A week of friends.
Actually more than a week.
And only once did we get a full night of sleep.~from 3am-12noon.
I arrived there on Thursday night with Ibu Mita (the YEP Inbound Coordinator for Indonesia) and stepped into her house of 5 cats, and about 17 teenagers. The roteract was having a meeting the night I was coming. So interrupting the meeting, Kelsey- who I knew before from the first big conference for the outbound students of all Central STates (including central Canada)- came straight at me for a hug. I didn't recognize her at first, and then had to get my bearings because her hair was cut short and she, along with the rest of us, has physically changed as well- due to eating more than working out, the norm in Indonesia- lucky for people in Indonesia, they generally have a fast metabolism, so you would never notice. But with us exchange girls, you do :) Just another beautiful souviner from Indonesia, it's consequences of fantastic food.
I was wrapped into a tight hug, and after let go- i also met Adrien, a 18yr. old boy from Belgium, and Diego, a 16 yr. old boy from Brazil, who are also in our program, but I never knew or met them- since I hadn't been to Bandung before.
Diego hung out with the Roteractors since they were his good friends, while Kelsey and Adrien filled me in on lots of stories and we discussed and compared experiences in Indonesia and thoughts so far :)
I found out a couple interesting things:
~ The students in Bandung, all three of them, have been getting bahasa lessons since the beginning- they had them in the beginning for 3mths. and after that, they didn't need them anymore and basically understand and can talk bahasa indonesia like completely normal, while the students in Jakarta (minus Roberto, a 17 yr. old boy from Brazil who plays football almost everyday with the Indonesian guys and learned from them everything) were not able to get lessons because of the traffic, the distance, and no resources. Through this i realized right of the bat, how much of a blessing it is for my second host mother to be a bahasa teacher and giving me lessons. I never was actually able to get to live with her because her child is on exchange, so there would be nothing fun at her house for me. So instead, my first family (The Batubara's) and her made a deal. The Batubara's would keep me longer if she taught me bahasa indonesia :) And with her love and willingness, she taught me, for free. She also had her assistant take me around to so many places, to Jogja- back in September, along with going to see the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia, experiencing more Padang food, discovering museums, and places that bule are known to go to. Ibu Dyah is her name- and I'd like to formally thank her on this blog, for really giving me so much more than I could ask for, really helping me, even though I was never able to live in her house. I feel like her daughter :)
Continuing, after everyone went home, Kelsey and I talked about everything- and I mean everything, with God, with boyfriends, with families- overseas in Indonesia and overseas back home in Canada and the USA, we talked about problems we were thinking of talking to Rotary about, or trips that we were confused about, the weight we were gaining, not being able to workout, and the immersion weird things that we found- that were so different from our homes :) She's from Canada, I'm from the USA, basically the same lifestyle, so it's so nice to relate to her!
We ended up going to bed around 3am and i didn't wake up until noon! That day we were planning on going iceskating and discovering the outdoor mall they have in Bandung, so Adrien had already arrived (he is the most punctual person I know in Indonesia) and we were going to Diego's house to pick to him.
I got ready real fast, without any devotions, took a shower in the bathroom- where there is only a sprayer, and no showerhead, so you have to like sit and duck and spray all over your body- so it's like a shower/bath. *They have them in Finland too, my Dad told me a while ago*. Then I ate the average breakfast of indonesians of thick white bread with peanut butter and nutella :) The norm. and if you don't have that sometimes, your morning is not complete.
We ended up leaving for Diego's house later than we really wanted, but with Indonesian time- it's flexible. 12noon is actually 3pm, and so we were patient and ready for not going at the real time we wanted (sometimes we say earlier so that we get away at the actual time we want). When we got to Diego's, I realized that he's actually living at the apartment that his host mom is building, and not at their house, because the apartment is closer to his school. So he stays with his host brother in an apartment room.
We waited for Deigo and then took off for the mall. Which was interesting, it was an inside mall- only because there were roofs that were tarp-like but more classy, that you could call a roof. But it wasn't built in, so it was an outdoor mall with coverings. And it was beautiful :) Wooden walkways as well, so I felt like I was back in Maine walking to the beach with my family.
