Welcome to a documented experience of my year as an English Teacher and Community Worker in Java, Indonesia! For the next eleven months, I will be serving with Mennonite Central Committee's Serving and Learning Together program, learning the language, eating the foods, and fully immersing myself in the Indonesian culture.

Looking forward to sharing my experiences with you! Happy reading!

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Temples and Horseback Rides!

Hello Friends and Family!

As this second week in Indonesia nears its end, I've found that I've been able to settle in to a bit of a routine here in my host community. Of course, it is nothing like what my life will look like once I get started with my actual placement, but it's a huge comfort to have some predictability each day, and that things are becoming at least a tad more familiar to me.

Yesterday was supposed to be Idul Fitri, one of the biggest celebrations in Indonesia. As a Christian community, we don't take part in the actual activities. However, there are fireworks, and marches with torches, and parades, all of which are really exciting to observe! We got ourselves all set up on the balcony with a barbecue (along with half a dozen different kinds of meat and seafood) and were prepared for fireworks. Some of them began, and then suddenly I found out that Idul Fitri celebrations would actually be the next night (tonight), so we packed everything up. I'm still a bit confused as to how that all works, but I will find out and get back to you on that! Nonetheless, the barbecue party was a ton of fun!

My host family has a lot of their extended family staying here right now as this is a week of holidays in Indonesia. Today we went to the town of Bandungan, which is way up in the mountains, somewhere between Semarang and Salatiga. I was told that we were going to see some temples, and I was asked in the morning if I like riding horses. I didn't put the two together until we arrived, and I discovered that we would be riding horses up Mount Ungaran to see the Gedongsongo Temples. I know that the temples were supposed to be the main attraction, but I think I got more of a thrill from the horse! It was just the coolest thing in the world to think "I am sitting on a horse looking at temples on a mountain in Indonesia!" How often does one get to do that kind of thing!? I made sure to enjoy it to the fullest, and took a bunch of pictures (which don't do justice to the experience and the surroundings), which I will post once I'm reunited with my own laptop!

After the temple tour, we had lunch (rabbit satay and lombok) and then headed off to a soy milk factory. We also explored a catholic tourist attraction that walked us through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus (complete with life sized replicas of the tomb!), and also provided an opportunity to wander through beautiful gardens. I found that I was stared at by a lot of people there, and even noticed some people "discreetly" trying to take pictures of me. I suppose a fair-skinned (ok, SUPER pasty) redhead is a rare sight up in those mountain areas. We concluded our day with a stop to see two tigers that I think are an attraction at a really high end restaurant.

We arrived home by 2 PM, having left early in the morning to begin our adventures. It seems that a really long afternoon nap is part of the routine, at least in this household, and I find it difficult to know how to use the time. At home in Canada, days never go so slow, and I certainly never find myself with three hours to kill every afternoon (though my mom would say that that's because I busy up every spare second I get... to which my response would be that that's what keeps me out of getting roped into cleaning! :P). I've honestly found the afternoons to be the most challenging part of my day. Three hours provides ample time to sit and think about what I miss from home, and does nothing to help any homesickness I feel. My solution to that this week has been to bring my book into the living room and read there, even if no one else is around. That has been the routine this week at least, since my position doesn't start until October, and since I don't have enough vocabulary or confidence to meander too far (well, anywhere at all) by myself yet.

I know that one of the challenges of my position is to find enough to keep me busy, and I realize now that that could be true. I am eager to get input from the MCC team about what is appropriate to do as far as filling up spare time. I have SO many questions after this week, and I'm glad that we have six weeks together in Salatiga to talk about them! As far as spare time goes, perhaps a lesson I will learn this year is that I need to slow down a bit! I don't need to be busy all the time, and it may be good for me to have some time to just be still. That idea doesn't appeal to me one bit right now, but I may be saying something very different by this time next year!

Tomorrow is Wednesday, and I have no idea what the plan is, but on Thursday, I'm swinging by the radio station for my first experience with radio show hosting. I have NO idea how that will go, and I'm pretty nervous about it! It's one of those things that I'm just going to have to throw myself into, or else I'll never understand how it works! On Friday, all of us YALTers are being picked up again, and we're returning to Salatiga for our six weeks of (very VERY vital) language training. I wasn't too pumped about that at first, but now that I see how much I need it,  I'm really looking forward to it!

Thinking of everyone at home and around the world! I hope all you YALTers and IVEPers are really having an awesome first few weeks!

Love,
Ellery

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Facts and Logistics!

Salamat Malam!

Yesterday I said I didn't know a lot of facts and logistics, but I realized today that I know enough to keep you all in the loop about some things here!

