Happy Halloween Everyone!! Please enjoy all the little kiddies dressed up in costumes and give them candies on my behalf.......
Just a reminder, today is Friday, and we don't have access to the Internet on weekends. Why you ask? Because Eri and I are internet piggies, and his cousin Eny only gets to talk to her bf on the weekends (her bf lives in Germany...thanks to Skype, she gets to actually talk to him instead of chat) so we give her personal time to spend with him. Aren't we just sooooo sweet? :-P
Tomorrow Eri is going to a Temple 3 hours away and doing some traditions or somesort.
Sunday Eri and I, along with his Uncle and Friend are going to the Mountains, like 3 hrs away. We will come home Monday, just like a mini vaca inside a longer vaca. Make sense?
Well everyone have a happy halloween and a great weekend!!
Love ya,
Carle
31 October, 2008
30 October, 2008
It's almost Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!!
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As I was washing my underwears in the sink this morning at about 3 a.m.....I was thinking.....which it's never good to be thinking at 3 a.m. in Indonesia....but anyway........here I go:
Despite 99% of the time I feel like I am an egg that's being fried...
Despite that I sleep on the world's most uncomfortable bed everynight...
Despite that I eat more rice than I have ever consumed in my entire life...
Despite lots of other things...
Despite all of those things....I am truly thankful to have this time with Eri, to see where he came from, his roots, meet his family, his enteractions with his family, and most of all to pay respects to his Mom and Dad. This time means more to me than you could ever imagine. <3 <3
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Mama---I ran out of credits on my phone!! Sorry for such a short call, lol. [It was all of like 2 minutes long!] I got to stick to using Eri's phone.....but his bill is over 1 million IDR.....yikes!!
Tomorrow is Halloween!!! Woo hoo!! I told Eri that I brought a pirate costume with me and I was going to teach this 'lil town of Mojokerto all about Halloween.....LMAO.
Ok, so since the 20th, this is how my day goes......(since Eri and I aren't married, we aren't allowed to stay in the same room together).....Eri comes to my room and see's me at about 7am-ish before he goes to work....then at 7:30 he goes and open's his family's store.....then at about 10:30 he's back, with lunch!!! We eat, then at 12 he goes back to work.....I stay in the living room with the computer, browsing the Internet all day, til about 3:45 when Eri re-appears. Then we go outside sit out on the front porch and just talk, waiting for the afternoon breezes to kick in. Or sometimes we just sit and watch the rain. Sometimes the Ice Cream vendor is walking down the street, or the Bakso (meatball) vendor, or a dude riding a bike with chicken skewers that sounds like a woman yelling...but anyway....then about 630 or so, we talk about what to have for dinner....then he orders it, we eat [Makan]. But wait wait...I'm missng something....for most of the day it's relatively quiet.....just me and the housekeeper, but at 4:30 is when everyone returns home, and it's almost like a circus.....lol. But yeah, after dinner (sometimes before) we all take turns taking a bath, then Uncle goes into his room, Eny goes to her's, and Eri and I sit on the couch sometimes watching Season 1 of House that is on laptop, or some other shows that we download......People tend to go to sleep pretty early around here.........like last night Eny went to sleep at 750!! But yeah, for the most part, that's my day. So I haven't been really doing too much since the 20th......
-Phillies won the World Series.....WOW.
-I thought I already knew Northwest and Delta merged.........how funny I got an email about it today....
Hmmmm......what else.............I think that's it for now.
Later!
Cocky-poo
As I was washing my underwears in the sink this morning at about 3 a.m.....I was thinking.....which it's never good to be thinking at 3 a.m. in Indonesia....but anyway........here I go:
Despite 99% of the time I feel like I am an egg that's being fried...
Despite that I sleep on the world's most uncomfortable bed everynight...
Despite that I eat more rice than I have ever consumed in my entire life...
Despite lots of other things...
