I'm finally here! I can't believe after a year of preparing, I'm finally here. Well, at least taking my first step into the culture. I've been here for a few days and I am already loving the culture. Actually, I'm almost there. I'm on the island, but I will be heading to the village I will be live in tomorrow (up in the mountains)
Today, I went out with a worker who knows how to get around (some pics below). There, I had my first "whoa" culture experience. The people here are extremely friendly and interested in the bules ("white people"). Much like China, they squat here a lot as a sitting position. As a result, every muscle in their lower bodies are pure muscle. So, when they see us white people (who are not as skinny as they), they are curious. Well, they act out this curiosity. While walking with the fellow worker at the market today, she warned me what might happen. And, it did happen. We were walking down this narrow aisle and an old lady was behind me. Next thing I knew, she was, uh, well, grabbing my buttock. Oh ye
s, the old ladies here do this. "WHY" you might ask. It's because they want to feel what a fat back-end feels like since none of them have one. They don't really grab the back side. They more like take their hand and jiggle the fat. And, that was one of my first cultural experience. Luckily, only old women do this.....I don't have to worry about any men here. I had to laugh! Of course, after this happened, I walked the rest of the day purposely tightening my muscles and that area.
s, the old ladies here do this. "WHY" you might ask. It's because they want to feel what a fat back-end feels like since none of them have one. They don't really grab the back side. They more like take their hand and jiggle the fat. And, that was one of my first cultural experience. Luckily, only old women do this.....I don't have to worry about any men here. I had to laugh! Of course, after this happened, I walked the rest of the day purposely tightening my muscles and that area. As most of you might have heard, there was a major earthquake in Indo a few days ago. Though we are far from the area, it has impacted the people here. The news is always on. I thought it was interesting that they were showing the men digging through the rubble and digging out dead bodies. They show everything here.......no editing out the body. Though disturbing, I felt like it gave me insight on how they view death and tragedy. They don't shy awa
y from it.On to other areas of my time here. Other than assisting the workers here in healthcare seminars and relationship building, I will be focusing my efforts on language learning. Since I'm pretty sure I will be returning to this amazing country, I want to learn as much as possible. So far, I am already recognizing a lot of words and speaking a little. Luckily, I knew a bit of Spa
nish and that has helped me in learning this language since there's a lot of "R" rolling and the sentence formation is similar. As most places, if I try to speak their language, they are more than willing to help me improve.
I've never been in a Muslim country before. And so, at 4:15am this morning, I woke up to the singing shouts of the call to prayer.....oh goodie! a whole 2 months of this! I'm hoping I'll get use to it and be able to sleep right through it. OK! I've rambled long enough. I don't have many pics, but I'll show the few I have. Just know that I'm not sure I'll internet when I go the village tomorrow (where I'll be staying mostly)
my first local food meal (by the way, that's a cheap little henna tattoo on my hand).....steamed rice with some spicey vegetables
where "the grabbing incedent" happened
this is for you dad
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