Journals
Monday,Jul 19 2004, 09:18:54 AMPART 13 JULY 1, THURSDAY 4:30 AM (WIB) – I...
PART 13
JULY 1, THURSDAY
4:30 AM (WIB) – I woke up.
5AM – I left my home to the bus station
6AM – I took the air-con bus (PATAS with less stop over) to Banyuwangi
8AM – I pass by Probolinggo, then Paiton Power Plant and see the beach in Pasir Putih (white sand) although its not really white…
10AM – Situbondo
all of these are along the Northern coastline of
12NN – I arrive the terminal in Katapang, a small town before the Banywangi town proper
1PM – I went to the house of an old couple, the parents of Ms. Melya, my other boss. I entered the gate, I knocked, no body answered. What I did next was to find a market to eat coz im hungry and the town plaza to find some other destination. I asked the lady from the eatery if there are any lodge/ inn/ hotels nearby (in
2PM – I got myself a room to rest and take a shower. The window is covered by a curtain coz ull see some trash outside from the other rooms, there is only one small exhaust fan, not electric fan, and the toilet is ‘jongkok’ (is mounted on the floor – it’s the opposite of the bowl).
3PM – I went out to see the town and had a stroll (jalan-jalan) along the street (jalan) and see the vehicles run (jalan). There is a mall, that’s how they call the biggest department store here. It has 4 floors and its not even big than Isettan Recto. What am I expecting?
I took a bemo route number 6 to go to the end then back to the main station. I see some government, military and police offices, universities and monuments. But the statues are not heroes but I tell some story. Like a man killing a snake, a man scolding a boy, couples working, etc. The town has its own culture. Its not Javanese, not Balinese, but its MIXED. That what makes it unique.
8PM – I went back to visit the old folks and they invited me for dinner. They are nice. We talked shortly about their daughter, my boss, the school and some politics. Then I went home to rest.
JULY 2, FRIDAY
6AM – I left the losmen and go to Katapang – the port area going to
7AM – The ferry and it took me only 35 minutes to travel but we waited long to dock coz they have to wait for their turn. There are a lot of ferry boats that they come and go every hour. When I stepped out of the boat, its suppose to be 8AM (Waktu Indonesia Barat – West Indonesian Time) but this is Waktu Indonesia Tengah (Middle) so I have to all 1 hour…. THIS IS PHILIPPINE TIME!!!
8AM (WIT)– I entered Gilimanuk town, western tip of
We passed by some towns with different architectures. The gates have ‘gapura’. Its like a short tower cut into half longitudinally in the middle as the entrance. Then almost each houses has a small temple (pura) to offer prayers, flowers, food and incense to their ‘gods’. The Puras depends on the status of the family. The more the pura and the elegant they are, the family are blessed. A single pura will do for a middle class family. Smaller communities like a block within the neighborhood provide public temples for daily and weekly worship as well. Here, muslim people are the minorities.
12NN – I arrive Denpasar bus station and had lunch. I asked about how to get to Kuta. They said I have to ride 2 bemos. I want to reach there to spend time as soon as possible and more comfortable this time so I took a cab for Rp30,000.
130PM – I arrived Kuta and passed by
I walked a few meters and entered an alley named Poppies Lane 2. Poppies Lane 1 is about 300 meters away and narrower. Both are famous for tourist especially surfers coz here is cheap. I checked in another losmen, Arthwan Inn. Its only Rp40,000/day fan room with W/C and a fan.
3PM – I went back to Legian road to have some pictures and see the stores and shops, and buy some supllies.
4PM – I had a walk in the beach. I was disappointed coz its low tide!!! Tonight will be full moon. The moon will rise at 6 so it will be high tide at midnight and on noontime tomorrow. So I just stayed on the beach and wait for the sunset. Ahhh… this is not just any ordinary beach… THIS IS
7PM – I had dinner in a not-so-expensive eatery then had a walk again at Legian and at the beach.
12MN – I went to Bounty Bar along Legian near my place. It’s a very nice place and full with foreigners. There are tables set in front of a stage. Then there’s a 2-storey ship!!! This place is exclusive for foreigners. Locals must pay. But I look like Chinese or Japanese so I just walked in. Hehehe. The upper floor has the dance floor for ‘discotheque’ or ‘clubbing’. The lower ground has bubble foam dance floor!!!
2AM – Im drunk, I went home.
Monday,Jul 19 2004, 09:05:58 AMPART 12 JUNE 16, WEDNESDAY When I get to...
PART 12
JUNE 16, WEDNESDAY
When I get to school, one of the teachers was suppose to use some flashcards for teaching, but she said she sent it to Miss Lina’s office 2 days ago. But she is of town so we didn’t knot the reason why she asked to send it to her office. Plus, there was no electricity. I try to see the main switch and the circuit breaker. Its different. So I try to miss call all the bosses. No reply. I send sms to tell all the problems.
Ms. Lina called in an angry voice. She said why does she need the flashcards to be sent to her office while she was out of town and having an important meeting right now.
I said she ordered the teacher to send it to her office.
She denies.
I gave the phone to the teacher and let her explain.
Then my boss said, oh yeah I asked for that. Then she said to me if I could take care of that.
I said, well we found another book to substitute for that flashcard.
About the electricity, she cant do anything about it, so why bother her.
I said I tried calling the other boss but no reply. I cant call the other school to ask the servant to come over coz we don’t have load on the school’s cellphone. (certainly we don’t want to use our personal cell to make a call if it is official. They only provided this school with an old cell model using a pre-paid with a battery that could not last for 2 minutes then it will turn off).
She said to me that she think that I am not capable of being a leader. She put me in the school to take care of small things like this and I cant handle it.
Then the other boss arrived after a few minutes.
JUNE 17, THURSDAY
I woke up late coz I plan to. I don’t like going to work to day. I was taking things easy and its past 8am already then the other boss came. She said we are going to give the report card to the parents today and I am suppose to give some lectures to the parents about the topics that we have taught to their child like the vocabulary and pronunciation.
She took me to the other school. Do I have a choice?
Then I asked the Aiesecers to come over in the afternoon coz I want to quit. They said that why don’t I give them another chance. Make a list of all the things I want to say to them, all I want to suggest/ propose/ implement. Then we must agree to meet halfway or compromise with a deadline. If one of us is not satisfied then I make another decision if I will stay or not.
JUNE 18, FRIDAY
I have a list with me and I will meet my boss at 1pm in the school where I live. Shes never on time. Instead she asked me and the other teacher, who is also meeting her, to meet in a restaurant where we could talk.
