boys in my band, who have promised to dedicate many songs to me in their concert the night before I leave.
And so many, many more...
Leaving has made me realize how loved I am...
- She is my Indonesian contact and my friend. She has helped to secure me my visa, she bought me a plane ticket from Jakarta to Semarang, she has taken care of other arrangements, and she reminds me on a near daily basis how much she is praying for me.
The ladies at the nursing home
- They have decided to adopt me as their prayer project for the time I'm gone.
Brian
- My "cousin", who drove all the way out here to see me before he left for Cali.
The woman
- She came to my yard sale and bought nothing. She handed me five dollars anyways, because she knew she wanted to be a part of something bigger than herself. As she left, she turned back and almost whispered, "Keep your eyes on Him, and He'll take care of you."
Joanne
- She owns the building in Chicago where the Indonesian Consulate (who apparently never answer their phones) is located. Dad dialed her number on "accident", after exhausting all the consulate extensions, to no avail. She gave us the fax number of the consulate, advised us that they answer faxes quicker than phones, and she also gave us the phone number of her personal security guard in case we need further help, since she herself is on vacation next week.
Martin and Gerald
- My Kenyan father and brother, who prayed blessings upon my life and ministry while we all stood in their living room together on a sweltering day.
Nathan
- Who prayed over me in a gas station parking lot in Michigan.
Jim
- Who has hired me on as a girl on his farm (among all the big boys) to provide me with a job to earn money before leaving. He also tells me how much he prays for me and reminds me often that whether or not I believe it myself, I am a missionary, sent by God.
Marty
- The 66 year old woman I tutored this week, who had me give her my name so she could put me on her church's prayer list.
Katy
- Who is driving all the way out here to be with me the weekend before I leave.
Mom
- Who is making special meals for me all week, since I won't get any of my favorites for 3 years.
Dad
- Who has done so many "dad" things for me, like calling the Indonesian Consulate while I was at work and printing off CDC pages on what vaccinations I need.
Bellwether
- The boys in my band, who have promised to dedicate many songs to me in their concert the night before I leave.
And so many, many more...
Leaving has made me realize how loved I am...
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