Hello friends and family (and apparently other faithful readers...)!
Another message coming to you from the other side of the globe. Sorry it's been so long... My roommate (Lily) and I have recently taken to buying pirated DVDs and watching countless episodes of great American TV shows on her laptop. Shall we just say that it has absolutely taken over our days so much that we find ourselves too lazy to walk across the street to the Internet cafe. Tara and Amy - it reminds me of those days lounging on Mom's couch watching episode after episode of Grey's and Desperate Housewives and all those nights glued to our Prison break DVDs! So far this vacay, Lily and I have finished Season 1 of Brothers and Sisters, reviewed Season 1 of Desperate Housewives, we went through Season 1 of Gossip Girl in 1 day, and now we are working on Season 2 of Sex & the City. It's absolutely amazing, and by far my favorite way to spend my vacation...Luckily for us, each pirated DVD costs the equivalent of about 70 cents (in USD). I love developing countries!!
So anyway. What has been going on in my life other than wasting my days laying on my mattress (I can't really call it a bed...there's no frame!)? Well, since getting engaged, Robe's parents planned the most incredible engagement parties (not party) for us. We had one for his family, which consisted of me getting dressed up (dress, hair, makeup...they all said I looked like Barbie) and participating in some very strange Chinese-Indonesian customs (such as handing his aunts and uncles a shot-glass full of wine one-by-one and then shaking my closed fists up and down like I wanted to knock them out). Apparently getting engaged to Indonesians is just as important as actually getting married, and his family gave us quite a bit of money. All in all, we got about $800 (US). That's over 8 million rupiah (their currency). Sound like a lot? That's because it is...
The next day we had a big party for all of our friends & the people in the neighborhood. That was exciting - I shook hands with about 100 people I didn't know, but whatever, it was still cool. Robe's parents had both parties catered and there was music and fun and it was just great. His family really is amazing. Bu Dewi's (my former host mom) employees at her factory saw the pictures from this party and they told me that Robe looks like a Chinese movie star. That made me smile :) I'll post pictures next time, I promise! I just forgot to bring my camera to the cafe :(
What else? His parents asked me to move in with their family. They were telling me how they wanted to spend more time with the two of us before we leave, and it's hard with their son leaving every evening to come hang out with me. I definitely understand where they're coming from, but it would complicate my already complicated life here considerably. We'll see how this pans out, but I might be moving yet again very soon...
My Mom and Grandma are coming in less than 2 weeks now, and I am getting so very excited!! Robe and I are thinking about traveling a little bit before we go pick them up in Jakarta. We might be heading to Yogjakarta, which is the cultural center of Java (located in Central Java...about 8 hours drive from Malang). I've always wanted to go there, so that would be so exciting!!!
I think for now that's about it. I will keep you all updated on the exciting details of my life. Miss you all and see you soon!
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6 comments:
Tori! post pictures asap or no more Mr. Tumnas. lol oh, and im surprised you didnt mention sex and the city season 1 cause i dont even want to calculate how many hours we spent watching that haha!
-Kyle says: hello Mr. Tumnas! I better be in the wedding if you decide to have one, but if i'm not it's okay.
Anywho, so you're boy toy looks like a chinese model!? um WOW is all i have to say. although when i first saw those pics of you two i thought he was absolutely gorgeous. but seriously, pics soon please :) About moving in with him and his fam... do you really want to do that? cause i know he probably takes up a lot of your time as it is, but moving in with him will really limit your time with your friends, etc. Considering that he's gonna be coming home with you and you'll be spending the rest of your lives with eachother, i dunno. just a thought. miss you by the way! oh did you know that cousin rachelle is in london? if not, ask mom the whole story lol um i'm here at school and its going fine. im having a great time with all my amazing friends and kyle of course. me and ky will probably be coming home the weekend mom gets back from seeing you so i will expect a ridiculous amount of pictures. be thinking about your wedding (as i'm sure you are) and try to give mom as many specific details about everything as possible. even if you don't have an opinion on some matter, try to figure one out cause i don't know how closely your and mom's opinions are haha! anyways this is long, as all of my other comments are.