I told this teacher about my paper, my proposal for the school by dividing our tasks and pointing out each other’s responsibilities, and if the boss will not agree with it from the start, I have my resignation paper ready as well.
Well, she accepted the paper but deleted some of it coz she said she cant really comply like have a 1 month break before the opening of the regular class (because they want a Summer Class until July 9 then start the School Year July 12 – just a week end break and the teachers are admitting that we are not ready even for the first quarter) to make all the lesson plans for all levels, complete all the utilities and facilities, not to change her decisions impulsively and sometimes impractical ones, and that I do not quit if I am not satisfied after the deadline but instead talk again to plan for the next month. Then we signed.
Starting tomorrow I will work to make all these proposals (short term goals) a reality. And the two bosses will also do their share. Then we will talk about the development and check on each other before the deadline.
Also starting tomorrow and for the next 2 days, Saturday and Sunday, she asked me to work overtime again to make the handbook for our first adult English course. We have 2 managers from Manulife and they will start Tuesday. So my boss consulted me about the topics and she fills in by writing the details then ask me, one teacher and the other boss to type it for her. She will compile it by Monday, photocopy and book bind it. But that is only ¼ of the whole Conversation Course. But it is not mainly conversations; she included a lot of topics about vocabulary and grammar.
I said, if we gonna teach this, they should belong to the Intermediate Level, if they want the Conversation Level, we need not to teach a lot about grammar and stuff. She wants it that way. So I let her be and did what she told me to do.
But the overtime can be substituted for a vacation. Shes giving me July 1-3 (Thur-Sat) for my holiday, then till July 5 coz its Election Day in
Wednesday,Jul 7 2004, 09:44:45 AMPART 10 ======= MAY 17, MONDAY It’s my...
PART 10
MAY 17, MONDAY
It’s my first time to watch a movie. I asked Roy if he can take me to PTC Supermall to watch a movie coz, number 1, Mondays are cheaper than the rest of the week Rupia 17,500 (PhP 115) from Rp 25,000 (PhP 165), secondly, its near from my work. But Roy and I cant aggree on which movie should we choose because each of us has seen two different titles seperately, I forgot the two titles, but we have chosen the one both of us havent seen yet – “Taking Lives”.
MAY 19, WEDNESAY
The trainees from Jakarta arrived late. Their plane was delayed. I have to wait till 12mn. 2 guys stayed in my place. Jens (YAns), German, and Marchell, Dutch. The girls stayed in one of the Nana (SN) place: Caroline, Calif; Anja (AnYa), Belguim; and Renata, Peru. Stefanie, HK, will follow on Friday night after her work.
MAY 20, THURSDAY – Ascencion of Christ (Holiday)
*Remember May 3 was the celebration for the Birthday of Muhammed
I woke up early and prepared breakfast. When the girls arrived, we set off for Taman Safari Indonesia (Indonesia Safari Park—the adverb is reversed here) and see again the animals. Then we went to Kakek Bodo Waterfalls in Tretes. For me, its my second time in both sites. We are with two SNs working for English First, an English Course Center, Nana & Budhi (means the same in Filipino – pure soul). They brought their company car for this trip. And Fadil, the new LCVP of Aiesec Surabaya.
While travelling back to Surabaya, along the Highway, we are almost near about less than an hour away to the toll exit, we had a flat tire and have to change. Fadil said that the tires are new. Maybe it’s the heat of the pavement. Caroline tried to remove the tirecap. And the driver just had the record for the quickest changing of tire. He had done it in less than 10 minutes! Then we are on our way home – to my place I mean.
The girls went back to Nana’s place and the boys take a quick nap for 1 hour. Then at 8pm we went to Laguna Indah (Beautiful Lagoon), a village for rich (mostly Chinese) people. There was a Lampion Festival. And there were castles, empress, dragons made as lanterns. When I say castle, its big! Wiith the lights inside, and the lantern-shaped-people are also taller than me. There was a bazaar for food, novelty items and chinese ornaments. And the spectators were, well, what else could it be, mostly Chinese. Then there was a guy dressed up as an Emperor with his concubine walking around the vicinity. You wana know whats ironic? The emperor has a very dark complexion. I don’t need to say any further.
We left at 9:30 and the boys were very hungry. We didn’t know that the girls had dinner alerady that’s why they are not complaining. We thought, well we talked about it, that we are gonna have dinner at Kya-Kya in Chinatown. We arrived there at 10 and its good that most of the Warung (food stalls) are not yet closed. What a relief.
Soon after that, we guys head back home. Jens, Marchell and I had some exchange of cultures and told about our experiences here in Indonesia over 4 bottles of beers.
MAY 21, FRIDAY
The trainees joined me to my school. They interacted and played with the kids. Some of them were afraid of Marchell coz hes a big guy. I girl cried by just seeing him and being with him inside the classroom. My boss was very kind and putting on a nice face to make an impression. I know whats in her mind, to use them for promotion. But I told the trainees that whatever my boss says, just be nice but don’t make commitments or promises.
After teaching, they was suppose to be picked up by a service to take them to Malang (50 km south) and it arrived 1 hour late. Suddenly I asked my boss if I can join them and take a break (coz I have exerted a lot of effort to set up this ‘visit’ and I coordinated all the class well this morning). My boss said “Yes” then followed by Indonesian to the other boss which she think that I wouldn’t understand and I am still standing right infront of them, “this guy, if he wants to go, he will just go”. And I just showed a sinister smile. Nyah! Nyah! Nyah!
Then we found ourselves along the highway again for a 2 hour trip to the South. We will be met by the Aiesec Malang LC President Rico at the University. We went it to the campus walking towards the Economy building and the aiesecers found us. They have been waiting for us infront of the building along a pavillion.
They want to tour us by walking but suddenly it rained. So we seek shelter in another building. Then Rico went out to rent a Angkut (that’s how they call the Mikrolet here). So, we went to the town’s plaza with some trees and a fountain in the middle. On one side stands a mosque and on the other side stands a Catholic church. Then it rained again. We went to another landmark, the Landmark of Malang. We got off then it rained again. We went to the Factory Outlet store where they sell cheap clothing but with good quality. Then we went to a small commercial place and went to a souvenir shop selling Javanese and Balinese items and some traditional customes.
We head back to the bus station at 5pm to go back to Surabaya and meet up Stefanie. Somebody will pick her up from the airport and bring her to Nana’a place. The guys and gals will take a short rest and a quick shower at my place before they meet Nana, Stefanie, Budhi and this time with another guy also from EF named Riza. Its not a typo error. Riza is a guy. (he has been in the Malaysia, Singapore & Phil before. He knows that in the Phil., Riza is a girl’s name). They all left at 8pm. They are going to Mt. Bromo. Climb the mountain next to Bromo in the middle of the night and wait till morning to watch the colorful sunset. I cannot join them coz I have a meeting with my boss and with the teachers tomorrow. So I had a good night’s rest. And I am going to Jakarta as well.
