Indonesian Homework

For lack of a picture of my own. Thanks, Google!

A couple of weeks ago, I had had enough of the language barrier. It was so incredibly frustrating not to be able to have the simplest of conversations. Moreover, if I’m living somewhere for a year, what does it say about me if I don’t even make the effort to learn the language of the locals?

So, my friend (and colleague) Tika has been giving me Indonesian lessons for the last seven weeks and I’m doing quite well. I can now independently book taxis, make a reservation for a massage and bond with random people. Political, religious and/or philosophical discussions are, at the time of writing, still quite hard.

Now, Tika is incredibly friendly but she does not hold back when it comes to giving homework (just last week I had a vocabulary quiz in which I scored a meager 76%, I’m ashamed to say). This makes my Sunday nights quite stressful as our lessons usually take place Monday morning. In any case, I try to have the bestest time doing my Indonesian homework. Here are some of the gems I’ve come up with so far (in English of course), just to use what words, phrases and grammar I had just learned.

“I have a question for you. WHAT are you wearing?”

“I’m tired.”

“This field is bigger than my room.”

“Let’s live on Bali!”

“Your hair is as dark as the night.”

“I have to go to the bathroom.”

“That question is the dumbest I have ever heard.”

“He’s handsome but not as handsome as me.”

“That building looks like a failed experiment.”

“I look like a white Kanye West.”

“Since last year I always take my wallet because after dinner I could not pay.”

“Go to Indomaret, near Seafood 977 and then we will meet and immediately kiss the ears of strangers.”

Sampai jumpa lagi, people!

Culture to Consume (according to me, that is)

This random picture is what comes up when you type in 'Culture' in Google Images so it must be related to what I'm writing about below.

In today´s world, we drown in choices of consumption (no complaints here). Culture, just another commodity among many others, is no different. So what to devour next? To make life easier, I have taken it upon myself to help you out. Read further and I will tell you what to watch, what to listen to, what to read and what to otherwise absorb.

What exactly is this list based on, you ask? Well, it's simple: it's what I'm consuming right now so naturally EVERYONE ELSE should too. What other reason could you possibly need?

READ:

- Haruki Murakami - Kafka on the Shore | Brilliant.

- Joseph Heller - Catch-22 | Because it makes me giggle like a little girl. So absurd, so hilarious.

- New magazine 'The Good life' | Got this from Lotte (<3) and I love it. Anyone: feel free to send me subsequent issues. Enquire below for the address. Also, my new watch is featured in this magazine so again: anyone, feel free to go out, buy the watch and send it to me.

LISTEN TO:

- The Mountain Goats | If you want amazing/incredible/fantastic storytelling set to great music, look no further. Personal favorites (there are plenty): "No Children", "Game Shows Touch Our Lives", "If You See Light", "Matthew 25:21", "Dance Music"

- Frank Ocean | R&B that's simply awesome. Featured on Jay-Z and Kanye's Watch The Throne twice. Only downside: Frank decided to cover Hotel California and that's shit you just don't do. Listen to "Novacane"!

- NPR's CarTalk. | Hourlong podcasts that are updated weekly and are fucking hilarious. Love for cars is a plus but by no means a necessity. Find them here.

WATCH:

- The Dark Knight Rises | DUH!

- BOSS | A Starz show that stars Kelsey Grammar as the Godfather-like, corrupt-as-fuck mayor  of Chicago who is at the same time terminally ill. Renewed for a second season before the first episode even aired. Just FYI and to show off the fact that I know what I'm talking about. BOOM!

- The Borgias | Showtime's rendition of the Borgia family who take over the papacy in the Middle Ages (I want to say 1400-something but that might be way off). Also: Jeremy Irons.

- Episodes | Showtime as well. HILARIOUS. I'm watching S02, but by all means, watch S01 first.

VISIT:

- Palembang | Because it's the cultural capital of the WORLD and you'll always have a place to stay (well, until the end of April 2013)

- Wikipedia | Just because it knows everything.

- My Blog | No explanation needed.