j.t. is doing dandy. making like 20 points at all of his basketball games. i think he might master basketball at 17 like that psychic said he would lol
everyone else is dandy as well. paul just got a job! yay! i assume you knew he lost his job a few months ago but he got another one so its all good. dad just got back to work also after having a hurt shoulder. he's obviously extremely happy to get to work after 3 weeks of boredom ha! tammy is good. she's been busy at work learning this new program or something. alyse is doing great at school. she actually cut my hair the other day. it looks great. although we planned on her cutting an inch off and she cut almost 5 off! i know! lol i gotta go study tho. love you and miss you! tell robe i love him and miss him tooooooooooo!!!! MUAHS!!!!!!
TORI!!!
Alex gave me the link to your blog so I could read up on you and all your fabulousness. I think I wrote on your facebook, but here it is again: congratulations!! and I miss you!! Teaching in France is pretty sweet, but it sounds like you're having some crazy amazing adventures. And I def haven't managed to land a Frenchman, but c'est pas grave. :) Keep updating, and be glad you don't live with a couple of host kids who just discovered the video for "Lady Marmalade" as performed by Li'l Kim, Pink, Mya and Xtina Aguilera. Not to mention the fact that they figured out how to speed up the video so that the singers sound more like the Chipmunks than anything else. :-p <3 <3!!
Sarah N
I'm listening to Phil Vassar's "Just Another Day In Paradise" right now!!! Just wanted to let you know :)
Hi Tori! Congratulations on getting engaged, I can't wait to meet Robe. I guess we will have two Robby/Robe in the family. Your mom and grandma left today to visit you, grandma called me from the airport. I am so happy for you and Robe, I was holding my breath after your mom told me you got engaged, I was so afraid you were going to live there instead of the states. I know you haven't been in town very much these last couple of years, but it wasn't so bad because I knew you were eventually going to come back home. I miss you and can't wait to see you and meet Robe. I will be walking in graduation in May, so I guess we will have two reasons to party this summer! I am so excited for you, did I say that already. Be safe and we will see you and Robe soon. Love, Aunt Bec
hey tori!
i trust your mom and grandma made it there safely. they carry many hugs and kisses for you and robe from all of us here. Congrats on your engagement! We can't wait to meet Robe. (okay, after reading everyone else's comments i know i am quite behind!) we love reading your blog and learning of your many adventures. we miss you and are so looking forward to this summer. chase and hannah say "we love you, cousin tori and hapy birthday!" this is such a special time for you and robe...just remember when you marry robe- you marry the family too. even if they are far away. no one told me that! i didn't believe it. had i known that i would have acted different from the beginning. you are a sweetheart though so i am sure you will be very understanding and gracious to robe's family. since he is leaving them to be with you- you may have to cut them some slack. again, we can't wait to see you both! i am praying for you and robe as the next chapter of your life unfolds. much love, aunt heather
Hi, Tori, Hi Robe,
We just got through seeing the video's that your Mom took while she visited you. We also got to see the pictures that you gave to your Mom, and all the pictures that your Mom took of her trip. Tara brought them over, and made us a CD of your Mom's pictures. She's so sweet!
Seeing you made us miss you more than ever. I cannot wait to see both of you, and give you enormous hugs! Tori, you look so unbelieveably happy, and so grown-up and gorgeous. Robe is quite handsome and I think you two make a great couple.
It is so cold here, and you guys all looked so beachy in your shorts and tank tops. I am so jealous. It was 36 degrees here today, and that made me happy. Isn't that pathetic?
I was glad to talk to you yesterday too. I hope you have rested up after all of the visiting, talking, eating, sight-seeing, and translating. Did it make you homesick, seeing your Mom and Grandma? I hope not.
Just wanted to say I love you and Robe.
Love,
Tammy
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