Despite all of those things....I am truly thankful to have this time with Eri, to see where he came from, his roots, meet his family, his enteractions with his family, and most of all to pay respects to his Mom and Dad. This time means more to me than you could ever imagine. <3 <3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mama---I ran out of credits on my phone!! Sorry for such a short call, lol. [It was all of like 2 minutes long!] I got to stick to using Eri's phone.....but his bill is over 1 million IDR.....yikes!!
Tomorrow is Halloween!!! Woo hoo!! I told Eri that I brought a pirate costume with me and I was going to teach this 'lil town of Mojokerto all about Halloween.....LMAO.
Ok, so since the 20th, this is how my day goes......(since Eri and I aren't married, we aren't allowed to stay in the same room together).....Eri comes to my room and see's me at about 7am-ish before he goes to work....then at 7:30 he goes and open's his family's store.....then at about 10:30 he's back, with lunch!!! We eat, then at 12 he goes back to work.....I stay in the living room with the computer, browsing the Internet all day, til about 3:45 when Eri re-appears. Then we go outside sit out on the front porch and just talk, waiting for the afternoon breezes to kick in. Or sometimes we just sit and watch the rain. Sometimes the Ice Cream vendor is walking down the street, or the Bakso (meatball) vendor, or a dude riding a bike with chicken skewers that sounds like a woman yelling...but anyway....then about 630 or so, we talk about what to have for dinner....then he orders it, we eat [Makan]. But wait wait...I'm missng something....for most of the day it's relatively quiet.....just me and the housekeeper, but at 4:30 is when everyone returns home, and it's almost like a circus.....lol. But yeah, after dinner (sometimes before) we all take turns taking a bath, then Uncle goes into his room, Eny goes to her's, and Eri and I sit on the couch sometimes watching Season 1 of House that is on laptop, or some other shows that we download......People tend to go to sleep pretty early around here.........like last night Eny went to sleep at 750!! But yeah, for the most part, that's my day. So I haven't been really doing too much since the 20th......
-Phillies won the World Series.....WOW.
-I thought I already knew Northwest and Delta merged.........how funny I got an email about it today....
Hmmmm......what else.............I think that's it for now.
Later!
Cocky-poo
20 October, 2008
Hi hi hi!!
Yesterday I went to a ceremony at the Buddhist Temple....it's the ceremony of giving the Monks clothes and personal hygiene products like toothbrush and blanket, that all the people give to them for the entire year. It was a really cool experience actually, we were chanting in Indonesian and then ate a vegetarian lunch, the went back and chanted in Chinese....
And on Saturday night Eri & I cooked grilled BBQ chicken, garlic mashed potatoes and creamed corn for his Uncle's family. They loved it!! Especially the mashed potatoes!
Well, that's pretty much it for right now.
Love ya.
Carle
Yesterday I went to a ceremony at the Buddhist Temple....it's the ceremony of giving the Monks clothes and personal hygiene products like toothbrush and blanket, that all the people give to them for the entire year. It was a really cool experience actually, we were chanting in Indonesian and then ate a vegetarian lunch, the went back and chanted in Chinese....
And on Saturday night Eri & I cooked grilled BBQ chicken, garlic mashed potatoes and creamed corn for his Uncle's family. They loved it!! Especially the mashed potatoes!
Well, that's pretty much it for right now.
Love ya.
Carle
13 October, 2008
Anonymous!!!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
So many anonymous comments!!!
Who are they from? I really have no idea......
Well, no updates so far.....
We did go to the mountains yesterday.....and I got to eat that fried tofu w egg and peanut sauce....and omg I seriously love that stuff! And we were going to go riding horses up on the top of the mountain...but the driver couldn't make it up the hill....we had to push the car up the hill! I'm serious....I swear he didn't know how to drive manual car....I'm like the expert now on how to drive manual...... but then we turned around....and went back down the hill.........so no horses :-( But we are going to try again next weekend.....
I will post about my first 2 days tomorrow!!
