Thursday, September 28, 2006

Life in Bandung...


Today was a half day of school for the kids due to parent-teacher conferences. All is going well with the kids in school. Aidan has had the most adjusting to do, but he is coming along nicely. Because we had so much time in the afternoon we decided to take the kids to Jump’n Gymn at the mall. So we rode (lurched)on an angkot down the hill. When we got there we went through the usual process. You have to walk through security to get to the mall and usually they run a metal detector over any bags you are carrying. Today they didn’t ask to do it, I guess they figured that a buleh family with 5 kids was pretty harmless. While we walked to the mall some people video taped us. I have to say that we kind of live a little like celebrities here. People are always watching what we are doing and pointing and looking at us or videoing us… The kids had fun at the Jump’n Gymn and Mikah got to paint a statue of a girl. While the kids were there we have to confess that we actually went to (gasp) Starbucks. They actually have Starbucks here! It’s really quite a nice one too and everyone who works there is required to speak English, but just to practice, I placed our order in Indonesian.
The photo is of Ibu Misyah. She is our cook. Ibu Misyah has made a pilgramage to Mecca and is therefore very highly esteemed in the community. She doesn't actually have to work (apparently) because of this. But she would be bored otherwise as she only has two older daughters, so she works. Her husband died 7 years ago in an accident in Surabaya. Ibu Mysiah is a very good cook and we love her.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you had a great time today.Nice that you can do these kind of things with the children.Your cook is a pretty lady.Does not look too old either.Are they surviving their hunger during the day now.Don't they have some kind of energy drink?????Or is that just Sudanese??Glad to hear from you today.All is just fine here.Oh yes,Harold and Regina are getting married Oct.20,2006 at the Justice of the Peace after which I guess they will have a church blessing held by Rev.Wieske.Garrick and Marian are coming for the wedding too.which disappoints me but each to their own.They keep saying Harold's happiness comes FIRST!!!!!!!! instead of God's happiness.Sad eh???????????Well,I,m signing off now.Good-nite!!!!!!!!!!!! and God Bless

Anonymous said...

Hi kids, Must be nice to go out for a day and not have to worry about school. Still you get your Indonesian excercise when you talk to other people, do you ever try talking Indonesian to each other? Do the kids learn it too? I quess they will pick it up as they are playing with other children.I remember my brother Henk talking Gronings to uncle Henry who spoke English but they had no trouble understanding each other.That was when we got engaged in Holland before we went to Africa.Seems like a long time ago......Marsha is home this weekend. Going pretty good. She loves candles. Very relaxing. Dad is still busy for tomorrow [sunday]. Hope you have a good sunday. Miss you all ,. would love to come for a cup of coffee...Lots of love , God bless.