Settled in Finally: May 30, 2009

My first night in what will be my new home for the next two months or so. It’s not an apartment or a rented house or a hotel room or a hostel. It’s my very own host keluarga (host family). I wanted to be able to walk to the office everyday and Bu Endang remembered that childhood friends of hers lived just two blocks away.

My mommy (she asked me to call her that, lol) is Bu Elley, my Poppy is Pak Salmantos (or Mam for short), my 21 year old sister is Meertri and an 11 year old sister Livia. The brother who I only just meet is Goethe (25) and the sister whose room I am staying in is Cynara. Cynara is 24 like me and likes to travel a lot. She did a student exchange in Canada before and right now is in Germany until June 18th. We will share a room when she gets back.

So far there aren’t many differences in living with a Moslim family than at home, except today Meetri asked me while we were watching TV if I drink. Of course I was honest but I wasn’t sure if I should have been. They are also very social and family oriented. I have meet most of the extended family I think already and they can all sit around for hours chatting and laughing.

Yesterday I felt as though I did two things that got me here: 1) going with Bu Endang’s flow – I usually let others take the lead when that’s the most convenient option for others and 2) being too polite. I did start worrying in the process if once again I was too polite and I should have just asked for a private apartment that I would take a taksi to the kantor and other places everyday, and to request air conditioning and the works. I was so worried about living with a family that I kind of lived it up in the hotel with room service, movies, cold cold air conditioning and not going out. Total me time. Now as I lay here after my first water tank bathing experiencing, first Indonesian family meal eating with hands, and first TV night with grandpa, Livia, and Meertri, I realize how foolish my fears were.

So far it is relatively not awkward since Meertri speaks English and after taking the bath my body temperature cooled down substantially. The non air conditioning is fine. My only concern is finances. I budgeted $800 per month for rent and this will be $150, so I need to figure out my budget again. I’m going to use the extra money to make my research even better but I am not sure if that means I should travel to more districts, although I am still under time constraints, or if maybe an interpreter for just about everyday, including Mercy Corps events, could be beneficial. Tomorrow evening after getting back from Risa’s NGO where she teaches English to poor fish kids I have to go to the office or lock myself in my room and make a 7 week plan for Mercy Corps and my research and stick with it.

My first week (satu minggu) has been very successful and busy getting settled, acclimated to Mercy Corps, and understanding the local system here, so now it is time to delve deep and devote 50% of my time to research.

Funny moment yesterday though: Bu Endang’s youngest daughter, Sandrina (4 years old), asked me if I know how to drive a car. I tried my best to answer in a long Indonesian sentence. Apparently I could have just replied with “bisa” (I can) so she scolded me and said “Please speak well!”. Then when we were entering her Aunt’s house she stopped at the door while taking off her shoes, looked at me, and directed me firmly by saying, “don’t speak like before”. Bu Endang, Risa, and I were cracking up. By the far the funniest moments in Indonesia to date.