MAY 22, SATURDAY
After my work at 1pm, I went home to prepare my things. I just arrived then Fadil arrived to pick me up and bring me to the airport. By the way, Surabaya International Airport is not in Surabaya, its in Sidoarjo, the next city South of Surabaya. There was a dispute between two cities, Surabaya gets the earnings but they leave Sidoarjo for the maintainance of the facilities, road condition and traffic in and around the vicinity.
Another thing. I havent mentioned this in my very first journal. During my trip from Manila to Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur to Surabaya. I HATE THE LANDING!!! The plane is around 60,000 meters above sea level for 3 hours or so for each connecting flight, and the air inside the plane is compressed. So during the landing procedure, the plane is DECOMPRESSING – including my Frontal and Facial Sinusituses!!! Damn its so painful that I have to close my eyes, pressing my hands over my face to counter-irritate the pain, and I my eyes are lacrimating. Its like my head will split up.
At Kota Kinabalu is not that painful, its just 2 hours from Manila. But from KK to KL was 3 hours. The flight attendant noticed me and asked me if anything matters, I said it’s the decompression hurting my sinuses. She would like to know how can she help, I said this will be over when the landing is over. Well, its not over. I was walking and looking for the Airlift Train to get me to the main central of KL International Airport with the same ‘splitting’ headache. When I rode the KLIA train to the KL Central Station. My headache was gone and so is my Load for my Smart (Phil) sim. I cannot text my friend anymore to pick me up. But I have told him already that if I don’t text by 10pm, which Im sure that I’ll be arriving at 9:30, I might have run out of load and come to pick me up. He was there at 10 then left my bag at his place in an apartment which is just across the station then went to KL Petronas Towers.
The following day, the flight from KL to Surabaya was 3.5 hours. The pain during the landing was more excruciating. I said, I don’t want to land anymore. But how? What goes up must come down, Fadil said. You’ll stay in mid-air for the rest of your life? Hahaha.
So I went on board the plane bound for Jakarta. Good thing the flight is only for 1 hr and will stay only 30,000 meters above sea level. Phew! No pain.
I arrived Jakarta at 5pm. Took the bus bound for Southern part of Jakarta. Its dark already when I got in to the central park. I passed through a Highway toll like the South Super Hi-way in Manila, some fly overs like in Ortigas, sparkling malls like Glorietta, business center like the Ayala and Buendia Avenues in Makati.
I got off infront of a mall called Block-M. There I met Andrew, an ‘inactive’ member of Aiesec Univ. of Indonesia. We have known each other through email when I was suppose to have a match with them for Bogor. He didn’t know the whole story why my match was broken. I said to him, ask Gracey.
Then I went to my Filipino friend’s place – Raul. He works for the ASEAN Secretariat. He is based here in Jakarta. The reason why I went there was we have another Filipino friend visiting him, Allan, and it will be his birthday on Monday. So we went out for a small celebration. We had dinner and went bar happing. Sorry I cant remember the name of the places that ive been to. Its night, its my first time to go around here, and I am poor in memorizing Proper nouns. Except one, CITOS (C is pronounced as Ch-), its like Libis, its has 2 levels of bars, dining and café on both sides with live band at the middle bridge connecting the two sides, and a roof above all. I saw yuppies (young professionals), peers, couples, families and mostly teen-agers. We had a great time.
MAY 23, SUNDAY
We woke up 10am then went to Plaza Indonesia for lunch. Its like Rustans. I mean its for upper class. Above the mall is Hyatt Hotel. And outside at the intersection is a huge fountain.
After that, we went back to the apartment. Allan’s flight was 2 pm so he left at 12nn. I don’t want to join him coz I said I don’t want to wait that long inside the airport. My flight was at 4:30. So I stayed for a while. Then it rained so hard for 30 mins with thunderstorm. We called for a cab but it took a long time before it picked me up. Then there was traffic due to flooded streets. Oh my gosh it was 3pm! I have 1.5 hours left before my flight. And they wont accept late passengers. They will stop accepting check-in 30 mins before the scheduled flight. I asked the driver to find the quicked way to get to the highway and drive faster. When I checked-in, there was 7 minutes left before they stop accepting passengers. Phew! But you know what? My flight was delayed. The plane left 30 min after the scheduled departure. I will arrive at 6pm.
But you know me. Everything is synchronized. Even if my plane was delayed, the trainees will leave for Jakarta at 6:30. So, the people in Surabaya will bring the trainees to the airport and they will pick me up at the same time. Hehehe. Clever, huh!
Well, the flight was less than an hour. And the bird’s eyeview of the city at dusk was thrilling. Its like a Christmas light on a huge pavement. Too bad I don’t have a camera with me, worst is that I’m sitting on the aisle. I got off the plane, walked to the exit then back to the departure gate to meet the guys. I arrived few earlier than them. But before they leave, we said long good-byes, took some pictures, exchange some email addresses, hugging, etc. Then they went in. Now I can go back home.
The traffic was bad so we were moving so slow towards the parking exit. Then all of a sudden, the trainees called. They said they cant check in anymore, the airline company has closed the system. They cant board anymore. So we waited and waited till they get another booking for tomorrow. We left the airport after an hour. Then we had a another dinner all together. I was bluffing that they went to the airport just to pick me up. Hahaha!
This time, they wont sleep at my place anymore. They will stay over the night at Nana’s place coz its near to the airport rather than from my place because they leave early in the next morning.
I got home at 10pm at long last I can finally have a decent sleep again after a very long, tiring but exciting weekend.
MAY 24, MONDAY
It’s my second time to watch a movie. This time in Tunjungan Plaza Mall (TP). With the same price. All movie houses in the big malls are being monopolied by one company – Studio 21. in PTC its like the Greenbelt 3 or Robinsons Ortigas, the TP its like the Glorrieta 1. Although there are small theaters around the city with a cheaper price, it comes with free bugs, lice, smell, sex film, etc. Its like the ones in Quiapo.
I watched ‘Kill Bill 2’. The TP theater is very nice – the ushers, carpet, seat, surround sound system and the subtitles in Indonesian. But when ‘the Bride’ (Uma Thurman) went to have a training with this egoistic, white bearded Master Chinese guy, they are using Chinese and Japanese interchangeably !!! Grrr!!! I have to read the subtitle but I am still slow and havent memorized some verbs. But I enjoyed the action flick.