First off though, let me thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers- they are working! Last night was a breakthrough, beginning with an awesome experience with the youth group at church, and ending with a renewed desire for attempting communication with my host family, and thus a lot of laughs and a lot of fun!

That said, today was another emotional roller coaster day, beginning with a really warm welcome from the Sola Gratia Church, where I will spend my year. Two days ago, they had me come in and film a greeting, but when I got there, I was also asked to stand up and greet the congregation. I'm usually terrified of the idea of being put on the spot in front of a large group without any preparation, but when I looked out at the people, I realized that they couldn't care less if I made a mistake. Every single person had a huge smile on their face, and looked so interested in what I had to say (through a translator- my Bahasa is not at a level adequate enough for public speaking!). The church sang two songs in English, one of which I knew. I don't know if they often sing in English, but I do know that when I was at youth last night, they sang an English song just for me, so I think this morning may have also been special just for me as well. Such actions as those make me realize that everyone who was anticipating my arrival- my host family, the church community, the youth, the staff- have bent over backwards to make me feel as welcome as possible. It may not be in the same way I would do it, but in their own way, they're really trying hard. It's an awesome feeling to know that so many people are excited about my arrival, and I really hope that I don't disappoint!

As I mentioned yesterday, the radio show host position is back on the table. I will be hosting two very special shows- "Relaxing Hour" and "Happy Kids" as well as singing karaoke during "Worship in Prayer" (believe it or not, it's an FM station). AND you too can listen to the LIVE STREAMING by tuning in to www.ichthusfm.com! Unfortunately this means staying up until 2AM in Ontario, or waking up at 5AM, depending on which show appeals to you more- "Relaxing Hour" or "Happy Kids." Once I get started, I'll let you all know which one is more worth it. ;) For those who do not feel the desire to tune in at such awkward hours, I asked the guy at the station if we could record it and put the recordings online, and he said it shouldn't be a problem, so we'll see if we can make it happen! I have absolutely no on-air experience whatsoever, and have been informed that my voice is quite normal and thus not of a particular radio show quality, but I will do my best to make "Relaxing Hour" and "Happy Kids" the most awesome time slots on ichthusFM!

A bit about my host family: I'm living with a family who is similar in age to mine at home (my host sister is 21, and my host brother is 18). They are incredibly kind people, and remind me a lot of my family at home- they have a strong desire to make me feel welcomed, but really give me my space too. When we're together, we usually have 2 dictionaries and 2 electronic translators (and if we get desperate, we whip out google translate). Attempts at communication go between being frustrating to hilarious to completely satisfying when we struggle through something and finally get the message across. I still find it difficult to not have the chance to talk as much as I love to, but I found an outlet in both my grandparents and Andrew when I got a chance to talk to them on skype tonight- my throat is a bit sore from all the chatting, so I can only imagine how they must feel!

The house that I am staying in is quite a bit nicer than I had expected, and has actually left me feeling quite confused as to what my role is here. I go between being completely overwhelmed in trying to understand, and being excited to discover my purpose.

The youth group here has been so welcoming, as I said before; they greeted me with smiles and handshakes and pictures. The kindest gesture to me is when someone attempts to speak English with me, even though they struggle and they know they aren't perfect at it. In a weird way, all the English motivates me even more to learn Bahasa Indonesia. I feel like, if so many people are putting themselves out there, I can (and should) too.

Idul Fitri is coming up this week, and I must say, I am excited for it to happen, and for it to be over! During Ramadan, people set firecrackers off all the time, especially late at night. It's super loud and quite startling! That, combined with the 4:30AM calls to prayer make for a short night on most occasions!

I have no idea what will be happening tomorrow, but my host family has a lot of relatives over, so the house will be loud and busy, which I like!

I am off to bed! Have a great day!




Saturday, August 27, 2011

Here in Semarang

Hi Everyone!

Turns out I do have internet, and am thus able to blog a bit!

Well, for once in my life, I am at a complete loss for words to describe this phase of my experience in Java. I debated not blogging at all this week, but then I thought that if I blog now, my emotions and impressions are completely fresh, and not watered down or forgotten as often happens when time goes by (and also because blogging is my number one way to relax right now).

I arrived in Semarang two days ago, around dinner time, after spending the day driving with the group from Salatiga. We stopped in a town (I forget the name) to meet some people from the church, before making our way to the town of Kudus (about an hour outside of Semarang) to drop Jason off. Jason is staying with Irene, an IVEPer who just returned home from the States a few weeks ago. Irene knows Karen and Major, and when she found out that we were heading her way, she insisted that we all stay for lunch. Her mother owns a bakery, and I think possibly a catering company as well. Needless to say, the spread was incredible- I counted seventeen different dishes on the table! We were very warmly welcomed in Kudus, and we left a very excited Irene and Jason behind.