We took the elevator to the top floor and walked into a lush green garden, overlooking the city of Bandung- and next to it, was an iceskating rink. On the top of the mall, i never would of thought that. it was a beautiful surprise :)
Ailin, my great exchange friend who came down to Bandung with her mom from Jakarta (her mom has a house in Bandung cause she does work there as well as in Jakarta), also met us. It was her first time ever iceskating, and as a 17yr. old girl from Argentina she was pretty excited to figure it out. Her younger sister is great at iceskating but Ailin has always been a swimmer. For her first time through, she did a pretty amazing job, knocked all of us down but Adrien, and while Kelsey danced around Aiilin and I on skates (since hockey is the biggest thing in canada, next to maple syrup), I was Ailin's wall :) a perfect job for me. hahaha. it was fun becuase usually i get bored ice skating unless i'm having a conversation, so it gave me a reason to skate- to help her. and that made things better, since conversation is a bit hard in English sometimes for her, whose dominant language is Spanish.
So before we took off I bought a Magum, a Magum being the ice cream that is sought after in Indonesia :) if you watch the commerials you'll see a beautifully cool chocolate covered, vanilla ice cream on a stick Or an almond/ chocolate covered, vanilla ice cream on a stick. or even a chocolate covered, chocolate truffle flavoring on the inside. And in each picture you'll see the people eating the ice creams rolling their eyes happily while their taste buds explode, in a good way, right? I thought i'd try the chocolate truffle. which i deccided was the best of the three. but definitely not like the ice cream cones in america, and definitely not as good as my favorite, a Lindor Truffle :) Thank you Elise for introducing me to those.
We then made our way to a Western Restaurant, and ate Belgium fries, which Adrien said didn't taste right at all, and Diego ordered "his usual"- chicken cordon bleu, and we finally got picked up, as i was getting seriously tired- since everything was later in the day, it was alrady 10pm. Went home to Kelsey's house, instead of Ibu Mita's, and stayed the night there. Actually staying up untl 2am, even though we were going with Kelsey early the next morning to a wedding that she was going to dance at. Movies, food, computers, and girls talking :) That was fun.
It was a bit harder in this trip to get enough alone time with God, since I was living, eating, and breathing these girls for 9 days; so i would wake up when they would sleep in. Because i knew for a fact that they would not be waking up if they didn't have to, that was just unreasonable! SO :) I did. woke up earlier and earlier each day, to also be able to skype people back in America, so that I wouldn't have to be on the computer while the girls were awake, since I just wanted to be with them.
In my devotions with God, I noticed some weird things happening. Especially when Dasha, a 16yr old girl from Russia, arrived from Jakarta on Sunday Evening.
I felt that I needed a personality, that I didn't have. Kelsey was the planner. Ailin was the ridiculous, cute, fun, conversation one, and Dasha was the one with her own schedule most of the time. And who was I? I had just been enjoying the girls and having a blast, but who was I when it came down to it? I realized that when your with people so often, and not having time to discover yourself and God, and just being absorbed into society and hanging out with friends, you can forget who you are by yourself. And so- I realized after some quiet time with God, that I am the calm, sensitive, adventurous, caring, and deep one :) And I love that. In a group, that is who i am. And yes! I found out that I can have fun- and not always be calm- but, that is my character in the pact of exchange girls here!!
And while I didn't have tons of time with God, I saw Him each day in different ways.
Like the lush garden I saw next to the iceskating rink, that was God.
The next morning, on Saturday- we watched Kelsey get ready for the wedding, and by 10am, we were over watching the procession. It's actually the same wedding that my host sister, Airin, went through and invited me too- so it wasn't manditory for us to watch it, we really just wanted to see Kelsey dance her peacock dance. She was the only one who would be dancing it because she was the only one who knew it and we were super excited. So while waiting for the bride and groom, and then the procession- finally Kelsey danced her peacock dance, we took videos, took pictures, and then ate the food at the reception. What I ate i wish you could just try, it's so much easier to try things than explain.
But- I was trying to watch my weight, so I ate porridge. that consisted of coconut milk, and black beans that we're a jelly-like substance. It tasted so good. I can't describe it because that was the last time I had it. But it's good :) And nice if you don't want to eat too much.
Afterwards, we went back to Kelsey's house by her car- her driver brought us back to the house, and then we went swimming at the pool closeby to Kelsey's house.
Just an excerpt: Kelsey's house is to die for, it's up on a goregous little hill where the nice houses are, overlooking Bandung, and it has a staircase like a labyrinth. Her basement is equipt with food, beautiful TV, couches, and a backyard that's small and quaint yet big enough to lay on and look at the moon or the view at the back of the house. It's a small house, but the inside is fantastic :)
Adrien showed up again, and after looking at the tsunami and the effects of it, God blessed us here in Indonesia by bringing it to the southeast instead of the southwest, and then- we finally went swimming around 5pm.