MAY 25 to 31 (Tue – Mon)
Im back to work. Very hectic, very tiring, very depressing days. So many deadlines, disappointments, arguments, meetings, working overtime (Sat beyond 1pm), including on a Sunday (informing me only 1 day before) for Staff and Board meetings. Plus I just learned that she moved the Parents Symposium from June 12 to June 5 without asking me or informing me. I just learned that they already made a new advertisement for that event on June 5. and I ve got only less than 2 weeks to prepare. Remember the printer, the ink, and the cable came late. Then one teacher has to translate it to Indonesian then we have to memorize it, then print the important words in acetate, rent a projector, prepare the venue, etc.
We are about to promote the school that is half empty but in the brochure we say that we have this and that. And if the parents arrive, we can only show that we are not complete. My boss told me to coordinate with the new marketing girl, Vashti, but don’t talk about the facilities. When I showed Vashti my proposal, which Ms. Lina asked me to write about, on how to improve the service of the school, we have the same thinking that:
= we put up banners and post signs
= we advertise in print, newspapers and magazines
= distribute giveaways
= offer discounts
= buy the computers and complete the Music & Gym room
= train the teachers or hire experienced ones.
She also consulted her aunt who onws a school and told about the our situation. “we are not ready” and “you cant have your money back that soon” were the words from her aunt.
Then the following day, Monday, my boss called me over the phone and she was angry over me telling Vashti that we are not complete and ready to run. Why is she ordering computers from her.
I said to her, “Well, its in our brochure, isnt it?”
“Which brochure are you talking about?”
I almost screamed over the phone but I said in a calm but loud voice, “The brochure that we have, the one that you printed and distributing to parents. It says here Audio/Visual, Computer Class, Music room, etc. But we don’t have these.”
“Ok. What if I give you five computers, can you promise to keep the students in our school?”
“Yes. Because the parents will see that we are really complete”
“And Widya, ok, I will give her to you full time starting June 1 so you can supervise her and let her finish her lesson plans. I don’t need to hire new teachers.”
The line was cut or she hang up on me. Then she called again. We started talking calmly.
That is what I don’t like the most, I don’t want to promote this school by lying. The receptionist tell some ‘white lies’ to visiting parents because my boss instructed her to answer inqueries that way. My boss wants this school operational and the course outline, lessom plans, materials, equipment, and facilities will come after we get the students. These are my disappointments.
I told aiesec all the problems and difficulties that I was having that time and I want to quit.
***Coming Soon***
June – I almost resigned twice
July – I went to Bali
PART 11
JUNE 1, TUESDAY
For the past few days, as I have mentioned in Part 9 & 10, I had so many work and disapointments with my boss. I felt ill, not just sick, I was feeling ‘feverish’ and ready to burn like the ‘sponteneous human combustion’ because I’m so mad. I want to nag and point out to my boss about her mistakes and short comings. But I know she will just make exuces and promises or point it back to me as if they are my own mistakes.
So I tried to avoid her and ignore her until I cant take it anymore, the burden of angst, so I called Aiesec last week and they said that they will invite Miss Lina to have an Post- 4 Weeks Evaluation. She agreed to talk it over lunch.
She took us to a Japanese restaurant near to our school. First, I wasn’t talking. But the way she welcomed and invited the Aiesecers (Mars & Fadil), she looks ‘tame’ as if she cant break a plate with an ‘orocan’ plastic smile and she call them with respect as if a title to a gentleman in Indonesia. Im so irritated by the looks of her. But I am ready to quit today.
Aiesecers asked her if there are any problems with me, with my work or by the way I handle my tasks. She said I’m okey and no problems (she often make words Plural). I said I will step out for a while to smoke so that they can talk in private. After a few smoke, I went back in. Then the aiesecers asked me if I have any problems. This is what I said:
* we are not ready, the facilities are not complete
* the teachers need more training before we start the school year
* the lesson plan for the first quarter is not ready
* we don’t have curriculums yet for the other courses that we are offering
* we need more teachers, and where is the native-Chinese speaker
* my speech for the Parents Symposium is not finished because the printing was late
* to put this one teacher full-time for the school, because she teaches and works as the
receptionist in the morning, and also the bookkeeper for my boss’ other business every afternoon, so she cant work on her lesson plans so shes always not ready for teaching
* in short, stop the operation for 1 month to prepare for the opening on July 12
My boss laughed.
She said we cant close the school because the people will think that we are closing down. This is the way Indonesian think. And they will enroll their child in another school.
I said, no. If we can tell them that we are preparing for July 12 then we can teach better and provide better education. This is how the way it should be.
But where would she get the money to pay the bills and the salary for teachers.
I said, then you should invest more. You cant earn back your money in just months. You just opened this January and now you want your money back. You asked me last month to get 100 students in 1 month but that’s impossible. You need to advertise more but you need to complete your facilites and staff first.
Okey she will complete the facilities but she will not give the part time teacher for her school because she still needs her for bookkeeping her other business office. She is willing to try for 1 week, if she can handle her schedule in preparing for her lessons and have vacant time in the afternoon, then she will still give her bookkeeping jobs.
And the Parents symposium this June 6, might not push through because nobody is responding from our advertisement since Monday.
After lunch, I talked with the aiesecers and telling them I don’t want to work in this condition anymore. They say give it a try and give them another chance. So I went back to school. In the afternoon, my boss talked to me in private. She said that if there is a problem, we can talk it over. Aiesec doesn’t have to know about it. But I said my traineeship depends on the condition of the company. She said, small problems can be solved. Then she gave me advice about how to become a leader, and shes passing on to me what she have learned from her former mentor.
Is that the reason why she is tough, hard but unorganized, undecisive, narrow-minded, paranoid, judgemental and business minded?
JUNE 2, WEDNESDAY
After a day of relieving all my grievances and angst, I feel relieved and emotionally tired. Plus I started to feel feverish since Sunday overtime Board meeting. I didn’t go to work (to the other branch). So I went back to bed after I text/sms my boss.
At 9pm, she was there. Asking what am I doing. I said im just sleeping and taking a rest. After an hour, she knocked again asking if im not doing anything, maybe I can help putting the brochures in the envelope so they can send it as a marketing strategy. Couldn’t she read between the lines? Im weak, tired and having a rest and she wants me to work in the office of the school (where I am living).