I miss my mom's cassarole tonight.
Love ya.
Carle
11 October, 2008
happy happy joy joy!!
Good morning!!
It's about 11:01 Sunday morning here........and I start my "job" tomorrow!!!
Yes yes....JOB! Since Eri and I aren't doing a whole lot during the day....except when he goes to his family's store to help out....I stay home pretty much....so there is an International Language School here in Mojokerto, so on Friday Eri, his Buddhist Uncle and I all stopped by to talk to them for a bit, and I am teaching an English class on Monday and Tuesday mornings from 7am-1pm! Yes it's exciting to me, I am looking forward to it. They basically said it's an honor for a native speaker to join them.....not a whole lot of native speakers make their way through Mojokerto. So...yeah...how exciting!! They offered to pay me, but we told them I was strictly volunteering, so they offered to give me breakfast and lunch, and transportation to and from the facility....which is very nice. They seem pretty excited too!
On today's agenda...there's not a whole lot....I think his Aunt wants to take us to the mountains today....and get some of that egg and tofu dish that I love! hehehehe......I don't know why there are so many comments about not liking tofu....it's super yummy stuff. I loved it before I came here....I'm not sure why you don't like it....but anyway......I'm feeling kinda silly today, so let me interview myself...maybe answer a few questions some people were having...... :-D
Here are some FAQ's:
1. So where exactly is Mojokerto?
Well, it's about an "hour" outside of Surabaya...Eri says it's compared to a redneck town in GA....which I'm not entirely convinced of that...BUT that is what he says. And plus it doesn't feel like an hour we are in the car going back and forth from Mojokerto and Surabaya....I believe it's more like 30-40 minutes.
2. How hot is hot?
Well, it's hot. But a different kind of hot. It does't actually feel hot unless you're inside the houses....walking outside, it just feels like normal hot weather....but inside it kinda feels like you are walking into a suana.
3. Do you sweat a lot?
Hahaha. Of course!
4. Are there air conditioners?
Indeed. And they feel gooooooooood!
5. How is the food?
The food is delicious! I love it for the most part. I am trying to get used to eating rice everyday..... There are certain things that I love, and certain things that I tolerate. But overall, it's good stuff.
6. How different is it?
Ummmm......well it's different in some ways, and not so different in others. Most of the stuff that is taking to get used to is cultural stuff......and it's not really that bad to me. They don't cook here, everything is ordered....but food is super cheap. I mean S-U-P-E-R C-H-E-A-P!!! I think it's like less than $10 US for the whole family to eat! And they use toiliet paper as a napkin here......cause they don't use toiliet paper, they wash up right then and there....kinda like a mini bath for your crotch.
7. Can you please tell us about the toilet story....
No. Never. :-D
8. What has been your most favorite memory so far?
1. Seeing Eri at the airport.
2. Indonesian Safari
9. Are you picking up any Bahasa Indonesia?
Well......yeah.....I guess. I think I am soaking it up like a sponge...I talk to people, but trust me, not like complex things at all- more like "Thank You" "How Are you?" "I am fine" "I need to use the bathroom" "I Love You" "Let's eat" things like that.....hehehehe
10. Has Eri been a good host?
Eri has been an amazing host.
11. Overall, are you enjoying your experience?
YES.
12. Why do you call Eri's family by "Buddhist Uncle" "Japanese Aunt"...etc?
Well, because. It's a very complex process calling people by names....some much depends on birth order....like they call Eri, all younger cousins "Older Brother Yudi" well not really Older Brother, but the chinese word for older brother....and Yudi....Eriyanto WahYUDI. It's just a way of us remembering who we are talking about...all of his Aunt's are named Sri....so you say Sri, and it could be any of them......but at least I have all his cousins names down, and who they are, their locations, etc.
13. When are you coming home?
Not quite sure yet.