We got there, paid $2 and jumped into to the water that was a perfect temperature because of the sun shining on it all day long. It was so much fun, and that's where the inside jokes started::: to record them just for me I'll put them all here to remember!
~Oh Gitu!: Sini
~soup sinikka soup!: Dasha
~lb or kilo? lb or kilo?: ailin
~belum lipstick!: Kelsey
~chicken... I mean kitchen!: Adrien
After swimming with Adrien, we all went out with Keley's funny family (her younger sister is such a character, quirky, and a blast- her parents love to laugh, and have the best attitudes) to a seafood restaurant. Parit 9 Seafood. The best seafood I've ever had. Shrimps in soya sauce, with a flavour I've never tasted that made it jump at you from the plate. Crab that had beef floss and black pepper, and cooked spinaach (which is the regular vegetable here in Indonesia) with a delicious sauce that was salty yet the best taste. I ate for two people, myself and either my Dad, or my boyfriend, Alan, because they both adore seafood. ~ And I know there's nothing I've ever tasted like that in America.
Got home late that night, super stuffed with good food that I will probably never have again, since you pick out the live fish,crabs,and shrimp right in front of you, and they take them back and cook them up~and it was so crowded that it took 20 minutes in itself to get seated at a clean table.
It was goregous, until we felt so full at Kelsey's house right before going to bed.
On Sunday, we woke up early, and went with Roteract (later than we were supposed to) to an orphange to just bless them with fun times and gifts, the kids were from ages 5-18, from 1st grade to 12th grade, and all from different areas in Java. Kelsey jumped right in talking bahasa with different groups, while I helped in the background getting things ready for the presents, since all the stuff was just bought and needed to be put together. :) That was fun, because i went by motor to get there, and it started raining so we stopped on the side of the road to put on rain suits, and then we really got to know the Roteractors well, since we went out to eat afterwards and hung out with each other until late into the night, playing Jenga truth or dare, and talking about tons of things :) So great.
On Monday, we had the best experience for lunch at this place called The Pavillion, which has pancakes and waffles, that they mix with ice cream and mangoes and have the most delicious mint tea i've ever tasted~ but this place is a bit different. I would recommend going to it, because each Pavillion is set up differently, the one we went to looked like a garden party, but they also have Pavillions that are set up like a library, or even like a house- where you can actually sit on top of a toliet (made into a seat), and eat your meals. It was the most intersting place i've ever eaten at. I loved it :) and the food was really good.
Afterwards, we went to learn about one of the instruments Indonesia is known for. The angklung, which is made of bamboo- since in Europe they had more metal but in Indoneia they have more bamboo, so of course they use it. It's one of the oldest instruments and can be used like a xylophone, or like a bell choir- where each person hold a note, and *dongs* when they are supposed to. Which angklung, you *shake* it to make the noise. So, while watching an orchestra perform together (the place we went to had a school where they taught teenagers angklung, so they perform in the performance that the school- and shop put on so that bule like me can understand what the instrument truly should sound like.
they gave you a free drink in the beginning, complimentary, and you could either have water, tea, or something traditional that had ginger in it- so of course, being me, i took the one i knew nothing about, and as strong as it was, it felt good on your throat :) the people who live in Puncak (the mountains) actually recommend drinking tea to stay healthy where its colder.
At the performance we went to, they also showed the behind the scenes of one of the traditional Indonesian puppet shows that could last maybe from 9pm-5am in the morning. It would tell all about the different gods in Hinduism, and stories that would have characters that represented greed, lust, or anger, and then tell stories through that. There's actually one man behind the puppets- so it's basically a really perfessional (spelling, oh dear. i need to come back to America soon!) hand puppet show. but he makes noises for fights as well. it was really intense.
After this we went back to Ibu Mita's house, got ready for a Rotary meeting~ which would be with Adrien, Diego, Roberto (who came down with Dasha), Dasha, Kelsey, Ailin, and myself. Which is the majority of the exchange students in Indonesia, actually- there's only 12 of us here, and that was 7 :) At the Rotary meeting, we girls were a bit late, so we sat on the side, drawing pictures for each other while the Roteract team that we went with to help the orphange detailed what we did for the kids, and the adults had their talks about what good things they were doing, what projects for people around the world they were involved in were progressing while drinking tea.