At 12nn, I took my lunch, I saw some take-out food. Maybe for me. So I ate one. I try to keep quiet as possible coz I don’t want to he heard from the office. I can hear that my boss is still there. Is she guarding me and making sure that I am just staying in my room? She can work in her other (jewerly) office, but why is she here the whole day? I don’t care. I just went back to my room and text the aiesecers to bring me some Paracetamol and a body thermometer, and went back to sleep.
I woke up at 4pm, Bayu (new LCP), my ‘mother’, arrived with my requests and some food. I feel better now after sleeping the whole day. He said Mars (ex-LCP), my father, will come at my place this evening.
When Mars arrived, he wants to go to Malang, his hometown, 2 hrs, 50 km south from my city. So we waited for Miss Melya, my other boss, because she said she will also drop by this evening. When she arrived, we told her that Mars is going home and I don’t want to be left alone (because the servant boy, Fakur, also went home to Malang), and tomorrow is a Holiday.
We arrived Malang at 12 midnight. Its cold like Baguio but the city is slightly elevated from the sea level and it is situated in a valley from three distant mountains.
JUNE 3, THURSDAY
* Waisak. The Birthday of the “Buddha”
* May 20, Ascension of Christ
* May 3, The Birthday of Muhammed
(I remember my boss telling me that she will go on a business trip in Bali and she will take me with her last May 1-3. She had a room reserved for me and the Hk girl and we just have to pay for our tickets which she already booked. But she called off to May 20-23 it that’s why I went to Jakarta and Anyer.
But that May 20, she cancelled it again without telling me when. But in this week, the trainees from Jakarta was here in Surabaya, and I went to Jakarta for 1 day and back.
Then she never mentioned Bali again coz she was asking me to prapare for the Parents Symposium for June 12 then later moved to June 6, Sunday. So it means we are not going to Bali on this day.)
What the heck, im here in Malang on this Holiday. At least its out of my town. This is called Apple City because they produce the best apples in Indonesia – all kinds of apples. Plus some strwaberries, grapes and vegetables. The air is cold, as I have said, like the morning in Baguio City, but not as cold as Banawe or Sagada in the Mountain Provinces in the Central Luzon Region. We ride a motorcycle and I was wearing only short pants. BBbbbrrrrr!!!
Then we went uphill to Batu, next small town, and the road is like going to Antipolo. They have “Payung 1, 2 and 3 Stations” (meaning umbrella) but those are eatery (cafeteria or canteen) where you can stop over, have a few refreshing drinks, and panoramic view of the city below. Too bad, its my second time here in Malang and I don’t have a camera with me. It means im coming back.
We went back home at noontime. The sun is now hot. But then Mars’ father took us together with his sister to have lunch and go around the city. Malang is just an extension of Surabaya, or the people from here buy stuff from Surabaya, or bring their students to study in the big universities in Surabaya. So its like the Binan-Laguna, Imus-Kavite, Cainta-Rizal, Apalit-Pampanga – the towns immediately outside the Metro Manila borders.
At night, we rented computer for internet then went to bed early coz we will go back to Surabaya tomorrow and wake up at 4am. I have to go back home at 6 coz the car will pick me up at 8 am to bring me to the other branch school for work.
JUNE 5, SATURDAY
I went out to McDo outside the TP Mall coz there is an event happening. There were bands playing at the mcdo parking area. It’s a regular stuff. All 24-hr mcdo have live bands every weekend. But this is special. Maybe some promotion or a soccer game. But whatever this is, im enjoying myself. AND THERE WOULD BE NO PARENTS SYMPOSIUM TOMORROW!!!
JUNE 6, SUNDAY
After cleaning my room, I went to play bowling with Riza, the guy from English First (EF) and some of his co-workers, natives and an Australian girl who can speak Indonesian better than me and with a native boyfriend. Shes been here for almost 9 years. Then I saw a banner in the bowling alley – Filipino Community Sponsored Bowling Tournament is being held. Well, I don’t know if they are all Filipinos coz they still speak Indonesian and we are all look alike. I don’t want to bother and ask “Pilipino kayo?”
Then Mars texted me and wants to meet me in the TP Mall, which is just a few meters away from the bowling alley, coz hes gonna introduce me to an Aiesec Canada Alumnus who is here in Surabaya. He works for a company which sells watches from Europe. They have several branches here in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Hongkong. When we saw him, he speaks bahasa Indonesia also better than I do. He have been travelling around those countries which I mention and only 3 years recently here in Indonesia. They are gona open a new store branch in this TP Mall next week.
I stopped learning new words after the middle of May. And im still confused about the sentence pattern. Indonesian is different in Tagalog and English sentence pattern. Examples:
THE LANGUAGE:
(((English – Indonesian – direct Filipino translation – real Tagalog)))
What is your job? – Kerja apa? – Tabaho ano? – Anong trabaho mo?
What color is this? – Warnanya apa? – color nya ano? – Anong kulay nya?
How much is this? – Berapa Harganya? – ilan halaga nya? – Magkano ito/ iyan?
Who owns this? – Punya-siapa ini? – may-ari sino ito? – Sinong may-ari nito?/ Kanino ito?
How long (have you been) here? – Berapa lama disini? – ilan tagal (ka) dito? – Gano katagal (ka na) dito?
I took a nap this afternoon – Saya tidur sebentar tadi sore – ako tulog sandali kaninang hapon – Naidlip ako kaninang hapon
I want to eat dinner outside tonight – Malam ini saya mau makan malam di luar – gabi ito aku gusto kain hapunan sa labas – Gusto kong kumain sa labas ngayong gabi
I will buy the heavy table – Saya ingin membeli yang meja berat – aku gusto bili yung mesa bigat – Bibilhin ko yung mabigat na mesa
Remember, we have equal books – Kamu ingat, kita ada buku-buku pantas – ikaw tandaan, tayo may mga libro pantay/ patas– Tandaan mo, pantay/ patas mga libro natin.
Wednesday,Jul 7 2004, 09:41:29 AMPART 7 MAY 2, SUNDAY We are still in Anyer...
PART 7
MAY 2, SUNDAY
We are still in Anyer Beach in the West coast of West Java. The sun is bright and hot. We go surfing using a small board in the afternoon. Then in the evening, we watched some stage show. A group of natives from a town called Banten. They are showing their mystic abilities. Eating fire, running the flame over the skin, eating and dancing on broken glass, piercing the arms, lying on bed of nails, and the impermeable skin against the sharp jungle bolo. Then at night, we are having some conviviality. All of them are going to bed early, I am the last person finish the last drop of beer and go to sleep. Hehehe! PINOY RULES!!!