 The next stop was in Semarang, to drop me off. I didn't know exactly what to expect, and I am very much still in the midst of processing my surroundings. As Jason said to me last night, "This is the real Indonesia!" We are now living with native Indonesian families, completely detached (except for the miracle of technology) from the people, places, sights, sounds, foods, and life that we are accustomed to. It's a real shocker, to say the least!

Being a talker, I find the language gap especially frustrating. Being a fairly proactive, "need to know what's going on" kind of person, I also find it to be a huge challenge to not understand what I will be doing or where I will be going. I'm used to being independent, yet I am utterly dependent on a host family that as of right now, I barely know.

The circumstances that I find myself living in have left me completely at a loss as to what God is doing in my life, or through my presence in this community, right now. I am uncertain about everything- the position at the church, the radio show host (which is back on the table!), the time at the orphanage. Despite my desperate attempt to come with lowered expectations, and with few preconceived notions, I realize now that my expectations were actually quite high, and that I did indeed paint a very detailed picture in my mind of what my life here would look like.

The reality of the length of time I will be here kicked in the moment Karen and Pak Lilik drove away two days ago, bringing with them the entire group of people with whom I have spent the last two weeks. My confidence wavered and then crashed and burned, and I have found that my emotional state has indeed taken the dip that Eva and the MCC crew told us about.

Between the pity parties I've been throwing for myself (mature, I know), I've had a lot of opportunities to think about how blessed I am. I may be in a situation that I am not loving, but I am here by choice. If I wanted to, I could book a plane ticket home tomorrow, and kiss this experience good-bye. So many people have no such choice. They are born into circumstances that wouldn't even allow for an opportunity like SALT. What I realized is truly ridiculous is that it almost never happens that I find myself in a situation I don't love. That's not to say I'm positive all the time (in fact, some may argue that I'm rarely very positive!), but rather to say that I come from a country, a community, a family, that leaves little room for unpleasant or really stressful circumstances. I have family and friends and a boyfriend who all love me so much, which is the only reason any feelings of homesickness are washing over me in the first place. How sad it must be to leave home and never miss it!

Well, I could write more about the facts and logistics of my life here right now, but I'll save that for when I know a bit better myself, and also to save this post from becoming any closer to an essay!

Sorry for the lack of pictures! I'm not on my own computer right now, and I hesitate to load anything onto a computer that is not mine.

Seeking your prayers and continued support, and sending lots of love and prayers your way too!
Love,
Ellery












Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The End of Orientation

Selamat Malam! 

Today marks the end of our in-country orientation. I don't think I'll ever be able to fully appreciate just how lucky we were to have an orientation experience like the one that the MCC Indonesia crew puts on for their YALTers (that's SALT and YAMEN combined). Every day was packed full of awesome experiences, from eating at Warungs to visiting the homes of other MCCers to climbing a volcano to today, when I got to ride a motorbike for the first time!

At the end of our orientation activities today (which included four hours of language training- ooooh boy, do I have a lot to learn!), MCC gave us all motorbike helmets. In Indonesia, the vast majority of people use motorbikes as their main mode of transportation, and since we will be living in typical families, chances are high that we'll be riding a motorbike many places. Since I've never ridden one, Dan kindly took me out for a spin to get used to it. We did a pretty big loop, and on the way back, we went down a hill that had a really clear view of Mount Merbabu and behind it, Mount Merapi (one of the world's most active volcanoes). It was a spectacular sight, and I was completely filled with a deep sense of awe and gratitude that God has placed me in Indonesia (remind me of this when I hit that emotional low they keep talking about!). One thing I noticed was that, while I was clinging to Dan for dear life, people on the other motorbikes were perched on the back like it was a stationary chair. I passed a family of four on one. The mother had her two year old in one arm, and was feeding her infant a bottle at the same time. Forget about holding on! I think I have a ways to go before mastering the motorbike!

If you look really closely, you can see Merbabu behind the left side of the house in this picture, taken from Karen and Major's street. (Click on the picture to enlarge it!)
Tonight we were invited to Danielle and Brandon's (two more MCCers) for dinner. We all sat on the floor to eat, and now that I'm thinking about it, it was as comfortable as eating at a table!

Eating spaghetti Indonesian-style!

