Home Life

The school provides our transportation to and from school and other places, as needed.  The driver took us home and again was an experience.  Believe me when I tell you that I say a prayer before I get into Any vehicle here.  The drive was a beautiful one and we live in a district where the other teachers and administration live.  We are in a house with three small bedrooms, one bathroom, and one ½ bath.  We have a veranda in the front and maid’s quarters upstairs; however, our maid doesn’t live with us.  She comes every evening and cleans the house from top to bottom.  She has Sundays off.  Miranda, a fellow teacher and Meena’s former housemate, came home with us.  I tried very hard to stay awake, but finally passed out on the couch while talking with the girls.  Meena woke me up and told me to go to bed and we would talk in the morning.  I agreed.  My bedroom has a full size bed, a desk, and a full size cabinet that is my closet and chest of drawers in one.  I hate to admit, but after a 32 hour flight and jetlag I fell into bed without a shower.  I didn’t even change into PJs.  I was exhausted and was out by the time my head hit the pillow.  This was about 3pm.  I woke again at 11pm, got something to eat, talked a little more with Meena, and went back to bed.  I woke again at 4:30AM Saturday morning and couldn’t go back to sleep.  I finally went back to sleep at about 7AM after sitting on the veranda, drinking some hot peach tea, and watching the sun come up in Jakarta!  Am I really here?  Amazing!  The smells are different here, but the climate is perfect – for me.  The morning sounds are distinct in their own rite.  Vendors riding up and down the streets with breakfast items, bread for the day, and other necessities.  Early morning brings the sounds of the Muslims in prayer.  Each prayer can be heard down the street, reminding me of a chant.  I thought that it would bother me, at first, but now it just reminds me to pray, myself.  I continue to thank God for this awesome opportunity and bringing me to this beautiful place. 

Adolf, Mrs. Anna’s husband, came to accompany us to the mall for shopping.  We rode to the mall in an Angutan which is a small red van with seats in it similar to what you would see on an airport shuttle… but very much smaller.  Mrs. Anna would follow later in the school van with the driver.  When we reached our destination, we crossed over the road on a walkway to the mall.  The bottom floor is full of different shops and the top floor is like walking into a Wal-Mart Supercenter.  To reach the top floor you ride a travelator.  It is like an escalator but doesn’t have the steps, it is flat.  I was able to exchange my currency and buy almost everything I need for now.  I was a little overwhelmed dealing with trying to convert the Rp to USD in my head so that I could calculate the value of what I was buying.  Meena’s mentality is ‘that is what it costs so buy or don’t buy’.  My shopping mentality is shop till you find the price you want to pay.  By the time we got to the grocery part of the store, my mind was very overwhelmed.  Meena is from India so she and I cook differently.  The next trip I will need to venture off on my own and find out what Western food the store supplies.  I bought some ‘meat’ and fruit.  Carrots looked good, so I bought some of them, as well.  I also found some protein shakes that I will need to take twice a day to get my protein. (I think I will have Mom send me some from home)  I will probably eat school lunches this week till I figure out how to shop here.  On the way home, I sat in the back this time.  I think I like the back seat better…. Not so scary. LOL

Around the corner from us is a market (pasar) where people go early in the mornings for fresh items.  Expats, like me, need to be careful there or they will try to overcharge you.  Meena and I walked to the store later in the evening and walked past the pasar.  It is just a small market but I am sure it really comes alive in the mornings. 

Meena and I both want to get some exercise so we have committed to start walking this evening and will try to locate a place we can swim, as well.  She is truly a delight and I am so glad to have her as a housemate. 

Sleep on Saturday night came just as restless…. Up/down/up/down.   I pray that tonight will be better.  It is now Sunday morning and I have been unable to find a place to attend worship.  Monday, I will ask around and find a location by next Sunday.  The landlady replaced our carport roof yesterday and is putting in a new toilet in the main bathroom today.  People have been in and out all morning.  All the work that Ibu (pronounced Ebu), our maid, did and the floors are dirty again.  I dropped cracker crumbs on the floor and wanted to sweep it up. I asked Meena where the broom was and she told me to just leave it for the maid.  She doesn’t come till tomorrow and I couldn’t bear leaving it there, so I swept it out the door.  I don’t know if I can get used to the whole ‘leave it for the maid’ thing.  Six days a week she comes to clean the bathrooms, dishes, floors, veranda, laundry, ironing… I will be spoiled! J

When we wake up in the mornings, we open the doors for the breeze.  In the hall is a screened hole that goes all the way up through the roof to allow for sun light and air circulation.  Each bedroom has an air conditioner to keep us cool at night.  The climate is Wonderful!  Not too hot, not too cool, I am told that it is this way year round.