14. You say Chinese sometimes and you are in Indonesia....I'm confused....what's going on there?
Ahhh ok. Eri and his family are all of Chinese descent. They are called Chinese Indonesians.....and they are Buddhist. Indonesia is a Muslim country. They speak Chinese and Bahasa Indonesia, and are very in tune with the Chinese culture. And here in this place...the Chinese are discrimintated against. Type it into google, it's quite alarming. You can find out a lot of information.
15. Is there anything the US could learn from Indonesia?
Well customer service is one......at the malls, the customer service is amazing. Take a look at this place BreadTalk, and KFC is a niiiiiice place to eat, and so is Pizza Hut. They have Starbucks coffee and Dunkin Donuts. But J. Co Donuts is soooooo good and so much better tasting! Ironically enough, owned by BreadTalk... But yes, customer service is amazing here. They sure do take care of you.
16. Is there anything you are missing or crave from back home?
Yes. My dog, and an Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich.
Ok, I'm done interviewing myself. If you have any questions for me, just leave them as a comment and we will answer them next time...
Later!
Carle
It's about 11:01 Sunday morning here........and I start my "job" tomorrow!!!
Yes yes....JOB! Since Eri and I aren't doing a whole lot during the day....except when he goes to his family's store to help out....I stay home pretty much....so there is an International Language School here in Mojokerto, so on Friday Eri, his Buddhist Uncle and I all stopped by to talk to them for a bit, and I am teaching an English class on Monday and Tuesday mornings from 7am-1pm! Yes it's exciting to me, I am looking forward to it. They basically said it's an honor for a native speaker to join them.....not a whole lot of native speakers make their way through Mojokerto. So...yeah...how exciting!! They offered to pay me, but we told them I was strictly volunteering, so they offered to give me breakfast and lunch, and transportation to and from the facility....which is very nice. They seem pretty excited too!
On today's agenda...there's not a whole lot....I think his Aunt wants to take us to the mountains today....and get some of that egg and tofu dish that I love! hehehehe......I don't know why there are so many comments about not liking tofu....it's super yummy stuff. I loved it before I came here....I'm not sure why you don't like it....but anyway......I'm feeling kinda silly today, so let me interview myself...maybe answer a few questions some people were having...... :-D
Here are some FAQ's:
1. So where exactly is Mojokerto?
Well, it's about an "hour" outside of Surabaya...Eri says it's compared to a redneck town in GA....which I'm not entirely convinced of that...BUT that is what he says. And plus it doesn't feel like an hour we are in the car going back and forth from Mojokerto and Surabaya....I believe it's more like 30-40 minutes.
2. How hot is hot?
Well, it's hot. But a different kind of hot. It does't actually feel hot unless you're inside the houses....walking outside, it just feels like normal hot weather....but inside it kinda feels like you are walking into a suana.
3. Do you sweat a lot?
Hahaha. Of course!
4. Are there air conditioners?
Indeed. And they feel gooooooooood!
5. How is the food?
The food is delicious! I love it for the most part. I am trying to get used to eating rice everyday..... There are certain things that I love, and certain things that I tolerate. But overall, it's good stuff.
6. How different is it?
Ummmm......well it's different in some ways, and not so different in others. Most of the stuff that is taking to get used to is cultural stuff......and it's not really that bad to me. They don't cook here, everything is ordered....but food is super cheap. I mean S-U-P-E-R C-H-E-A-P!!! I think it's like less than $10 US for the whole family to eat! And they use toiliet paper as a napkin here......cause they don't use toiliet paper, they wash up right then and there....kinda like a mini bath for your crotch.
7. Can you please tell us about the toilet story....
No. Never. :-D
8. What has been your most favorite memory so far?
1. Seeing Eri at the airport.
2. Indonesian Safari
9. Are you picking up any Bahasa Indonesia?
Well......yeah.....I guess. I think I am soaking it up like a sponge...I talk to people, but trust me, not like complex things at all- more like "Thank You" "How Are you?" "I am fine" "I need to use the bathroom" "I Love You" "Let's eat" things like that.....hehehehe
10. Has Eri been a good host?
Eri has been an amazing host.
