Nice surprise today: I was invited to another wedding, this time next to my colleague Yani's house, and again on short notice:he called just before 9 to say he'd pick me up at 9:30 on his motorcycle.It was a looooong ride out through heavy traffic, clear out of the city - he said 10 km but I'm sure it was 15 or more, through rubber plantations and open jungly areas with some fancy newer homes scattered around too.His house is simple but spacious and open, with a ...

Sept 26 - in my own house at last! Yes, it's true.Herizal and Yani brought me over here around 11 am.Dian and her husband were waiting and took me around the house/yard, showed me the new simple shower and explained how everything worked, chatted a bit etc. before giving me the keys and driving N to where he works.Then we walked a ways to the home of the ketua rukun tetangga or 'neighborhood chief', Mohammed Sajin, to let him meet me.Older guy, simple wood...

Wed. Sept 22 Yet another interesting and satisfying day, and in the end one that left me feeling very fortunate to be here with very friendly, interesting, professional, and helpful people everywhere I turn. I expect that things will get even better once I'm teaching daily - and in my own house. It was a lot more quiet today in the Pusat Bahasa ( Language Center ) - though by late morning, groups of students were walking and sitting everywhere outside.We ...

Tuesday Sept 21 I stood in front of by far the largest audience of my life this morning, 1000+ at a guess, and talked for over 20 minutes - with less than a minute's advance notice!I went to the school's big opening ceremony for the fall semester, for all incoming freshmen, plus faculty and administrators - with whom I was seated in the front row of an immense, filled-to-overflowing auditorium ( guys on one side, women on the other ).A guest speaker from Jakar...

Monday night Sept. 20 I just waddled up from the hotel café.In addition to my capcai cah/nasi putih, I had the cooks heat up my leftover pempek; I had 6 ( quite filling just by themselves ) and the guys in the kitchen shared the rest - 'special', they said, and they should know. I had my first real meetings with students this morning, though not scheduled ones.First I met with 4 women/3 men in my Curriculum Development class who had come in to get a requ...