The best part was afterwards, when the exchange students got together for the first time- all of us, because Roberto wasn't there before, and we went to hang out- on the top of a building (thanks to Diego's wonderful mom and Ibu Mita!) at a little restaurant that had a grand view of Bandung :) We didn't know where we were actually going though, so in the car, as us girls were messing around- we ended up doing each other's hair in the strangest way~ and when we got out of the car, arriving at a really nice hotel- we decided to still walk in, our hair drapped in key chains, locks, strange braids, face masks, and colorful hairties :) quite classy. we enjoyed ourselves, talking in four languages: Portguese, Spanish, English, and Indonesia. Go Rotary- there's no other way I'd be able to hear them all, and start to learn a bit of each :) Even though i'm already pretty fluent in two :P
We got home to Ibu Mita's house super late of course, and after convincing the boys to go discover the caves with us the next day- we headed to bed. That took a while to convince the Brazilian boys, Diego and Roberto, who usually like to go out at night and then sleep away the morning- but by my sweet wake up call idea, they took it, and the next morning, I walked into their room, and pulled them both out by the feet :) Just like i would with my brother if he'd ever let me.
The caves that we discovered on Tuesday were towards the back of a beautiful and large hiking/biking/walking area that Bandung has. It's the first one i've seen like it in Indonesia, and reminded me so much of the times that my family would go hiking out back in the woods close to our house in New York.
Some history to where the caves came from: Indonesia only newly claimed their independence from Holland in the 1900's sometime, and then after they were free from Holland, Japan tried to come and take over Indonesia as well. So when we went to explore the caves, they were dark and scary- but because the Dutch were in Indonesia longer than the Japanese, the caves of the Dutch were more organized- with rails for railroad cars, while the Japanese caves were basically dug out holes and the generals would sleep on ledges to be higher than their men. Pretty creepy, the girls screamed once so loud, that *even though i didn't think i was scared* I grabbed onto Adrien's arm so fast, that I had to laugh at myself. haha.
After the caves, we waited for Ibu Mita and Diego's mom to bring us out to lunch, getting back in tune with everyone, talking about bahasa lessons, and how Roberto got sick when he went to Bali- and when we went out to eat, we went to no other place but KFC. Chicken burger and and orange drink. classic American too. and tasted pretty much the same.
Afterwards, since Diego is a beast at bowling we decided to try it out with him, and for one game it's only $1.50 (as far as i remember) so we divided it up, and I bowled pretty badly (once before I bowled a 121, that's the best I ever had). But Diego got a strike or spare almost every time. Then, since Ailin and Kelsey were drawing, we girls started drawing on socks that were bought for shoes but not used.
On wednesday, we all met up and started on our way to Lembang, where we were going to be horsebackriding, and enjoy hot springs, which i did very much enjoy. the car ride was about 2hrs. perfect length for sleeping in the back with Dasha leaning on my shoulder- and when we got to the resort that Rotary had connections with, we were lathered in free tee-shirts, baseball caps (I lost mine somewhere), and we met an exchange student that Ibu Mita knew, that's not with Rotary but with AFS- she is actually from the northern part of Michigan, which was pretty funny, since that's super close to Kelsey and I, so we enjoyed talking.- and we're surprised with an invitation to go ATVing, and using dune buggies- so~ for the first time, I drove an ATV, and while it stopped many times, i ran through mud, and it was SO much fun.
Afterwards, we ate a Sudanese (traditional food from Java Island, Sudanese is the people) lunch, and I had the best chili sauce, which i can handle with ease now, along with coconut juice- still in the coconut, and fish, tofu, meat, veggies, and almost no rice- because if i eat too much, my stomach hurts, and it is what really makes you gain weight, since it's a carb, and i barely work out here :) haha.
We then headed to the water at the hot springs, which was actually brought down to a pool by pipes and we put on our swimsuits and jumped into the hottest pool i've ever been in, i started to feel sick after swimming for 5minutes. It was wicked.
After staying there for a short time, we headed out, thanked the management- for the exclusive time we had there (because we're with Rotary!) and went to ride horses. But, first we stopped to try rabbit meat on a stick (sate klinci), which i actually like better than beef. and then continued on to the horses, where I met God- in a horse. a black one. a girl, that was only for breeding. Where I stood in front of her, until she would start to come closer to me, and want to be pet. Then i talked, talking about how I felt- how I was supposed to react and talk about what I believed with Ailin and Adrien, because as we were talking while eating sate, God and creation came up, and I got nothing in edge-wise, and wasn't sure how to respond to them of a different country. And through healing with God's creation of that horse, I realized that just loving them, just showing them love- Adrien and Ailin, God would bring me the words, and I knew God's facts about creation, and I knew how to love, and follow God- and I was loved~ so through that, my entire mood changed from just having fun, to being me. Me in the crowd that I can easily get lost inside of. Even though they're such good friends. So now, I was me in my great crowd of friends, and not letting myself dissolve into it, but standing out.