Tomorrow morning (tonight, for most of you who are 11 hours behind me), I will be meeting my host family for the first time! I will spend a week there, during which time, I will get to experience Idul Fitri, the celebration that occurs at the end of Ramadan. I've been told that it's a huuuuuge deal here, particularly in Semarang, and I'm really excited (and perhaps a bit apprehensive) to witness it! After a week in our host communities, we will return to Semarang with a new motivation to learn Bahasa Indonesia, and will spend six weeks with our language training host families (I already know who mine is, and they are AWESOME!!!!). I am nervous about tomorrow, but confident that MCC has made the best arrangements possible, and that the family I'll be with is excited to have me. I'm preparing myself for a week of cultural blunders, communication mishaps, and a lot of laughs!

I'm not sure if I will get a chance to post during this week. If I don't, I'll be back next week, excited to fill you in on the details of my week of many firsts!!

Until then, keep well! Have an awesome week, everyone!


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The Squatty Potty Mishap...

Salamat Sore! ("Safe late afternoon")

I am writing this just before dinner on Tuesday, with two days of official in-country orientation and one morning of language training under my belt. What a packed two days it has been!

Both mornings have begun with a delicious breakfast (Western food for now), followed by devotions. The group of eight of us then heads to the MCC office, which is a five minute walk from Karen and Major's. The office feels so homey, which I think is a combination of the building itself, and (much more so) the truly phenomenal MCC Indonesia staff. Everyone greets us with huge smiles, with warm words, and with an eagerness to help us in anything we may need help with. 

Yesterday's activities included an introduction to MCC Indonesia, a session on finances, and an informal discussion on goals and expectations. We had an incredible lunch at Dan and Jeanne's house (the Indonesia MCC Reps), that included most of the MCC Indonesia team. It was a great chance to meet some more awesome people and eat some great food (seriously, this Indonesian food scenario is amazing! I've never had so many good meals in a row- not one has let me down yet!). In the evening, we all went to a Warung (a food stall) for sate (chicken on a stick with peanut sauce) and Lontong (rice that has been wrapped in a banana leaf and packed together, and then cut into pieces). We sat on mats in the Pancasila (the main ring in the city, though some of you will also know the word for its political meaning) and watched children go by on mini 4-wheelers that you can rent and ride around the ring (one of many clever ways to make money!). 
 
Today we had our first of what is going to be a traditional pancake Tuesday breakfast, followed by devotions.  We headed back to the MCC office for our first language session with Pak Putut. He's a pretty young guy with a lot of energy, awesome English skills, and an ability to make 4 hours of language training fun! We learned more vocabulary than I think I'll ever master (and it's just the first day!) and had a lot of laughs as we (or at least I) stumbled over the simplest of words and phrases. We plan on studying a lot tonight!!

We went out for gado-gado lantong (a type of salad that includes lettuce, tomatoes, fried tofu, lantong, crispy chips, and peanut sauce) and Jus Milenium (a coconut-lemon juice combo). The total of my bill came to Rp. 13,000- less than $2 Canadian. The cost of food in Indonesia is incredibly cheap! We've been encouraged though, not to think in terms of cost compared to Canada, but costs compared to Indonesian wages. A service worker in Indonesia makes around Rp. 30,000 a day, which he would use to care for his entire family. My meal at lunch would have cost him nearly half of his salary for the day. It's going to be really difficult, but really important, to think along such lines in order to truly integrate into the lives those who we will be living with this coming year. 

Now on to the reason for the title of this post... a squatty potty mishap! Luckily it didn't happen to me (though I have full permission to post this story), which makes it allll the more funny! So we got back to Major and Karen's about an hour ago, and Jason, one of the SALTers (who is quite tall), went straight to the bathroom. He has been very committed to mastering the art of the squatty potty (and for those of you who watched the link I posted in the previous post, you'll know that it truly is an art), and has religiously used the squatty potty every chance he's gotten. I suppose though, that 2 days is not long enough to truly grasp the squatty potty concept, because he came out of the bathroom looking all sheepish, saying, "Um, do you guys have cleaning supplies?" When we asked him why, his response was, "The worst thing that could have possibly happen, happened... Stupid foot spots aren't accurate at all!" For the next ten minutes, all we could hear from the bathroom was splashing and rustling, as Jason attempted to remedy the situation. Lesson learned: look before you... well, you know. Otherwise, as Jason put it, you'll end up with a "diluted mess" on your hands.

Tomorrow is our second and last language training before a week with our host families. I think when we get back from that, we'll be even more motivated to learn the language than we are right now!

Have a great day everyone!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Hiking in Salatiga

Hi again! I'm posting while I can!