11. Overall, are you enjoying your experience?
YES.
12. Why do you call Eri's family by "Buddhist Uncle" "Japanese Aunt"...etc?
Well, because. It's a very complex process calling people by names....some much depends on birth order....like they call Eri, all younger cousins "Older Brother Yudi" well not really Older Brother, but the chinese word for older brother....and Yudi....Eriyanto WahYUDI. It's just a way of us remembering who we are talking about...all of his Aunt's are named Sri....so you say Sri, and it could be any of them......but at least I have all his cousins names down, and who they are, their locations, etc.
13. When are you coming home?
Not quite sure yet.
14. You say Chinese sometimes and you are in Indonesia....I'm confused....what's going on there?
Ahhh ok. Eri and his family are all of Chinese descent. They are called Chinese Indonesians.....and they are Buddhist. Indonesia is a Muslim country. They speak Chinese and Bahasa Indonesia, and are very in tune with the Chinese culture. And here in this place...the Chinese are discrimintated against. Type it into google, it's quite alarming. You can find out a lot of information.
15. Is there anything the US could learn from Indonesia?
Well customer service is one......at the malls, the customer service is amazing. Take a look at this place BreadTalk, and KFC is a niiiiiice place to eat, and so is Pizza Hut. They have Starbucks coffee and Dunkin Donuts. But J. Co Donuts is soooooo good and so much better tasting! Ironically enough, owned by BreadTalk... But yes, customer service is amazing here. They sure do take care of you.
16. Is there anything you are missing or crave from back home?
Yes. My dog, and an Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich.
Ok, I'm done interviewing myself. If you have any questions for me, just leave them as a comment and we will answer them next time...
Later!
Carle
08 October, 2008
yeah....I know it's been awhile.....
Hi hi everbody!!
I know I haven't posted anything in awhile....but we haven't been doing a whole lot...so there's not really too much to post......
For the past few days we have been spending the days with his Uncle...the Buddhist Uncle and Eri's cousin Dharmadi (Dar-ma-d)...he's 14 and speaks rather decent English. I also had the pleasure of meeting Dharmadi's sister, Vania (Funny-ah) who is 17 and studying International Business at the University in Surabaya. Last night I finally met the other sibling in the family, the oldest, Lia (Leah) who is just getting over the chicken pox, so I kept my distance from her, but soon I should be able to sit with them and enjoy their company.
Yesterday Eri and I rode with his Uncle (the Buddhist one) to take Dharmadi back to his boarding house for school, we went into Surbaya and stayed there for quite awhile. We didn't get home til about 11pm! Trust me, that's late for people around here....... it gets dark very early here too, like at about 6pm it's almost pitch black, so it feels like sleepy time around 7pm for me, lol. But back to yesterday's activities....we hung out at his Uncle's house for a bit, then we went into Surbaya, got Dharmadi a haircut, then went to Galaxy Mall, and shopped around and looked around for a bit. Then we went to Dharmadi's boarding house...then stopped by Lia's and Vania's boarding house too just to say hi. On the way we also drove by the U.S. Consulate....and wow...that place looks like a maximum security prison. I am going to try to take pics when I go there again....but it's quite insane. I had a lot of fun driving, well being driven around the city, I love to just look out the window and take in all the stuff around. While Dharmadi was getting his haircut, the rest of us went to go eat....people sure do love to eat here! And the food is delicious too!
Below are some pictures.....I love the one with the little birdy....I would totally want one of those birds....but not really. I do love looking at them! He was really sweet too.... The 2nd pic is us on a haunted house ride(.....yes yes Haunted House Ride!!)...classic Carle moment right there with my eyes shut...but I still think it's a cute picture. The 3rd picture is of my most favorite dish yet here...it's tofu and egg mixed together and fried, then with peanut sauce on top, and OMG it is good!! It's called "Tahu telur." The 4th picture is of Me, Eri's cousins Eny and Erik, and then Eri on the side.....