Go God.
On the way home, we stopped for Diego's grandma's birthday party, at the best restaurant in Bandung, where you could view the entire city, close to Kelsey's house, and I ate zup soup, the soup that has bread over it like a puff. so delicious :) While thinking of how fast it was to get to the restaurant, because Bandung is a bit smaller, with less traffic, and seems more personal than my big business city of Jakarta- I sang karaoke for Diego's grandma, as was asked to, and then us exchange students and Ibu Mita took off for home.
On Thursday, the 17th, we were invited for lunch at Kelsey's house, where her mother was having a Qu'ran study with her friends, and while we waited, Roberto got anxious because he was going to be late to play football with Diego and Ibu Mita's son (Diego couldn't find his shoes, so he didn't come), so after eating, we talked a bit- with a lady who asked if we would like to learn how to do makeup the next day, and then we and Kelsey's mom took off to drop off Roberto and then go shopping at the outlet stores since Bandung is also known for cheap prices. Like only $3 for a hollister tank top, but i was unable to get one in my size since indonesians are so small :/ one drawback. but only one, because i did find girl boxers for $3! :)
The best store we got to was Roma Mode, but it was only after an hour of walking did we find it _ when everyone told us to take a cab or something, we 4 girls went the cheap way and hoofed it, just like cheap Americans, Canadians, or Argentinians, it's the same wherever you go :)
I was also able to bargain down 3 paintings from $6 each, to $6 for two, and then $2.90 for one more.
We then went back to Ibu Mita's house for a late night dance lesson to learn the dance that Kelsey knows, so that she and I can dance that at the next big conference this year in America. Which was fun :) Reminded me of the Balinese dancing I did last year, which i don't remember much of.
On friday, we had the makeup lesson at the lady's house, which was really like a resort. Ibu mita's water had died, so we actually took showers in some of the nicest bathrooms i've seen, and then after eating lunch and playing with her daughter, she gave us the mose extensive lesson on makeup, and for my entire life, i will be resorting back to the details i wrote down on that day.
Afterwards, we got back late and only danced again, learning the entire 5 minutes, easy. We were supposed to have a cooking lesson with the Rotractors, but there was miscommunication, and it didn't work out. but it was alright, since the next day- saturday we were coming back home. leaving at 10:45am and arriving back in Jakarta, with Ailin and Dasha at 3pm. Ending the excitement of the exchange trip to Bandung, after such a long time- it actually went really fast, but~ that started the beginning of hanging out so much more in Jakarta, and trying to get more exchange student trips together with Rotary becuase we all enjoyed ourselves so much, hanging out and learning about indonesia together- and our general means of communication being bahasa indonesia :) super cool.
this recount is so long, because this trip was so long :) but, don't worry. no trips again until April 1-3 when I am supposedly going caving at Sukabumi mountain with the Rotractors and exchange students again, and we're makin s'mores or such things :)
i hope you all are good back home. during this trip, there were many things that happened. I had three good conversations, one with Dasha- when she didn't want to go back to Jakarta because Bandung is more personal and she loves it, one with Ailin- about all the things we've never talked about about ourselves, and then one with Kelsey- catching up and telling her how i've seen God here in Indonesia.
Then I saw God:
~in the fact that we were blessed that the tsunami didn't come in indonesia's direction
~through the horse
~through the park that the caves were in
~through bargaining, which really made me happy
~through the genuineness of the make up lady
~through the children that played angklung and then talked with us and taught us too
~through the beauty i saw in Kelsey when she jumped right into loving the kids at the orphange
~through the lush garden next to the iceskating rink
~through the fact that i found out the date for the Bali trip is April 27-May 11
~through the car ride back with Dasha and Ailin, and just feeling so bliss. Everything was great. Even though we were riding back into the city of business, independence, inpersonal, sometimes hard Jakarta.
us three exchangees were together.
and we were loved.
and are loved.
by the King :)
no matter where we are- that's how it is. whether we're in indonesia, america, canada, belgium, argentina, brazil, taiwan, france, or germany :)
God's love stays the same.