1. there's usually two locks on a door, so with a key-always a key- you lock it twice, because otherwise, your door isn't totally locked.
2. for a rupiah to a dollar. it's 10,000 to $1 approximately. that's just the easiest way for me to really figure things out quickly and accurately. it's actually like 8,8600 to $1 but i'm not totally sure
3. here, you can smoke at any age, the driving age limit is 16yrs. old, and you can get pirated DVDS here legally for $2 a DVD. it's also legal to download movies and music
4. I can bargain in Bahasa Indonesia and prices go as low as 10 cents USD.
5. politics are bigger here, but not with the kids in school- there aren't protests usually- i've seen only one. but people know that they don't agree with what goes on normally. Muslims are dominant and suggestively have the upper hand in the most important parts of government, education, business- it's like a party. but it's a religion
6. here, time is not a strict concept. usually- if you ask to do something, the indonesian may say "we'll do it tomorrow". i don't expect much in a day :) and now. i take one thing at a time myself. i'm learning to relax, and be utterly patient.
7. come to indonesia, it's beautiful. in the city, the traffic is ridiculous- because the public transportation is only a little better than in India, and everyone wants to have the clean air that pumps through the AC in their car. other than that, motors will race everywhere, even on the sidewalk- YES i've done that before :) i wasn't driving :P
8. teenagers study a lot. so i tend to hang out with my family at home, or go out with Ailin, Dasha, or friends outside of my high school. That would involve my church crowd, Yohana- my bahasa teacher's assistant, or ... my family :)
9. the city is new, not old like in Rome, but insanely new- and trash is everywhere, without a care or knowledge that things can change, the citizens throw trash out their window like it's a hair they found in their car. - there's sections that are more business, more homes, more entertainment. but generally, Jakarta is split into north, south, east, and west. and it's about 8.5 million, which is 8,500,000 people. it's seriously large. i don't go anywhere, but in a bluebird taxi (most reliable) by myself.
10.favorite new fruits: mango, mangis, and passion fruit that you eat (not drink)
11. Asia is totally different than Europe, well Southeast Asia that is. We're underdeveloped, compared to Europe, Canada, Russia, or America- even Japan and China. So there's a bit of a shock to get over at first. It's not clean. I take two showers a day becuase of the dirt that collects on your body- we drink water from bottles, nothing from the tap- if you go to the pool, you have to dry your hair of you can get really sick- there's no toilet paper in public bathrooms if your not in a legit business building or mall. When you would usually pet a dog, they run away- and the cats multiply like fruitflies. I have four babies and their mom hanging out right outside my room right now.
12. Foreign exchange gives you connections, like Victoria is in Italy, and her friend is from another country- and since I know Victoria, she could set me up with her exchange friend there from Japan, who could set me up with an exchange girl she knows from Australia :) Connections are brilliant when you want to travel. Get connected friends.
13. Indonesia is creative for Christmas trees, made out of plastic bags, plastic straws, popcorn, pinecones, Sprite bottles... name it , we've got it :) Also no christmas lights, or christmas music- so i got a bunch from Church :) which, besides the international MALL Where there's iceskating rinks and lights and christmas music, is the only place you can get an entire feel of Christmas like you would in America.
I personally have 2 candy canes this entire Christmas. that's a bit crazy for me!
14. There is no Thanksgiving in Indonesia :) non-existent unless your an immigrant from America
15.hot chocolate here is bitter, along with the coffee. ice cream tastes like ice- i like American ice cream much better :) Their teh manie (sweet tea) is phenomenal because their sugar comes straight from sugar cane here
16. indonesia has the last orangutans, so sad- there's like 10,000 or less here. a lot because of the palm oil plantations that the animals get lost in and then just killed, because many in the business just see them as a nuisance. there are many great attempts, and lives dedicated to stop them, but they aren't winning the battle yet. just many, many wars
16. they eat nutella here like crazy mom :)
17. no snow in Indonesia, and they slice cake so small- usually that's how it goes in Asia, small portions. I like it!
18. Rotary is small here, because people are generally used to keeping as much money as possible, the country is known for thinking about their stomach's more right now than anything else.
19. indonesians don't generally make anything by scratch, because they have maids, becuase the value of labor is so low, but no one protests- that i can see. when the maids are on short vacations (they are usually 24.7 live in) you can find those families in all the restaurants :) haha.
20. I go to two Rotaries, because my sponsering Rotary is Kabayoran, but at Rotary Jakarta, I'm really good friends with the Roteracters (18-30yr. olds) and they love to travel :) and i love them. haha. that's tuesday and wednesday nights!
21. for Christmas, presents are not given in abundance, and the trees are not usually real pine trees because, unless your in the mountains, they're too hot to stay alive.
22. Christmas dinner, is/was for me, quiet. Indonesians don't talk when they're eating with their parents or grandparents, becuase their grandparents/parents don't talk normally. when they do, then the kids talk. otherwise, the kids don't talk unless spoken to. at school though, we all talk. --- but still sometimes, they don't talk when they eat cause they're so used to it.
23. there's many days where all i do is hang out and busy myself with tagging photos, writing scholarships, organizing--like i do :) , cause i don't know where my friends are, or they're busy, or there's just nothing to exactly do.
24. I have a bank account in Indonesia, it's cool :) but during New Years, they get crammed up, and it doesn't work. so i don't exactly know where my money is
25. moneygrams come from my parents to get money to me as well- which changes USD into Rupiah. which is how, you supporters :), the money gets to me. thank you God for moneygrams, they're beautiful :)
26. movie theatres here rock, $2.50 for a movie, and the cusions are phenomenal, a lot more space, and you can put your feet up comfortably. instead of pop/soda (depending on whether your reading this from NY or IN) they serve sweet tea (teh manis) which, like i said, is different than in the states. and is seriously better than any pop.
i love ya all. i thought i'd just cram you up with golden nuggets you've been missing :) and add a little quick humor to your fast lives over there in America/Australia/Eruope/Canada.
27. it's slower here, the days seem slower (like you said victoria, so minus Italia on my list :P) you take one thing at a time. not 20baxillion like i would in America. totally oppsite :) lots of thinking time, and God time. i love it.
28. you really can't leave the milk out because it'll sour so quickly
29. don't send cheeseball in a package, becuase it won't last :) love you mom. haha. packages are expensive, but fanatastic to get. i love each of them. because they remind me of America, so much so. it's like an atmosphere in a box. it's beautiful. thank you for each package :)
30. i have two host families. my first one is Christian, the second one i'm moving to in the beginning of february is Muslim as far as i know
31. when i come back to America, I want to put these blogs into a book for myself. Let me know if you want one :)
sleep well :) i'll keep it coming on Berastagi and Medan. but this was just fun facts for life here that i totally would've forgotten tomorrow morning!