MAY 3, MONDAY – Maulid Nabi Muhammed SAW (Muhammed’s Birthday)
A MAN FROM ACEH
Im going on body surfing again for the last time then cool down in the pool, while Jens (German) and I are relaxing. A guy is talking to me in Indonesian, I say I am a Filipino. So he speaks in English and asking about the white guy if he can talk to him. His English is okey but he said he never had a formal education. He just watches tv shows and programs and imitates them. Hmmm.
Then he is telling us that he is from Aceh, a province in the Northen tip of Sumatra who asks for liberation and independence from Indonesia. They have their own military (GAM –Freedom Movement of Aceh), boundary and immigration. No tourists and journalist are allowed. Not even the Indonesian people from the nearby towns and from the Indonesian Government are not allowed to enter without a purpose. They still follow the Indonesian Constitution but they have their own set of Laws as well. And even before they can go out of Aceh, they have to fill up a form about their pertinent information, that they are not connected to any militant group and their purpose of going out of Aceh. They must carry that clearance where ever they will go.
Its about to rain and our things on the table will get wet. We bid good bye to the man from Aceh. But he is asking if he can visit to out unit so that he can talk to the rest of our foreigner friends and expose himself to English. We say to him that we are leaving in a while and we must prepare now.
Scary, huh?!
After 2 hours of driving from Anyer, we are back in Jakarta. They are bringing me directly to the train station coz I have 1 hr left before the train leave.
In the station, I try to ask one of the Cleaner Boy for the toilet. He points the direction using his right thumb (they don’t use left coz it is the bad side, right hand is good side. They don’t point using the index finger coz 3 fingers are pointing back at you – middle, ring & little fingers).
So, I have been waiting already for 1 hour and my train is 20 minutes beyond the scheduled departure. I keep on asking if I am standing on the right platform coz I thought that my train has left me. Yes, I am on the right platform but the train is delayed.
MAY 4, TUESDAY
Its 4am and I am still in the train, I will reach home soon. So I tried calling my home to ask the servant to pick me up from the station. No answer. Then I try to remember how he instructed me to take a public transportation from home to the station, now I just have to do it in the opposite way. It’s the brown ‘bemo’ (smaller than the jeepney) with ‘Q’ route.
So I got off the coach and now I am walking towards the street. I see the bemo that will pass by near my place. I have to take this so that I can rest for a while before going to work.
You know what? The servant boy is not home yet (from his home town 2 hrs south of the city) and I don’t have the key. He has the key bcoz he is suppose to come home last night. I told my boss about my situation that I am standing outside the house and waiting for a “miracle”. She offers her place where I can take a bath and have breakfast before I can go to work. Simple as that. Yeah, I have to work for the whole day. I will just have long sleep later tonight.
**************************
THE MUSIC…
@ they have Indo Pop music which is almost the same to the Filipino music. There is dance, rap, ballad, and just pop like band group, boy group, single female/ male, vocal acapella, etc.
@ they also have this singing search titled Akademi Fantasi Indosiar (AFI) and “Indonesian Idol” in television like the American Idol
@ they have a lot of radio station. In the broad band FM, they distance between two stations is usually only 0.5 Hz (normal is 0.8) so sometimes they overlap over the weaker Hertz. But after the Independence in 1945, radio station flourished like mushroom. They only had a difference of 0.3 Hz!!!
@ they have stations like Indo Pop & Foreign Pop, LightRock, Heavy Indo Rock, campus radio, some stations are (like the WLS, Star FM or WRR in the Philippines) with lots of talking, laughing, people requesting and greeting on air, some are playing purely Dangdut music (Indonesian with influence from India), and others are Chinese or oldies from the 40’s to 70’s.
@ the lady DJ most radio stations have the same modulated voice. Even in one station, you would hear only 1 voice from morning till night. Someone told me that they are being trained like that before they can go on air.
@ MTV Indonesia plays various genres. But the recently concluded MTV VJ hunt this month has a finalist from Aiesec Surabaya. His name is Ramon. But the guy from Jakarta, Evan, won.
@ they play Filipino music from Jose Marie Chan like “Beautiful Girl”, “My woman, my girl”, from Regine Velasquez (not from her latest albums) and her duet with Jacky Cheung , Lea Salonga “A whole new world”, “Reflection”, “We could be in love”, Nina’s dance song from her first album, and the undying “Anak” by Freddie Aguilar (in English). You could even sing some of them in the Karaoke including Basil Valdez and Eddie Peregrina’s songs.
@ the Karaoke data base of songs are divided into categories. Indonesian (old, traditional, modern love songs and pop), Barat – means Western (all American and European English songs, including the Filipino artists mentioned above), and Mandarin (from HK, Taiwan and Mainland)
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PART 8
MAY 7, FRIDAY
Marshel, Bayu & Christian took me to the Police Camp of East Java to apply for my clearance. Upon entering, they asked us to remove our helmet and jacket. Damn its very hot under the sun. It’s the law, they said. They are afraid of some bad elements such as terrorist will enter the camp. But I didn’t know that even sunglasses are not allowed. We were walking and a station cop was shouting at me and pointing his fingers at me. The guys explained that I am a Filipino and I didn’t know. So I removed my sunglasses and we moved on.
We entered a building and pointed us to another building. We passed by in one of the quadrangle where cops are in formation for briefing. Later, we heard some gunshots and cars skidding. They were having a drill of protecting an ‘presidential car’. Then I looked around and there were media. Impressive, huh.
Then we moved to another building then finally found the office where I must apply for the clearance and have my picture taken. After that, we moved to another building to submit the papers and they told us to come back for the releasing of the clearance. Sounds familiar? The “point-point” and processing, I mean.
MAY 8, SATURDAY
It’s Roy’s Farewell Party. Its his second traineeship. This time, he passed the interview from HP and will stay in Singapore for one year. And another aiesec member-turned SN, Paladin, will also have his traineeship in Columbia as an English teacher. There were about 20 aiesecers in a long table. There were speeches, chatting, taking pictures, etc. but all have to leave by 10pm. Some has to go home, some has another appointment. But for me, its Saturday night. Im not suppose to go home early. So I asked one of them to bring me to Cangkir (Cup) Bar.
This was my second time here, but this time I am alone. The entrance fee is Rupia 25,000 (PhPesos 165) with one free glass of beer or coke. There were only few people when I entered and there was a band covering Matchbox20, Nirvana and Indonesian pop songs which I like. By 11pm, it was getting growded till my view is blocked and the smoke is getting into my eyes. I see a mix crowd -- peers, dating, native, Chinese, mostly middle class. I ordered another glass of Bintang Beer (equivalent to 1 SMB bottle) for Rp 20,000 (PhP 131). Dammit its so expensive. That’s why I see other people standing and not drinking anymore after their first glass. All are smoking Kretek. The type of tobacco in Gudang Garam Intl.
