Om Swastiastu!
I have been in Indonesia now for exactly 3 weeks… It definitely feels like much more, like a lifetime! From trying to balance the readings and lectures I’ve had about the arts, religion, and social change in Indonesia thus far, to the exploring of temples, traditional ceremonies, and discovering the best and most picturesque beaches, there has been very little time to sleep and take a step back and reflect on all these experiences.
I have met 21 other wonderful university students from all over the U.S, I have mingled and practiced my (still very limited) Bahasa Indonesia, I have lived with 2 (yes, 2) host families so far, I have met wonderful locals and a wonderful SIT staff who is so helpful in helping us overcome any difficulties we may and very well have encountered during these few weeks.
If I wrote about all my experiences so far here, I wouldn’t stop writing for a good few hours, so I found it best to highlight some things that I think are noteworthy, so far, about my time in Indonesia!
- People are so friendly and warm-hearted in Indonesia. The locals always have a kind smile on their faces, and it turns out that they are just as curious about the ‘other’ like we are.
- The way Indonesian bathrooms are built and used are completely different than bathrooms and showers in the Western hemisphere. To shower, we only use bucket showers from wells built into the bathrooms. Cold water only! To use the toilet, Indonesians have a squatting down toilet that they use which to be honest, has its challenging sides to it.. But on the plus side, it is more economic on water usage. It was funny that our program had to show us a video of how to use this type of toilet, it was definitely a conversation starter among the students.
- Religion is an intrinsic part of Indonesian peoples’ lives. Not only does the government enforce that everyone has a religion, but religion is a part of their lives in a way that in the western world it sometimes isn’t. From the moment they wake up to the moment they sleep, ceremonies, preparations, prayers and offerings are made to their respective religion to praise and please their deities.
- On another note, is it funny to tell you that 12 out of 22 students in my program got typhoid fever?? No? Well, yes it is a serious disease, but it can be treated very easily if those who are sick have access to the right antibiotics. It is a bacteria born disease common in underdeveloped nations, unfortunately, and it can be deadly to those who don’t have medical attention. It’s funny now and we all laugh about it, we don’t know if it was from a restaurant that we ate at that seemed risky or where else it could have been from. One thing is for sure: we can’t be careless to the food and drink we have here because unfortunately the water here isn’t always treated.
That’s all for now. Lots of Indonesian regards