We went on the most beautiful hike ever today, through a rural area of Salatiga. We hiked through rice paddies (well, Major would say we merely sauntered, but for my out of shape body, it was a heck of a hike!), and up part of Gunung Gajah (Mount Elephant, named because it looks a bit like a sleeping elephant). We stopped about halfway up for lunch. Karen and Major had ordered boxed lunches from a restaurant- delicious chicken and rice (seriously! Austin, even you would have liked it!) We hung out there for awhile, wading in the river that runs through to irrigate the rice paddies, and just talking. I thought I had my first monkey sighting and was SO excited to blog about it, but unfortunately, upon further investigation, we learned it was just an eagle. I just wanted to share a bit of the beauty I got to witness today:

The beginning of a hike

Rice Paddies

For my tech-savvy friends, do any of you want to tell me how I can make the file size of my pictures smaller? As they are right now, they take a really long time to load, and I know people are more interested in pictures than in long rambling explanations. (Andrew? Any chance you'd want to try to explain this to me??)

I also discovered that I'm going to have to learn how to use a squat potty! I was nervous about this at first, but then we watched a really helpful video that I think everyone would benefit from viewing.Click on the link below, or if it doesn't work, type "How to Use An Eastern Latrine" into youtube. The first link is the one you want:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKkryfdtMNQ

While I'm posting such things, I just remembered a really awesome video that we watched during orientation called "The Danger of A Single Story." It's about the effects of only understanding one aspect of a person or a culture (a very common mistake that I know I've definitely made), and it's told by a woman who grew up in Africa and went to school in the United States. Again, if the link doesn't work, go to www.ted.com, and type "The Danger of A Single Story" into the search line. It's the first link that comes up.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html

My first full day in Indonesia has been really awesome, and I'm glad to have the opportunity to share with you while I still have internet access. I've been told that internet in most host families in non-existent, and that internet cafes are slower than dial up, so I'm not exactly sure how often I'll be able to post as the year progresses. Hopefully I can keep you semi-updated though! Don't give up on checking if days and days go by with no post!

I hope all's well wherever you are in the world (especially you SALTers who are just beginning your adventures)!

Have a good one!


Saturday, August 20, 2011

The Post We've All Been Waiting For!!

Selamat Pagi (Good Morning) Everyone!

I HAVE ARRIVED!! We landed in Semarang (the city I will be living in) yesterday afternoon, and were picked up by MCC Exchange Program Coordinators, Karen and Major Treadway. The flight went very smoothly, and the MCC Indonesia people were shocked at how quickly we were able to get here (only 36 hours)... I don't think I can quite appreciate that "speed" just yet... We also lucked out and got to fly with Singapore Air, which I was incredibly excited to fly with (as my SALT friends know very well). They have an awesome reputation, and I was not disappointed- delicious food, fabulous service (minus one flight attendant who took a huge disliking to me after I accidentally pressed the "assistance" button), and all sorts of extra amenities, like hot face cloths and tooth brushes!

But on to post-flight fun! We left the airport and stopped at a restaurant (a completely dead one, thanks to Ramadan) for Soto (a type of soup that is most commonly served for breakfast. It's like chicken noodle, but spicier, and with rice), Perkedel (deep fried balls of mashed potatoes- you can guess that I'm a pretty big fan), and Tempe (fried, fermented soy beans- really salty; mom, you'd actually really like this!). I was just informed that because of the abundance of palm oil, frying is the most common way to prepare food. All hopes of losing weight this year have gone down the drain...

Soto, a delicious soup that is most commonly eaten for breakfast

We arrived at Major and Karen's around dinner time, and shared a meal together before bed. I couldn't make it past 7:15, and fell asleep immediately. I was awakened at 4:30 AM when the mosques began their calls to prayer. From Karen and Major's, you can hear calls from 5 or 6 different mosques, all blended together to create a very unique harmony... ;)

Church began at 6AM. It was a Mennonite church that, despite the language barrier, flowed very similarly to church at home. My favourite part of the service was when we all sang "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam" in Bahasa Indonesia. At home, it's not typically a song sung by adults, so it was really cute to hear it sung by adults!

During Ramadan, Christian churches do blood drives to make up for the lack of blood that results from Muslims not being able to donate. The Red Cross was outside church, so people stuck around to donate blood and also to purchase some food. I tried mango juice, which cannot compare to mango juice in North America. It was like they pureed the freshest mango in the world, strained it, and stuck it in a glass. For all my Dutch friends, the picture below is for you:



We went out for a meal after that (same meal as yesterday's snack). I learned that the food comes to the table before we even sit, and we take and pay for what we want. The leftovers go to the next table!

