Category Archives: Daily Life
Climbing Kawah Ijen
I never thought I’d do this, I think amusedly to myself as I climb down a mountain at two in the morning with nothing but moonlight to brighten the darkness. I’m not thinking of scary movies, I keep on thinking, I’m not gonna get bitten by snakes. I’m just gonna get down and sleep in … Continue reading
Educating Boys and Empowering Women
In light of some other incidents that have happened this week with PCV female friends*, I took the following pretty hard. Today was the last day of teaching in one of my favorite classes. This class is full of boys in 11th grade—43 of them to be exact—and it has often crossed my mind, especially … Continue reading
Teacher Problems, #10
Jakarta in 5 Photos
Sunday Mornings (or Arisan Burung)
In theory, Sunday mornings are the one time I get to sleep in and enjoy “the weekend.” That’s a nice dream, but the reality is that my sleep often gets interrupted by the chatter and laughter of men gathering outside my window for their Sunday routine: the arisan burung, or bird reunion. This bird reunion … Continue reading
Teacher Problems, #9
Back in the day, teachers may have received apples from students. In Indonesia, entire classes of students celebrate certain events (such as getting through reciting the entire Al Qur’an) by giving all teachers food boxes. This is a common affair, but today I broke a record. Today alone, I received THREE food boxes and some … Continue reading
One Year in Peace Corps Indonesia: Things I’ve Learned
My last blog post was primarily about exchanging time for money (i.e. jobs), or in my case as a PCV, exchanging time for experiences. However, there’s another element to this thought and that is how time is best spent. I’m generally content with all that I have accomplished in a year in Peace Corps. One … Continue reading
Being A PCV in Indonesia is a Great Job
When it comes down to it, any job is the exchange of your precious finite time for a certain amount of money. Lucky are those who get paid well for their time, and especially those who enjoy what they are doing. I believe that any job worth doing, one should be willing to do for … Continue reading
Yogyakarta in 12 Photos
Something Sad and Simultaneously Awesome
Indonesian Girls Leading Our World – iGLOW Camp 2013
My decreased blogging has not been in vain. Over the past three months, five other volunteers near my area and I have been working incredibly hard to organize a leadership camp for 10th and 11th grade girls held at my school, MAN Bondowoso, from Thursday, March 28th to Sunday, March 31st. Since November of last … Continue reading
The Absolute Worst Thing About Indonesia
Mold is the ABSOLUTE WORST thing about living in Indonesia. I clean and wipe it off daily and safeguard my clothes and shoes to my best ability and it still grows. I’m over the rainy season. Nothing is ever dry! Does anyone know how to stop this madness?!? Continue reading