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.

Sometimes I'm a big complainer.

I just realized I haven't blogged in over a month. Maybe I'm going to bet fired from my own blog? Maybe.

A ton has happened.  At least I think it has... I have a TERRIBLE memory. terrible. So really, I'm pretty sure things have happened. Now I'm trying to look back through my pictures to see what I did this past month. If there isn't a picture, there's a good chance I've forgotten it.

I really should be better at taking more pictures.

Oh well.... well, here are just a few things that have been going on here:

I started taking lessons in bahasa Indonesia (language Indonesia).  I really should have started these months ago. That would have made life a little easier.  Just after only 4 lessons, I am able to understand so much more of what's being said. I even feel as if I am able to exercise my gift of eaves dropping again.One of my favorite phrases is, "gak papa," which means "no problem." Literally translated, it means, "no what what."  I have to keep from giggling when beginning English language learners don't know the correct way to translate it and respond with, "no what what" when we're talking about something.

I learned about the "dating bridge." Let's just be clear, though: this is not a romantic idea. There is one overpass in particular in Surabaya where there is a side walk that goes across the bridge. By day it's just a regular sidewalk, by night it becomes a dating hot spot. Couples bring blankets and spread them out, then eat food and snuggle, much like you might do if you were to go on a picnic. Just substitute a grassy knoll for a cement sidewalk, and beautiful scenery for traffic and exhaust smells. Cars are literally feet away. I don't understand it.

There are days that my friend Karen labels as "I can't stand Indonesia days." Those are the days when you get more irritated than normal at the cultural differences, food differences, the language, etc. . .  and you just want to go home. I'm so thankful these days don't happen very often.  I had a couple of these days a few weeks ago and I found myself complaining. Quite a bit, actually. (Budi and Bao Bao, I'm sorry if I've let you down ;) )  Most of it was in my head (praise God for filters), but some people were unlucky enough to hear me complain about the taxi system, my students who had ditched class on presentation day, how far away I am from home and loved ones, the slow pace of life, and my inability to communicate, just to name a few. I'm thankful that God is in the business of building character and gently gave me an attitude check. I am learning more and more about how to be content in my situations: I can do all things through God, who gives me strength.

And the thing about all of it is that even in my moments of homesickness, I have never doubted my decision to be here. I still know down deep in my gut that this is where I am supposed to be for now. That's an assurance I'm okay with having. 

I will add more later on, but for now, I'm going to go to sleep since it just passed midnight here. I hope that's "no what what". :)

These are a few prayer requests:
1. Pray that my visa is processed. Yes, this is the permanent visa that I included on a prayer list back in November. My paperwork is still in progress, which means that it is sitting in a pile somewhere on somebody's desk. My employers are so good and wonderful and want to run their business in an honest, God-honoring way in the midst of a corrupt nation where it is expected that you need to bribe someone to get anything accomplished. Please pray that their commitment to honesty will bear fruit and they won't have to continue paying fees for extensions.
2. The term is ending in a week and a half. Pray that students will end strongly and they will be proud of their hard work. Pray that God continues to use my interactions with the students to point them to Christ. 

Soto

Last night I stopped to get soup for my small group. I stopped at my favorite street vendor that sells this chicken soup, soto ayam. As I'm standing there waiting, this tiny old Chinese woman walks up to me with all of the confidence in the world, points to me, then points to the stool and says, "sit down!" I sat down. I had to. Then she proceeded to speak to me in Indonesian. I only understood a few words, and she quickly retreated into silence when she realized this. Oops. Should I be fluent by now? I don't know, maybe?

Then. The two young men who sell the soto began having a conversation. They were trying to figure out whether to call me "Miss," "Mister," or "Mrs." I'm so proud of them for choosing "Miss."

I live in such a funny country. :)


On a side note, it only cost $4 to buy soup for 13 people. Amazing, ya?

Home for Christmas

Shout-outs from Christmas break in America:

1. Nampa really does smell bad. I’d grown used to it and had even defended the city to non-Nampanites.  I’m sorry for having been so defensive.  Now I know. 
2. I got GIGANTIC hugs from my nieces and nephews. They are the most wonderful kids in the whole world. 
3. For months I dreamed about the food I would have when I visited America. Strangely enough, when I returned, I had no appetite for about 5 days. Now that I’ve returned to Indonesia, I’m regretting wasting those 5 days.
4. I stayed in five different houses and drove three different cars. Thank you Mom, Dad, Lori, Randy, Chris, Jen, and Nikki for being so generous!
5. I was able to connect with many people.  I feel so blessed that so many found time in their schedules to spend time with me while I was home.  Time went by so quickly though…. Too quickly.  I didn’t see enough of a lot of people.
6. It was glorious to go shopping and find clothes and shoes in my size. I live in a land where I am a giant. They don’t make things for giants here.
7. Flying M.  It was nice being a regular here again.
8. Being with my church family at Crossroads…….well… there are just no words.  There were so many warm embraces and wonderful people I was able to talk with.  It is my home base. It’s the place of countless prayer warriors who’ve supported me and encouraged me while I’ve been in Indonesia so far. It was refreshing and rejuvenating.
9. Tony Dailey made me laugh each and every day.

A Visitor

Double takes. Shrieks. Disbelieving expressions. Friendship bracelet. Waist hugs turned death grips. Gasps from students performing on stage. My December 20^th was filled with these!

I visited my school in Nampa when I was home for Christmas. I grabbed a “Visitor” sticker and wrote, “mischievousness” as the reason for visit. (Don’t act surprised…. Am I really ever up to anything else??) That Tuesday was so nice to experience from the standpoint of a visitor. No classes or behaviors to manage, no last minute party preparations. No giving students the “eye” when they were misbehaving during the Christmas assembly.

Actually… I did give the eye. When you’re a teacher, you just can’t always help it.

I ate lunch with my teammates and it was just like old times. Random. Perfect. I have to say that these people are top notch teachers and I have missed collaborating with them with all my heart.

I ended up staying at the school for 5 and a half hours. Long past when all the children went home. There was so much to talk about. Teaching children in Indonesia is so much different from teaching children in America, and it’s almost impossible to find the words to express what it’s like here. I became grateful all over again for the educational foundation I received at this school, their interest in what I’m doing, and their support and belief in me as I am overseas. It’s the kind of support that is almost overwhelming.  In a good way.

Those shining faces (kids and adults) were so refreshing and exciting to see. At a point in my life when I’ve never been so thoroughly sure of my calling to teach, it was special to see students who have found their way into my heart.  

The truth is: I love this school. If God brings me back there, I wouldn’t mind in the least.