That's it for now!
I know I haven't posted anything in awhile....but we haven't been doing a whole lot...so there's not really too much to post......
For the past few days we have been spending the days with his Uncle...the Buddhist Uncle and Eri's cousin Dharmadi (Dar-ma-d)...he's 14 and speaks rather decent English. I also had the pleasure of meeting Dharmadi's sister, Vania (Funny-ah) who is 17 and studying International Business at the University in Surabaya. Last night I finally met the other sibling in the family, the oldest, Lia (Leah) who is just getting over the chicken pox, so I kept my distance from her, but soon I should be able to sit with them and enjoy their company.
Yesterday Eri and I rode with his Uncle (the Buddhist one) to take Dharmadi back to his boarding house for school, we went into Surbaya and stayed there for quite awhile. We didn't get home til about 11pm! Trust me, that's late for people around here....... it gets dark very early here too, like at about 6pm it's almost pitch black, so it feels like sleepy time around 7pm for me, lol. But back to yesterday's activities....we hung out at his Uncle's house for a bit, then we went into Surbaya, got Dharmadi a haircut, then went to Galaxy Mall, and shopped around and looked around for a bit. Then we went to Dharmadi's boarding house...then stopped by Lia's and Vania's boarding house too just to say hi. On the way we also drove by the U.S. Consulate....and wow...that place looks like a maximum security prison. I am going to try to take pics when I go there again....but it's quite insane. I had a lot of fun driving, well being driven around the city, I love to just look out the window and take in all the stuff around. While Dharmadi was getting his haircut, the rest of us went to go eat....people sure do love to eat here! And the food is delicious too!
Below are some pictures.....I love the one with the little birdy....I would totally want one of those birds....but not really. I do love looking at them! He was really sweet too.... The 2nd pic is us on a haunted house ride(.....yes yes Haunted House Ride!!)...classic Carle moment right there with my eyes shut...but I still think it's a cute picture. The 3rd picture is of my most favorite dish yet here...it's tofu and egg mixed together and fried, then with peanut sauce on top, and OMG it is good!! It's called "Tahu telur." The 4th picture is of Me, Eri's cousins Eny and Erik, and then Eri on the side.....
That's it for now!
02 October, 2008
The Most Beautiful Place on Earth
Hi Hi everyone! So...well today I was able to see the most beautiful place on Earth....upon entering you get this sense of ease....peaceful feeling. Like you feel safe. I can't really describe it...but it's the Buddhist temple where Eri's parent's ashes are stored, and the Temple where his Uncle works. And the 3rd largest Buddha statue in Asia. It was an amazing place, and I hope you enjoy the pics.
To the left is a pic of me and Eri, obviously, in the Urn house. His mother is the Urn on the bottom left, his Dad, bottom right, and Grandpa on the top. In this pic, we just finished praying to them, and for some reason it just didn't feel right to smile....Speaking of praying...you get down on your knees and pray then bow 3 times. We did this quite a few times while we were there today. Along with us was Eri's Uncle and his cousin Eny.
Here to the left is the entrance into the Urn house. I asked Eri to take this pic so you can see all the wood carvings. I have more pics, but these are my 5 favorites from today's outing.
In this next pic...which I must say blogger is acting funny, and I don't know in what order these pics are going to show up in, but theoretically is the next pic inside the big Temple. Those lamps on each side are not light bulbs, each one is a illuminated Buddha statue. That's Eri's Uncle praying in this pic.
The line of Buddha's is the entrance into the Temple. And the last pic is of the Giant Sleeping Buddha. If you click on it you can see me! So you can see a comparison on how big that statue really is.
Again, it was an amazing visit, mere words cannot describe how I felt when I was there. It was amazing to be able to be there praying to Eri's parents, and quite emotional too.
Catch ya on the flip side.
Carle
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