I cant breath anymore. Got to get out. I kinda like the music although I hate very loud sounds, but I hate crowded bars. So I decided to go home by 1am. And still there were some people outside waiting to get in. I looked in my wallet. Damn! I don’t have smaller bills. When the taxi stop in front of my house, ya, as I have expected, he charged me Rp 10,000 coz I gave a whole bill even though its only Rp 7000.
MAY 9, SUNDAY
We had an Open House (blessing) in the school where I live. All my boss and our staff were there. Some guests arrived, mostly friends of my boss from her Christian church. Its Sunday but Im here entertaining guests. Good thing its only up to 1pm. So I went back to bed from 2 to 5 pm.
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PART 9
MAY 10, MONDAY
I had my first argument with my co-worker. She is one of the part-time teacher but still a student in university and from a rich Chinese family. I all started when everybody is not feeling well. I just forced myself to go to work, and she had colds she said.
After the class, I am having discussion with the teachers and making a folow up on their individual tasks. She still talks in the Javanese language to her peers, not Indonesian, that is why I don’t understand her. I said, “I am talking here”. She said that she is asking her partner about the task. Then I said again, “I am taking here in English”. She silenced herself.
Then I asked them to make a bubble balloon using soap and wires. They don’t have any idea how to use the wire to make the ring. I asked her to get me a paperclip coz she is sitting beside the office supplies cabinet.
She simply said, “I don’t know”.
“Can you find one for me?”
Still the same answer, so I said, “Can’t you get up and look for it? You have eyes, hands and feet, don’t you?”
She deliberately answered back, “Why don’t you find it yourself!”
I screamed at the top of my lungs, “Why are you not paying any respect to me?”
“Because you don’t respect me. I am sick, you know.”
Im about to hit the table in front of me, “I asked you nicely if you can get me a paperclip because you are near to it. And you don’t know my position here, do you. Just leave!”
She answered back again, “If I leave, the boss will get angry at me.”
“Well, im angry at you right now!”
The other teacher got me a paperclip and I showed to them how to make a ring with a handle for the bubble balloon. “There, its easy. You said you cannot make it. Why can I make it?!”
I left them to cool myself down and went upstairs and sent an sms to my two bosses. They replied by saying they will talk to her.
(The next day they talked to her, all right. But she did not appologized to me nor greet me in the morning or when shes about to leave in the afternoon for the following days. I talk to her only to check her work and give tasks.
But you know whats more disappointing??? My two bosses and the Senior Adviser (former university professor) told me the same thing…. Not to raise my voice… be cool… and talk nicely to the teachers.
“Yes I do that, but I am mad to people who does not give respect. Don’t they know that you assigned me as the Principal of this school? Well, I have to show some authority here”.
My boss said that that girl even talk back to her the same way. No wonder she does that to everybody, even to me.
Then my boss also said that shes from a rich family.
“So what?! This is not her home nor her school. This is a workplace. She must follow and comply. Not complain. She must learn some ethics or she can quit!”
We didn’t fire her. She just changed her attitude.)
MAY 10 to 15 & 17 to 22 (two weeks)
This was my busiest weeks ever. This is the reason why I havent been online or sending journals on these dates. I will just go over the tasks which I worked on and all the arguments that I have been through.
@ I am to make a list of topics that have been taught to the children to teach it to the parents this time. So that they can follow up and practice it at home.
@ I am to make an invitation for the parents to come on the said date to teach them.
@ I am to make a Monthly Progress Report Card for the parents on the same date.
@ But first, I have to read the Daily Evaluation for each child for each day, make a Grading System using the ‘star’ stamp (number coding) for each category being measured (language, physical, moral, role-playing, etc).
@ Get the average of the scores for each week of the first month then write the positive aptitudes.
@ Ask my boss to have the Monthly Card printed on a special paper and buy the star stamp.
@ Check the teachers’ Lesson Plans which is two weeks ahead and scrutinize them.
@ Evaluate each teacher daily according to their performance in a 4-point system with 10 categories.
@ Prepare a topic for the Teachers’ Training every Saturday.
@ Discuss, every Saturday, the Students’ Daily Evaluation, Teachers’ Daily evaluation, next week’s lesson plan, and making and preparing the materials or hands-on activities for teaching such as choosing toys, making models, cutting out or painting pictures, finding songs and movie or barney and requesting stuff before buying them.
@ Lastly, write up a speech for a Parents Seminar entitled “How to know your child’s capabilities and interests” which will be held in 3 weeks time, June 5 (Sunday). The last time wa talked was June 12 (Saturday). She moved the date to an earlier date without consulting me.
@ Read three books before I write up my speech.
PROBLEMS:
@ There is only one computer with a virus and without the scanner’s driver/ program. My boss took it to fix it, but returned it after 1 week, still with the same virus and without the scanner’s driver.
@ When she took the computer and printer, she said she will buy the ink. When it was returned, she blames us for not buying the ink sooner and she forgot about the cable to plug it. She said that it was left in her house and promised to send it, after 5 days she told me that the programmers lost it, and we have to buy a new one.
@ So my typing is delayed. And I have to send her the document for printing so she can print it in her office or home. In her office she don’t have the time. At home,she ran out of ink. It will come back after a week even if I remind her daily due to the following reasons: she havent got the time to print, she forgot her folder, cant go to the school, the staff was busy, the driver forgot to put it in the car in the morning before fetching me, etc.
@ I requested for another computer for the other school where I live so that I can work even at night. The old computer there only has Pentium 1, limited mem, cd rom is not working, floppy is inaccessible, video card had a problem, so it was sent for upgrading but they said its impossible. So they have to buy a new one.
@ I also requested for an internet connection. What my boss said was, “you can go to my (other) office (jewelry industry) after your work (4pm) to do your reseach”. It means, she doesn’t want to use the phone at the place where I stay (coz its boxed up, remember), she doesn’t want to add another internet billing and adding rate to the electricity billing, she’s afraid that I will use it oftenly, and she’s asking me to extend my working hours for the sake of the seminarin ano her workplace.
@ She gives me deadlines but I am delayed because of the lack of equipment and facilities. Although she appologizes for not giving me the print outs on time, she still blames me for not doing my job well. Shes just adding up my disappointments.
@ For the seminar, we will put it in a newspaper. Im sure they will write about the courses that we offer, the programs that we will teach, the facilities that we have, and the native (foreign) speaker teacherssss and the ‘experienced’ teacherssss that are working.