We're about to go on a hike! Talk to you soon!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Last Day... (except not really)

Well, orientation is officially over. Every document has been handed in, every ticket handed out, every photo taken, and every lesson taught (or as much as they can pack into a week). It's now time for 55 of us to head off to 28 different countries all over the globe, to do what we feel called to do, give what we can, and allow ourselves to be taught by the people we are going to meet. 

I'm anticipating tomorrow with a mix of excitement, apprehension, and pure dread! I've heard- and told myself- over and over that "it will be great, you'll have so much fun, you're living your dream..." All of that will be true at times, but what has resonated most with me is the words of my mother (it's always the words of a mother, right?): "This is a choice you're making. The alternative is to not go, and you'll regret that for the rest of your life." Now THAT is always true, and I've had to think of that several times over the past week in my moments of panic about the year ahead (but don't worry mom, I AM excited!). I've been told over and over this week that we're going to hit all-time lows (the part I am most nervous for), that it's going to be really hard, and that it's going to be completely worth it. I know that that's true too. 

Today we took care of some final details, attended a commissioning service at Akron Mennonite Church, and watched a two and a half hour talent show that felt like 45 minutes. I was blown away by the diverse talent among the SALTers and IVEPers, and the willingness of so many to share their gifts. It was a great way to end the week.

I'm not sure when my next opportunity will be to post (figures, just when things will really get interesting!) but I am excited that the next time I blog, it will be from Java! 

Thanks for reading!!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Knowledge and noodles and burgers, oh my!

Hey there everyone!

As this orientation week draws to a close, I've been reflecting on how much I have learned. I must admit, I came to orientation week thinking quite highly of myself and the knowledge that I thought I was bringing to this experience. I thought man, I have three years of Peace and Conflict Studies under my belt. What could they possibly tell me that I don't know? Turns out, a lot. In fact, throughout this week, the perspectives that have been thrown at me have turned my views on many scenarios completely on their head, and have proven to me the extraordinary challenge of truly Serving and Learning Together.

I have learned that my teaching position is not why I am there. They don't need me. The people of Indonesia- of any country, really- are more capable than I am to teach their children. They know the school system, the rules, the requirements... I don't even know the language. All images of me standing in front of the class I am in, teaching them in the only way I know how- the only way I've observed through my years of Canadian education- have been shattered. I will destroy any chance at bridging communities, at closing cultural divides, of understanding the people, and of gaining their respect, if I come into the classroom and swap their methods for my own. Making this year worthwhile depends upon my ability to destroy any mentality I carry that I know best, that my ideas are better, that they are wrong and I am right. Being respected and accepted rests in my willingness to learn from the people of Indonesia. That means sharing with them, admitting my mistakes and shortcomings, asking many questions, and following their lead. It means simply being present in the culture that I am about to find myself in. I ask for your prayers as I struggle to learn what this will look like, and to understand how God wants to use me this year in ways beyond my job description.

On a lighter note, the last two evenings have been ridiculous amounts of fun! As I mentioned earlier, I've been living in the Asia House this week, and all of the IVEPers (International Volunteer Exchange Program participants) from Asia are living here also. MCC provides snacks for the houses, one of these snacks being ramen noodles. None of the other houses (Africa, Middle East/Europe, or Americas) have been eating theirs, but in our Asia house, we've had to ask twice for replacements. They are eaten around the clock! Last night, we decided that a noodle party would be an appropriate celebration. Noodles from China, Laos, Korea, and the USA were brought out, with people even dipping into the reserves that they brought from home. As more and more people came over, more and more noodles were made. The whole thing devolved into a dance party that went until midnight (I did not dance this time), and it was another really unique and incredible opportunity to do something crazy with people from all over the world!

Enjoying noodles from Korea, Asian-style (all forks in one pot!)

This afternoon I played frisbee with 6 other people, from Zambia, Brazil, Cambodia, Russia, Germany, and Canada. How often does that happen!? Tonight, someone in the Middle East/Europe House found burgers and decided to make a fire in the fire pit, and grill them. 30-40 of us got together for burgers and other snacks. I can still hear the German rap from where I'm sitting in the living room!

Grilling the burgers!
They were surprisingly delicious!

And finally, for those interested in seeing some pictures of where I've spent my week, here they are!

Bedroom!

The Houses, and the Frisbee Green

Asia House
Thanks for enduring the loooong post!
Have a great night!





