Blog Hog

Contrary to popular belief, the kids and I are alive and well in Salatiga. We only got internet access at the house yesterday (and there was a power outage for most of the day today) so regular access to the internet has been challenging. The newly installed hot water heater flips the circut breaker whenever it kicks in, causing the entire wireless system to crash so we're still a bit in the figuring things out stage. Kirk figures a bit more prominently on the blog only because he is at his office every day and therefore can get on-line on a regular basis. This should in no way be interpreted as Kirk’s superior functioning capacity in cross-cultural situations, my disinterest in blogs, or anything else. Just his luck. Hopefully now that we are on line, we can do updates a bit more frequently and balance out the narrative!

We are settling in quite well and getting into a bit of a routine although a nasty virus has been working its way through our family. I got it first, passed to S. who missed 3 days of school and I think Kirk is the next victim. We were supposed to go to Yogyacarta this weekend but I think will have to pass.

Kirk and I are taking language classes three times a week at the University. Our instructor, Ibu Frances, is fantastic. She is from Makasar in Sulawesi and is really great fun. It is just the two of us in class so we can pretty much talk about whatever we want. Kirk has far surpassed me in terms of language skills but he still doesn’t know where the good vege lady is so in that sense, we’re even. He can speak better but he can't feed himself. HA! I have been practicing a lot with Ibu Kasum, our pembantu (household help). She is an excellent teacher and doesn’t seem to mind the fact that she has to say everything 20 times and painfully slow before I can understand her. Sometimes I want to just scream -- I am really smart in the US. Really! You have to believe me!

Despite his illness, S. is adapting remarkably well. The schoolwork is not too challenging and he has found a teacher with whom he has connected a bit, the theatre teacher who also teaches kindergarden. He will be a teacher's aide for her for the next couple of months. G.P. is still struggling somewhat. As long as you keep him busy, he’s fine! He will go anywhere or do anything. Once he remembers he’s in Indonesia, not in Montana, watch out! We did sign him up for an Indonesian soccer team which is great. He gets really good work outs three times a week and likes the kids who seem to enjoy the novelty of having a bule on their team. Add that to the fact that his transport to and from soccer practice is Pak Augus, the husband of his Indo teacher. Pak Augus rides a motorcycle (as does 90% of Java) really fast, and often lets Graham drive. It is funny how fast these things start to seem normal. I’m also spending one morning a week in Graham’s classroom which is helping I think.

Man with the power tools is back. We moved into our house because it was ‘done’ but there has been a parade of workmen ever since. It will be nice to have the place to ourselves. We did buy a sofa today so now we have a place to sit. That took about 4 weeks. All of the furniture here is built with Indonesians in mind (duh!) but they are considerably shorter than Americans. Seamus towers over Ibu Kasum! We did finally locate a 'standard' size couch only it was the week before Idul Fitri so Pak Andi couldn't give me a price on it because he was too preoccupied with preparations. Then we had Idul Fitri (two more weeks) and then the week afterwards, we had to catch up on everything we missed the previous three weeks. FOR A COUCH! Holly, mother of one of G's friends, drove me to the warehouse this afternoon where I slapped my giant stack of rupea on the desk and called for a driver to get the couch and I home. G. was a little disappointed. He wanted to build a badminton court in the living room instead of getting furniture. We'll break in the couch tonight with a veiwing of Percy Jackson (straight from Video EZ, our local video store -- 6 discs, 7 days, 80 cents. Gotta love it. I will write more when the noise stops…