No hay que llorar, porque la vida es un carnaval y es mas bello vivir cantando. –Celia Cruz Música bailable para cuando extraño mi cultura, mi gente y mi país. 1. La Vida Es Un Carnaval – Celia Cruz 2. Tu Cariñito– Puerto Rican Power 3. Vale la Pena– Juan Luis Guerra 4. Pasos de … Continue reading
Author Archives: melanie aleman
Daily Life / Indonesia / Peace Corps / People
The Best Things About Indonesia Are Also the Worst Things
1. I go many consecutive days without spending any money and I still live well, eat well and have fun. The bad part: Having to spend no money is a big indicator on how much there actually is to do in my very small town. 2. When I treat myself to something non-Indonesian, I go … Continue reading
To Wear Or Not To Wear A Hijab
I came to my new school right on the cusp of graduation and the graduation ceremony. Because my school is a madrasah all female students and teachers must wear a hijab as part of the uniform. As part of the “staff” it would be appropriate for me to wear a hijab also, but because I … Continue reading
Indonesia / Peace Corps / People / Photography / Teaching / Travel
Permanent Site: Bondowoso
(I am posting this from a beautiful hotel near the sea, where I am having a workshop with all of the teachers in my school and with the principle. Not what I had pictured when I joined the Peace Corps…and it’s not helping the “Beverly Hills” image I will describe…but it’s pretty awesome.) After ten … Continue reading
Sunset Roof Party & the End of PST
To celebrate the ending of Pre-Service Training, two new languages under progress (bahasa Indonesia and bahasa Madura), new friends and a successful initial integration to my Indonesian culture and host family, I asked my ibu if I could have a pertemuan—a meeting—on the roof. Continue reading
The Malang Bird Market & Other Adventures
Last weekend we finally had one day to explore Malang. Using the Lonely Planet Indonesia book as a guide, another volunteer and I hit up Malang’s main attractions, which included the Pasar Senggol (Bird Market), Pasar Bunga (Flower Market) and Hotel Tugu, which has an extensive collection of Asian art. Though birds in cages are … Continue reading
My (Indonesian) Boos
Peace Corps volunteers get many praises for going to a different country and facing all the challenges that we do. However, I think the people that have amazed me the most so far are all the host families who are generous enough to open their home to a total stranger—who is also completely different in … Continue reading
Cars, Trains and Airplanes – The Ultimate Playlist for Traveling
While this playlist could be more appropriately titled Angkots, Buses and Walking now that I am in Indonesia, I compiled this list of 14 songs as I prepared to make the epic journey to the other side of the world. I am posting this a little late, but it still applies…and it may be useful … Continue reading
Arema vs. Mitra Kukar – Our Indonesian Football Experience
Last Thursday, May 16th, about 22 volunteers ventured to an Arema vs. Mitra Kukar soccer game. We had to endure the hottest bus ride and pretty bad traffic in order to get to Stadium Kanjuruhan, but the game turned out to be pretty exciting and ended with a score of 5 for Arema and 3 … Continue reading
The Cost of Living in Indonesia
I—like many people I suppose—do not like to talk about money. I am thankful that I have not been placed with a family that is constantly asking the price of every day things in the United States, or worse, the price of the things I own. Yet, as we both get more and more familiar … Continue reading
Teaching Like A Rock Star
Teaching in Indonesia is kind of like being a rock star. You spend 90% of the time preparing to perform—I mean teach—and 10% of the time in front of the classroom. Many times you repeat the same show—I mean lesson—over and over and at the end the kids want to take their picture with you … Continue reading
One Month in Indonesia in Pictures
Teguh and Mike at the pesar tradisional – Yes, Mike’s hat says Bamboo Banger – and there’s a panda banging bamboo sticks. Continue reading
We Don’t Need No Education
This week we started teaching practicum in a real Indonesia school. The volunteers in my village and I walked into a madrassah—an Islamic school maintained by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Although, I have never walked into a prison, I imagine that that was what it feels like. Not because it was gloomy and oppressive. … Continue reading
Losing Life Skills?
I traveled half way around the world after two years of supporting myself completely, just to regress on life skills in Indonesia. Not only does my Indonesian host family cook for me, feed me and take care of me to the fullest, but I have now hit a new low. The other day, my Ibu … Continue reading
The First Rule of Peace Corps…
(* Disclaimer: this covers most of my second week of training in Indonesia. Uploading images was the biggest pain ever, it took me like one solid week to upload these images…so I will seriously reconsider posts with more than one image. I miss fast internet. Meh!) …is never ride a motorcycle. Well, it’s not the … Continue reading
in the land of dragons 