Obviously, I'm not deluded enough to think that you guys will actually follow up on my advice but everything mentioned above is fucking wonderful and it would simply be selfish to not share all of it with you.

OH, AND YOU'RE WELCOME!

Goodbyes.

Today we say goodbye to Nick and Serena. So sad.

Thank you guys for everything. I will miss you.

Indonesian Insects



Those of you on Facebook will instantly recognize this guy, Captain Crunch.

 Everybody knows nature is awesome. I mean, that's why David Attenborough is knighted, National Geographic, Discovery Channel and Animal Planet have television channels and so on. However, there is one notable exception: mosquitos. Those bloodsuckers can just fuck off for all I care. For the rest, take a look at some of the Indonesian insects I have encountered so far.

 

Just look at the size of this bastard!



 

Work Dinner in progress, people!



Sate Ayam

Meet Wandi. He is EF Palembang’s royal supplier of sate.

[For you ignoramuses: sate is chicken on a stick covered with ketjap (soy sauce), peanut sauce and is served with wonton (condensed rice), some veggies and, optionally, spicy sauce. It is heavenly.]

Now that it’s Ramadan (more on that in a later post), two of our class slots are shortened to allow for students and staff to break their fast (buka puasa in Indonesian). Which means yours truly also has more time to eat. I mean, who am I not to join in eating devouring food when the sun has set?

So, everyday around 2:30, Wandi pulls his cart out and starts the process. This is what it looks like:

How much, you ask? 10.000 IDR or $1 or € 0,85

Musi River + Pulau Kamaro

Hey there, readers! It's me (again). How have you been? Things here are going well!

Last week, Anggi and I went to Kamaro Island, a nearby island that houses a tower and other buildings that are of some religious significance to the Buddhists of Palembang. This visit requires a boat trip on the Musi river (Palembang's continuous stream of liquid chocolate).

For your information, the Musi is the main river that runs through the city and it is this river that the infamous Ampera Bridge (a source of pride for virtually every Palembangnese) crosses. In any case, the river has multiple uses. Nearby factories use it to dump whatever they need to get rid of while others use the river as a bathroom where they relieve themselves, bathe or brush their teeth (or all of the above).

[Note: So as our private boat made its way through the water at high speeds, you can imagine Anggi and I shrieked like little girls everytime some of this water splashed on us.]

I'm happy pictures exist, because it would be impossible for me to put into words what I saw along the river (and on the island). Take a look for yourself...

Fence-sitting is a lonely occupation.

In the background you can see the infamous Ampera Bridge, as it towers over Palembang.

The Tower on Pulau Kamaro

This guy - always in a good mood.

Anggi and I sat down here for some Dogan (young cocunut water). Quite the treat!

Primary colors are all the rage here, as you can see.

Wadlopen, anyone?

Birthday in Palembang

Yes, the rumors are true: I have indeed reached a quarter century. Here’s a list of things you need for a birthday in Palembang:

1. Banners in the teacher’s room, courtesy of mom and dad’s care package

 

 

2. Oreo cake from Cecilia (the boss lady)

 

 

3. A surprise cake and subsequent cake-attack from your class.

 

  

My face and hair were covered with cake after a dozen students savages attacked me - both my face and hair were self-conscious and felt fat for days after absorbing all those calories.

 4. On Saturday: swimming at a 5 star hotel

 

 5. Unlimited food and beer buffet at said hotel with party-hats and live music (including an acoustic version of GNR’s Sweet Child, performed by our own Nicholas and hotel band).

 

 

 

6. On Sunday: a day with Anggi that included a boat trip on the Musi aka Chocolate River, a visit to Kamaro Island and its Buddhist tower/place of worship, a cheap-ass pedicure and dinner.

[During our trip to Kamaro Island, I made so many amazing and fascinating pictures, I will have to dedicate a separate post to it. Please be patient!]

It was a great birthday but, truthfully, it felt strange to celebrate it without family and friends from back home. However, thanks to modern means of communication, I didn’t feel too far away from you all. Besides, you can’t expect to live in Indonesia for a whole fucking year and not give up anything for it! 

So, to everyone here and to those in other places: thank you so much!