Sunday, August 14, 2011

The Barriers Have Broken

Mennonites CAN dance!! (Note: not all pictured here are Mennonite)
I danced. For those of you who know me well, you will know that almost nothing in the world will make me dance. BUT I figured that this is a new place, full of new people, who do not know me well enough to realize this sad but true fact (and they also don't really have enough time to judge me!). I can honestly say that it was FUN! The dance party followed a pinata and cake that was put on by SALTers to celebrate another SALTer's birthday. It was a night that really broke down the guards that people have held these last few days, and shed a light on the quality of the people who I feel privileged to be serving with. This is a group of passionate, selfless people, with SO much enthusiasm and excitement for the year that lies ahead!

Today was a day of relaxation and fun, with lots of talking, Dutch Blitzing, playing Frisbee, and just experiencing life with each other.

Tomorrow I anticipate another day filled with more sessions (well... that's a certainty!), more fun, more frisbee, and photos for prayer cards!!

Have a good one!


Saturday, August 13, 2011

Settling In



A very intense, VERY lengthy, and very non-victorious game of Dutch Blitz with  new friends from Laos, Canada, and the USA. The three of us in the middle (myself, Jason, and Laura) will be going to Indonesia together.
Today was a really great day! It was filled with more sessions and more information, all of which was interesting and will likely be extremely helpful. 


Today's sessions were on SALT policies and cross-cultural adjustment, where we talked about the realities of living in another culture. Eva, the main session leader, showed us a graph of our feelings over the first few months of travel. We peak at 3 weeks in enthusiasm and excitement, before beginning a rapid downward plunge that reaches its ultimate low at 12 weeks, before beginning a slow (but hopefully steady) ascent toward "neutral" that will likely continue throughout the year. Eva doesn't sugar coat anything, and in fact, brings up a lot of worst-case scenarios, which I think is wise because it will ease the culture shock a little bit, or at least normalize it for us once we're there.


We had a REALLY cool session this afternoon, called communicating across cultures, where we talked to those from the continents that we are heading to, about cultural differences. It was SO interesting to hear about some of the differences. One of the young men mentioned that in his home country, when men take communal showers, they'll ask the guy beside them to wash their back (not with their hand, but with a sponge or something). Those of us from North America were shocked to hear this!! Conversely, the people from Asia were surprised to hear that talking about salaries and other such topics, are considered too personal to discuss. We discovered that in Asia, it is considered humble to always reject compliments (through saying "oh I'm not that good" or something like that), whereas in North America, the same response would appear that you have low self esteem. I think this afternoon session was a really awesome way to learn about these differences, and even discover some differences between all of us who were raised in North America!


We were given a free evening, and because it was raining, I spent it indoors, in Asia House (my home for the week). We played a game of Dutch Blitz to 300 points (for those of you who don't play Dutch Blitz, 300 is a very VERY long game), and then moved to the Meeting Place (a different building) to play Carpet Ball and Ping Pong. When we got back, one of the Korean IVEPers had made spicy noodles for us all to try (a prime opportunity for me to discover that I actually have no tolerance for spice whatsoever- my lips tingled for a solid half an hour after that!). I got a chance to skype with my family before spending the rest of the evening talking with other Asia-bound SALTers about our upcoming experience.

Thanks so much to those who are following along so far, and for the words of encouragement! I'm really enjoying the opportunity to update!

Have an awesome day!!


Friday, August 12, 2011

Lowered Expectations!!

Today was a day jam packed with sessions and information, about everything from continent-specific education, to info on how to educate, to the three factors that make for the best cross-cultural experience. I found those three bits of information really interesting:
1) A sense of humour (predictable)
2) The ability to fail repeatedly
3) Lowered expectations (this one's for you, Andrew Alkema! It's proven to ENHANCE experiences!!)

I also found out that MCC strongly encourages family and friends to visit us on assignment, so there's the confirmation that some of you may have been looking for! (And also may sway some of you who were planning on surprising me with a visit? Is anyone sensing the hint?? ;) )

I also made my first cultural blunder, which I swore I could get through the year without doing- nothing like messing up the country where your roommate's from on day one to humble you! As my mom made sure to point out to me in an email (haha, thanks Mom!), my roommate is from Cambodia, not Laos. I'm realizing why the top 3 factors that make for the best experience include the ability to fail repeatedly!!

Tonight, during our session on education, we learned about the reasons why our host countries have chosen us to serve in their schools. Contrary to what many (including myself) may have thought, a common reason is that a foreigner teaching in a school makes a school more attractive. That's it. A school may be dwindling in enrollment or may have a bad reputation, and those running the school may be seeking a reasonable means to make the school look more appealing. That's not to say that that's the motivation for all schools, but is to say that learning that tonight has made me realize that going in with a "going to change the world through teaching English" mentality may have to be a bit revamped in order to actually make a difference. So that's my project right now! Thinking of ways to be of impact that may be a bit more unconventional. I'll update you as I learn more!

