Year-round Birthday Gifts

As a child, I would hear about practices in other cultures that were so vastly different from mine. The kind of culturalisms that make you think either, “Wow, I’m glad I don’t live there,” or “That would be kind of cool!” 

Living in Indonesia, I’ve been able to experience a culture that:

• eats strange meats.
• uses only the right hand for doing things because the left hand is used for…. well…. other stuff.
• doesn't consider belching and …other gas passings inappropriate. In some places it can even be a compliment for a good meal.
• still uses witch doctors.
• practices giving gifts on one’s birthday instead of receiving gifts. This has mostly effected me at the Chinese school where I teach in the mornings. On a student’s birthday, the parents bring in 19 gifts for the classmates as well as gifts for all of the teachers. The gifts are typically a compilation of snacks that the child likes.

Sometimes though, I get some pretty outrageous gifts. These are some birthday presents I’ve gotten from students:

Well, this one is a class cake. For a pre-kindergarten class. What? It's huge.

We all got our own Angry Birds cakes!

A candy jar. Chubby white girl with curly blonde hair. I'm so glad I have straight hair now or else I'd think it was me. ;)

And the winner for the strangest present of all? 

I opened the box and there was this. A WHOLE fried chicken. Yup, there's it's head. It's feet were interlocked underneath it.

I've never had to do this with a birthday present before. It was strange, but I was actually really thankful for it! haha

Fifty-five

55 days.

7 weeks and 6 days.

One month and 24 days.

That’s all that’s left.

Plans have changed a bit and I won’t be returning to Indonesia in July. I don’t need to go into all the details, but just letting you know that June 16^th is it.

I have no idea how my time in Indonesia has gone by so quickly. I was standing in church this morning during worship when, out of nowhere, I thought, “I have to take my name off the ushers and greeters list!” I do it the third Sunday of the month, and I won’t be able to do it in May, and by the third Sunday in June I will be back in America. Last Sunday was my last turn!

I’m entering into a season of “lasts” here.

In case you don’t know this about me, I am strange when it comes to saying goodbye.  If you’ve ever had to say goodbye to me, I’m typically very composed and matter-of-fact about the whole ordeal. Dry eyed and smiling. In the moment.

To me, saying goodbye is a grieving process that begins long before the departure. In church this morning I teared up many times when I began thinking about leaving this dear church that I have come to love. I have learned countless lessons and matured in my faith here. There are friendships I’ve made here that will last. I’ve been in denial about my impending return to the States, and when my friends mention it, I have retorted, “That’s a long ways from now. Let’s not talk about it.” :)

I think from here on out though, the reality of my leaving is going to settle in, and it’s going to hit me at strange times and places. So, for my Indonesian friends, just as a warning, if my eyes fill with tears when we’re together, don’t worry, I’m alright.   I’m thinking about how hard it will be to leave.

Only God knows if /when I will be back in Indonesia. I have already let Him know that I won’t mind coming back here if that’s in His plan for me.  :)

And for my friends in Idaho, I’m really going to need your help in readjusting to life there. I have so, so, so much to look forward to when I come home, but nonetheless, it will come with challenges. Here’s a “thank you,” and a giant hug in advance for listening to my many stories about Indonesia.

Uh... yes, I speak English.

Some moments in class recently (These are from students between age 4 and 10^th grade):

• Amn't isn't a contraction.
• Even though to their little ears, "widow" and "weirdo" sound alike, they are not.
• When you say, “I am so very boring,” instead of “I am so very bored,” it doesn’t mean the same thing. If I laugh when you say the wrong one, I’m so very apologizing.
• Reading stories about people who are living in oppressive and abusive countries should make you feel upset/sad/angry/determined/something other than indifference. 
• It’s important to identify racism and call it what it is. And then move to change.
• “Miss Jamie, you speak English??” “Why yes, (student), I do.”  This is 7 months after being his teacher. SEVEN MONTHS. What language he was trying to understand when I was teaching him, I have no idea.
• For a short essay response I was amused to read that one student’s life inspiration is Justin Bieber.  I was saddened/disturbed when another student refused to answer the same question because she has no inspiration.
• “Miss Jamie, you’re a bule??” (a white person) “Yup!” “AWESOOOOOOME!!”

New Hair

Maybe this is the most girly post I will write? But I was entertained by some of these reactions to my new hair:

“You lost your curly!”

“You have no hair!”

4-year olds didn’t have the words.  They just made motions of pulling their hair straight.

“Oh no!”

“Miss Jamie, I think I like your hair straight.”

“You look more feminine.” – uh… thanks?

“You look prettier.”
"I like your old hair better."

“Did the wind blow your curls away?”

It is so strange to me when people give unfiltered opinions here.

So yeah, I had my hair professionally straightened.  It’s so easy. It dries straight. If I wear a pony tail and then take it out, my hair has no line in it. I will probably become bored with it in a few months and really miss my curls, but for now, it’s so nice. 

Decisions

So far in 2012, I’ve decided/noticed….

• all ants must die.
• I love people in places all over the world, and more than ever I realize that Heaven is home.
• I pray more now than I ever have in my life.
• to get a motorbike! Well, it’s really a scooter, but most people just call it a motorbike here. It’s exhilarating! Just today I rode the furthest I ever have ridden: from the western side of Surabaya to the east.   In a land where there are not very many traffic laws I’m learning how to be aggressive and defensive at the same time.
• to get reunited with chili peppers. Though chili and I took a break for a while, we got back together. I put chili, sambal, on almost everything now. I even made macaroni and cheese last week, and realized halfway through my meal that I couldn’t eat another bite without sambal. Maybe I’m more Indonesian than I realize?
• that my housemates, Stan and Helen have been the best surrogate parents for me here that I could ask for. Everything from a homemade meal, to cheesy jokes, to life advice/counsel/opinions, this couple has made my stay in Surabaya so wonderful. I’m blessed to know them and so thankful to their family in Canada for letting me borrow them for this year.
• common sense is not common.
• rice and noodles are staples in my diet.
• to come back to Idaho to teach for this upcoming school year. The emotions that come with typing that out and posting this on my blog are indescribable. I have become comfortable with my life, my job, my friendships, my church, the food, (etc. . .) in Surabaya, and I will miss it so very deeply.  I also deeply feel as if my time overseas is not complete, but for many reasons, I feel at peace about coming back to Idaho and returning to my job as a second grade teacher.  Right now, my plan is to fly to Idaho in June for a dear friend’s wedding, and then return to Indonesia to finish out my contract through the end of July.  I’m already trying to figure out how to incorporate my love for Indonesia into my classroom. I think it can be done.
• that whoever thinks long distance relationships are easy is out of their mind. I miss Tony.