First Week

This will be quick. I just wanted to update everyone since I have been living in the village for a week now. Things are going pretty good. When I first arrived, I was sick with a fever all day, but it didn't last long. It's only been a week and I've already been involved with 2 weddings and another tribal ceremony (hair cutting and teeth filing). They've already put me to work several times. I was the only one with a camera so they asked me to take pictures during the wedding. I felt professional.

Language study is progressing. I'm doing my best at getting alone with the locals to try out what I know. When I'm with students trying to learn English (mostly teenagers), this is good. They try their English on me and I try my Indonesian on them. However,this is also a challenge since the people here speak their local language to each other. So,I have to know when to listen (to learn Indo) or when just to listen.

I can't believe I've only been here a week. It has seemed like a month already. I have had so many cultural experiences. Yesterday, I was at a double ceremony (wedding AND child's first hair cut) where I guess they have accepted me as family (or they just wanted to see the "white person" work). I ended up carrying fire wood, washing rice in the river, washing dishes.....I LOVED IT! Add the fact that I get to eat with my hands for every meal, I'm in heaven :)

Ok! time for pictures!

This lady showed me

how to wash rice

in the river

and

wanted me to Here is where I will

take her picture be staying for 2 months. It's simple, but nice. the wall and roof are bamboo and we get all kinds of critters to visit us.

This is my bathroom. See the red bucket? it's the water supply. See the blue bucket? it's my shower. See the silver water pot? it's where I heat up my water b/c I'm too much of a woose to take cold showers.

You see this scene all over. It's the rice fields they work in. If you look closely, you can see the workers and the little bamboo stand they rest on. These little stands (called "barugas") are everywhere and are used for resting

I'm surrounded by these mountains. Some, a lot higher than these. I love it

Yep, they put me to work.

I have a sarong (wrap-skirt)

on but had to hike it up

to wash dishes. They absolutely

love my extremely white skin.