Hope everyone's well! Talk to you soon!




Thursday, August 11, 2011

The Very First Day....

I am here! Well, I'm Akron, at least. The good-bye's are over, and the last four hours have been filled with meeting new people from ALL over the world. All of the SALTers and IVEPers (those coming from countries all over the world, to serve in North America) are staying at MCC's headquarters in Akron. The facility is SO COOL! There are 5 houses on site, representing each of the continents. Each house has 3 wings with 4 rooms off each one (I lucked out and got a room with 2 single beds!), a kitchen, and 2 sitting rooms. They are decorated according to their continent, with Ten Thousand Villages products. They're really simple, but REALLY pretty. 

My roommate is a young woman from Laos. She is the sweetest person ever, and her English is great, so we're able to communicate easily- in fact, I haven't met anyone yet who doesn't know English. Tonight we were sitting in a circle, just chatting, and I realized that I was looking at a group of people that were either from, or going to, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Jordan, Brazil, Chad, South Africa, Indonesia, and more... It's really awesome to be in such a multicultural setting.

This week looks like it's going to be crammed full of information and new adventures with new people. It's still hard to wrap my head around the fact that so much still lies ahead of me, but just finally being here has calmed my nerves dramatically, and has allowed me to get a bit more excited about what's to come...

Looking forward to sharing more as more happens! 


Monday, August 8, 2011

A Week of "Good-Bye's" and "Hello's"

Two days until orientation! Since Friday, this week has been full of bidding farewell to my dear friends and family, and also, of meeting new people who I will have the privilege of sharing this SALT experience with. On Friday night, 7 of us got together at the MCC Ontario head office to share a meal and just chat about the upcoming year. It was so wonderful to put faces to some names, and to establish a group of familiar faces that will be in Akron on Thursday.

On Sunday afternoon, my family threw me an incredibly beautiful going-away get-together, where I had the opportunity to say good-bye to many people that I wouldn't have had the chance to otherwise. The get-together was a much needed reminder of how unbelievably blessed I am. I am surrounded by people who care so much about me, who are so supportive of the plans for my life, and who demonstrate that support in a multitude of ways. I was overwhelmed by the number of people who came, by the cards, by the gifts, and by the words of encouragement- thank you all SO much!

I've realized that, though saying good-bye isn't easy (and in some cases, may feel like the hardest thing EVER to do), the time has come for it to happen, and I'm ready for it. This experience with SALT is one that I have been looking forward to embarking on for years, and particularly, in the last five months. I'm feeling like I cannot wait any longer and I cannot prepare myself any better.

I'm looking forward to the upcoming "hello's" that will occur in the next week. I'm so excited for the chance to meet people from all over the world, who are all setting off on adventures similar to mine, and who thus all have in common a desire to serve others and learn from our global community. I'm still so nervous, but I feel more and more certain that this is going to be one incredible journey, and I'm ready to get started!

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Brief Introductions

Less than a week today, I will be arriving in Akron, Pennsylvania for a one-week orientation that precedes the eleven and a half months that I will be spending in Indonesia. I haven't even left yet, and already I've learned so much! I've learned first and foremost, that I need to be patient. It's an ongoing struggle to simply be still and wait upon the Lord, and His plans for me this upcoming year. I've been told that the pace of life in Indonesia is much slower than the pace of life in Canada, and God has been working in small but obvious ways to help me to learn patience. In the same way, He's been teaching me flexibility. I named my blog "Good Morning, Java!" because my position in Indonesia was to include spending time as a radio show host (the blog title being a spin off of "Good Morning, Vietnam"). I've since learned that I've been moved to a location further from the radio station, so my radio show host position has thus been removed from my list of duties (sorry to disappoint those who were excited particularly about this part of my position!). I was pretty bummed, but I know there's a reason for it, and I know that there will be so many curve balls thrown my way this year. If I can learn to roll with the changes that are bound to come up, this year will surely be easier, more fun, and possibly even more exciting than I already anticipate it will be! And I'm keeping the name of the blog to remind me of that :)

I still don't know exactly what my living situation in Java will look like, let alone what my internet and computer access will be, so I don't know how often I'll be able to update my blog. I do hope to be able to share often, what is going on in my life and in the lives of those I will get to know and love in Indonesia. Thanks for bearing with me as posts may be sporadic! Looking forward to sharing this upcoming year of new challenges and adventures with you!