A pocket full of change.

Speaking of change, one of the biggest changes for me recently, besides graduating from college, getting certified to teach, moving to Colorado, and getting my tongue pierced (just making sure you're paying attention), is that I took a job teaching English in Indonesia. I am here right now actually, as I type this from my desk in the teacher's lounge at Buah Hati/Cita Hati Christian school. I am the new Bule English teacher for Preschool through first grade and I am oh so pumped about it! Gotta love God's journeys.

It's my first week in Indonesia. Wow-oh what a whirlwind. I feel as though I have learned so much yet still know nothing.

the view from my 28th floor window

So, update: I have learned that Indonesians are ultra modest. They do not wear  skirts above the knee, low necklines, or tank tops despite scorching 95 degree weather! They also have a rather strange phobia of armpits. That one I do not mind so much....however, the toilets and hygiene habits here will take some time to get used to. For instance, the Indonesian people do not wear short shirts typically. You may ask, as my little students so often do: "Why Miss Lindi?" Well let me tell you....prepare to be shocked. They do not use toilet paper! Rather, there is something akin to a dish/sink sprayer next to every toilet. The people wear long shirts to cover up their doused selves. hmm.

Also, you cannot find towels here! Upon my arrival, my apartment in Ciputra (Citraland) sounded ch-i-poo-tra, was fully furnished all except for towels. Then, when I went to the store at PTC mall to buy some, they weigh them and charge by the gram! Needless to say, I got to wash up that night (thankfully and happily) with a 35,000 rupee towel ------> that's about $3.50 in American dough. Not too shabby!

Oh here's a little treat. My first day there, after thirty hours of traveling, driving straight to the school to meet everyone (and I DO mean everyone), napping my jet lag away, and unpacking, I went to curl my hairs and blew out the power. AHHH!! I tried using the intercom as explained to do so for problems to call the front desk and had some serious language difficulties. After trying to explain and talk for 2 hours, everything was finally resolved. I like to call it, the great black-out of the 28th floor. What I'd give for google translator or an Iphone.

In other news, I've met a great friend here. Her name is Abby and she is also a Bule. Whenever we're together, people think we're sisters, or they come up and take pictures with us because being white Bule is like being famous. people stare a lot so I simply respond appropriately with the Princess Diana wave...and smile. We are planning a trip to Bali and I am oh so excited to see more of this world! Abs and I both share a love for sushi and she introduced me to a new favorite thing for a thrifty gal...cream baths. Oh my dear, this is heavenly. A cream bath only cost about 50,000 rupees or 5 bucks and includes a wash, rinse, special hair treatment, head message, back, arms, and hand message, and a steam. Wonderful! I am definitely not one of those girls that gets messages every week, in fact I had never gotten one before this. Let me tell you what...I was missing out! glorious.

Ciputra water park

To wrap this sucker up, I posted a couple pictures from my home here in Indonesia. I live in the UC apartments which has the view up at the top. Wow. Breath-taking and such a constant reminder of God's grace and my smallness.

Then, this is the back yard of the place. The Ciputra Water Park. Can't wait to get in there :) I will keep writing of adventures as I experience them. We'll see what is going to go down! Peace out for now yo.

One last thing I forgot to mention: what is next! While being here in Indonesia I have hammered out a few of life's little details and have found blessings in the process. One of these blessings is that it looks like I will be able to travel to New Zealand again over Easter vacation to see the South Island and of course my beloved friends. I cannot wait for this! Then, this summer my sister and I will be together once more working at Lake Ann Camp! She will be a counselor and I will be the supervisor for high school workers and an RA for them. I cannot wait! God has many things stashed up His sleeve I am sure...it seems He always has an Ace up there somewhere. Never doubt or stop looking for that!

~Lin Lou