@ Well, there are only outline of the course program for each level, not detailed coz not a single teacher is working on it. They will hire a new teacher as soon as we have a student on that english & mandarin courses then we will ask that teacher to make a lesson plan in a shortest time possible.
@ There is only one Native (Foreign) speaker who is working for the school – Moi. We even don’t have a Native Mandarin speaker from the Mainland. And the teachers told me that they lack the knowledge, skill and experience in teaching coz its their first time and young. But Im giving them training regularly. Three among the 5 are part-timers only.
@ In our brochure, we have audio-visual room, music room, computer room, gym room and eating room. We have television and vcd player, xylophones and small electric keyboards, electronic gadgets for alphabets, ball pool and an eating table. But the school area is huge!
Wednesday,Jul 7 2004, 09:36:08 AMPART 4 APRIL 10, BLACK SATURDAY I have tried...
PART 4
APRIL 10, BLACK SATURDAY
I have tried riding a MEIKROLET or BEMO for the first time. As I have said, its like a JEEPNEY, only smaller and tighter. Its hot inside coz there are sliding fiber glass windows so only half is open. Plus you get to smell the person beside you. The fare is almost the same to the Philippines, Rp 1500 (PhP10, USD 0.16) for the farthest run and Rp1000 for less than 4 km run. There are only three good taxi companies, Zebra, Silver and Surabaya Taxi. They use modern cars with cooler air con and digital meters. But its cheap. First 1 km run is Rp3000 (P17) then Rp240 (P2) for every 200 meter. So a 5 km run is around Rp9000 (PhP60, USD 1)) that is from my place to the nearest largest modern mall in the central district. But I still learning how to ride the Mikrolet and their color-coded routes.
At night, my friend picked me up from my place and took me to Kya-Kya. Together with their friends we had dinner. I cant find any alcoholic beverage so I bought some beers from a grocery then we went Videoke in NAV.
APRIL 11, EASTER SUNDAY
Yohannes arrived the other day from Jakarta then proceeded to his home town outside the city. We met Sunday. He picked me up from my place then went to Plaza Marina. There we met other aiesecers Akeng (alumni), Bayu (LCVp), Fadil, DD, Roy and Ivy (trainee-HK). We just had some talk for a few hours. Then Yohannes, DD and Roy took me to Cungkir (cup), a bar like the Cowboy grill with a dark stage, a bar in the middle of the ground floor and a second floor where you can still see the band performers. DD paid for my fare which is Rp10,000 (PhP65 USD1.1) with 2 free drinks. I ordered Beer Bintang. We listened to the music while telling stories. DD is a member of aiesec and Roy is an SN. He had his training in Macedonia last year.
APRIL 12, MONDAY
One hour with an Indo-Chinese guy.
He is the husband of one of the administrators of my school, and he can speak English bit clearly. He runs a business in the North District Port Area because this is one of the important cities in Indonesia. He said that he would like to live a simple life in a small town but the market is here.
Born in an island east of Borneo, Sulawesi is a region with diverse and more preserved culture. Some are still living in tribes. Like the Filipinos in some remote provinces, Sulawesi (Makassar) people eat meat from different exotic animals such as dogs, cat, rat, reptile (bayawak), snake, frog, etc.
But during the financial crisis in 1997, when their economy was really bad, they worked in a Black Market. Selling trading items and goods to Mindanao just to have money by skipping customs and taxes. That is why this guy knows about some current events from the Philippines until now.
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PART 5
APRIL 14, WEDNESDAY
Most of the rich people are Chinese (Chong kwo or Cino). They live in big houses, in the new villas, and own cars, even a college student has it. They own business establishments, run an office, own a store, a restaurant, a school, grocery store and town house and even malls.
There are also some middle class or average Chinese, and some are mixed. It is very seldom that a Chinese would marry a non-Chinese (Pribumi-native). They still send their children to Indochinese-populated-school. But they do mingle with the muslim in all places. They do not discriminate the less fortunate. But the poor takes advantage of the rich.
Although there were hatred towards Chinese people years ago, both sides had seems to have co-exist harmoniously by identifying themselves as Indonesian people living in one country. They do not look down to each other because they are from a different bloodline or ancestors; nevertheless they look down to each other because of their religion. But still, ironically, co-existing harmoniously.
APRIL 17, SATURDAY
I went to University of Surabaya to visit the Aiesec hosted Interactive Talk Leadership Seminar. After that, they had some evaluation meeting.
That night, Marshell took me to the Western district – Mulyosari. KENPARK is a huge recreational area with go-cart race track, badminton, basketball court, a bayside where you can park and see the Northwestern sea (facing the Philippinnes), a covered boardwalk with lots of eatery (Warung) much like the Roxas boulevard but without the band and alcoholic beverages, and a Buddhist Temple.
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jeromesky2003/album?.dir=/369a&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/jeromesky2003
APRIL 18, SUNDAY
We went back to University and sat as the Chairperson (moderator) for Aiesec Surabaya Election for LCP, LCVP and OGX Dir the whole day. Yah, I understand some of what they have talked about, generally. So Bayu is the incoming LCP, Fadil the LCVP and Christian the OGX.
APRIL 21, WEDNESDAY
Chinatown, as they call it, is a part of the old district located North East of the city. They call it such because this is where previous generations of Chinese migrants worked and lived. You can buy almost everything from here from raw materials, goods, equipment, households, factory items and trading items. Its unlike any other Chinatown around the world. It is not Chinese! Yeah there are some arcs with two dragons facing each other and lanterns along the famous and busiest trading road Kembang Jepun and at night its named Kya-Kya (Chinese Food Center). But I do not see Chinese characters, no Chinese decoration or ornaments, no red post or banners, no display of Chinese posters, ads or signboards.
At night, they close all their stores and all the intersections to this road. The owners set up food stalls (warung or kedai) in front of their location, below the sidewalk, and some chairs and tables in the middle of the street, about 10 block stretch (500 meters). You will see all the Indonesian and Chinese food and drinks, small souvenir and decorative shops from Chinese, Bali and Java, and a mix crowd. Its like the Bay Walk along Roxas Boulevard with some band performers during Saturdays. Friends, family members and local tourists come here. But it is not always full. Personnel maintain the cleanliness of everything. And they don’t serve anything with alcohol.
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jeromesky2003/album?.dir=/a656&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/jeromesky2003
APRIL23, FRIDAY
I appeared in the Jawa Post Newspaper (East Java only) for the advertisement of our school.
APRIL 28, WEDNESDAY
IM HOMESICK THE WHOLE DAY!!! WHERE ARE YOU PEOPLE???!!!