Hello again! I loved reading all of your comments. Ames, I'm thoroughly enjoying the books you send me :) jkjk I hope everything works out. By direct manager do you mean Halley?
Mom and Aunt Becki and Uncle Larry, you're making me miss home with your comments!! I miss you guys!! Have fun on July 4th...I'll be thinking of you!!
So...this week has been lots of fun, but extremely tiring. I'm finally getting to the point where I feel normal. I thought I was over my jet lag fairly early, but it really does take a toll on you for a good couple of weeks. Getting used to the food and the climate again is kind of a challenge, but at this point I'm good to go!
On Tuesday all the volunteers and I went around to the different schools they'll be teaching in. It was great fun - my host mom, bro and sis showed us around and helped us meet the principals and teachers of each of the schools. We are in 2 junior highs - one private, one public and 2 high schools - one private and one public. It was really great to get to see where they will all be teaching. The public junior high is for poor children, and they were the most excited to have the program there!
On Wednesday, some of the volunteers went to Bu Bambang's house (one of the host fams), and together with a bunch of ladies from their church we prepared over 500 lunches. Then we went around and distributed them to an orphanage, a nursing home and a school for orphans. It was really an eye-opening experience, and I really wanted to stay and help at the orphanage. I'm thinking I might go give some free English lessons there on the weekends.
After the philanthropic adventure, we headed out to Batu (a nearby city) and hung out with some host sisters and their friends at a big waterfall called Coban Rondo. It was amazingly beautiful, even though I'd already been there twice. It was lots of fun, and we got to hang out with cool Indonesians our age, which was nice. Of course, we decided it would be a good idea to get pictures right next to the waterfall, which left us soaked and freezing, but it was worth it!
On Thursday Ainsley and I met up with one of my friends from last year who does traditional dancing at a Museum, and he and his dad showed us some steps. It was too difficult for me, because I am incredibly uncoordinated. But I tried, and that's all that matters!! While we were there, we were accosted (spelling?) by a group of Junior High students on a field trip, and it was insane. I felt like a celebrity trying to dodge the paparazzi!! Rido (my friend) invited us to go to a nearby city on Monday with him and his dad to see traditional music and dancing. It's going to be great because I've never seen an entire gamelan playing together!
Later that evening, lots of Amelia's friends came over to the house and we sat outside and chatted with them. One of them did some magic for us, and it was really amazing. I was thoroughly impressed - Kyle, you should learn some tricks from this kid!!
Then also last night we went out and bought me a hair straightener (desperately needed) and an Indonesian sim card. So now I've got an Indonesian cell phone number! If anyone wants to call me, the number is +6281803898094. Remember that I am 11 hours ahead of you, though! I usually wake up around 7 am and I'm in bed by 10pm.
Okay well I've got to get going. Some friends are picking me up, and we're going to go do some karaoke and billiards. Good times in Indonesia!!
I love and miss you all!!! Muah! :)
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3 comments:
Tori - Daddy says hi (Tara is typing)! He says it sounds absolutely beautiful there. He hopes you're having as good a time as it sounds like and congratulations on the tremendous success growing the program. He loves you bunches and misses you more. Tammy is glad to hear from you and it sounds like you're having a great time, and meeting lots of people. She misses you terribly. And she LOVES YOU, as we all do!!! Daddy wants to know when you will hear about your visa, and if you're getting deported when you'll be home haha (you know how he is!). Tara talking - Hi big sissy. Ditto to what they said and I hope you're having an amazing time cause you can't leave us again, sorry lol Alyse says hi and she loves you, and Kyle says he'd love to learn some tricks from that guy (and he loved that you mentioned his name in your blog hehe). big kisses from all of us!
Hello Love,
Yeah, well you know how verbose I am in real life. :) To answer your question, Halley is one of 3 of our managers. While I like her, she's a little too much of a pushover to be really competent. Anyway, the work situation has straightened itself out now that we have a new Desk Services Coordinator who is the epitomy of competentcy.
I'm glad you're having so much fun! Have you posted any pictures? I haven't checked.
Also, but billards, I assume this means pool? Billards indeed. :-P
You don't get a book this time, mostly because my life is boring. I'll be in touch.
Love,
Bunny
* by "but billards," I meant "about billards"... I can't type apparently. ;-)
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