New Buddhist site in the mountains of Banka



Considered a healthy drink, avocado and chocolate syrup, actually it's quite good.

Pempek - one of Regina's favorite food.  Each fried ball has a different dough and contains different things - such hard boiled egg, tofu, or skin of a fish.

New Buddhist site

Two doors for the new Buddhist meeting/religous site.

 

I'm not sure what "smooking" is - but I don't think it's good for your health!



Red Dot Hotel - where we stayed for one night in Pangkalpinang, Banka



The end of our Island tour

At the end of the day we went to a resort, Tangung Pesona.  Here there was a stone walkway from the rocks to the sandy beach.  We sat on a swing eating Indonesian roasted corn (salt, sugar, and hot sauce)



There were diferent statues throughout the compound.  Why he is facing away from the sea - I don't know



Then he folds the long strands of noodles and twists them with such finesse!

Finally, he seperates the strands, cuts them and into the boiling water they go!  Very tasty!

Making Noodles

Noodles are made to order







Next, to stretch the dough he puts it behind his head like a jump rope then flips it over and slams it on the metal countertop.

Finally, a weekend get-away!

I know many of you think all I do is travel while I'm here, but I've been working very hard since I landed two weeks ago!  Between the end of the year program, graduation, and the accredidation it's been long hard hours.  Finally, Regina and I will go to a place called Banka Belitung or “The Caribbean of the East".  A weekend get-away is never straightforward in Indonesia.  Our plan is to take a 2:00 a.m. train to Jakarta to get a flight (45 minutes) to the island of Banka Belitung.  We will stay there a day and then take a hydrofoil plane to a smaller island.  They say that the sand is so pure that when trodden upon it will squeak.  I'll keep you posted.

Two of the happy partiers!



Ms. Reni teaches Kindergarten and here she is eating all the left over food!



Mr. Fatour is our computer/videotographer/very hard worker and gets embarassed quite easily!



View from Salt Restaurant

It's so much cooler up in the mountain.  Far in the distance is the city of Cirebon and even farther is the ocean!

After the Accredidation Meeting - relaxation and food!

After working many long and hard hours, the Kindergarten team and administration went out to celebrate!



New restaurant in the cooler mountain nearby Cirebon



Accredidation Indonesian Style

An example of all the "documents" created for the accreditation

The ultimate goals of the school accreditation is to get data and information through accreditation procedure that can be used to see how far the appropriateness of services and the performance of a certain school from the existing standard of quality. Based on these data and information it is expected also to be used in developing "educational quality improvement policy and planning" by the school itself as well as by the Department of National Education and the local government at provincial, district, and municipal level. However, in reality, much of the gathered data is called  "Membuat prosa" or making prose.  In other words, its a well-known secret that data gathered is made up. However, that doesn't mean a great deal of time and effort is not put into the process.  This past weekend the kindergarten teachers were at school 15 hours on Saturday and 10 hours on Sunday. Signs were made, such as this one that is in front of the school, as well as posters throughout the school. Today officials come to the school, ask questions, and then in six months, render their grade.  Each school is given a letter grade, and the higher it is the more bragging rights the school has.

I've certainly moved up in the world

Compared to my original housing, four years ago, I've certainly been very lucky.  You've seen the inside of the house, and now this is the front of the house from across the street. 

Construction site next to Regina's house.  I love the bamboo gate!



Outside of Regina and Deni's new home



Cooking Pasta the Indonesian Way

Cirebon is thriving and growing beyond recognition.  There is now a "Hypermart" market near me that has exciting and familiar items.  When I saw the Feta cheese I thought I'd make shrimp, pasta and feta cheese for dinner. All was fine - until I got to the house and realized - no big pot.  So here is the way to wok your pasta.  Bon Appetit!

Religous Intolerence

One of the interesting changes that has occurred since last year, is that a radical Muslim group has demonstrated religious intolerance.  Deni and Regina's Christian church met in a hotel in Cirebon.  They had converted a number of rooms into a house of worship, as well as the pastor's office.  The Muslim group insisted that they relinquish their space since it was in a public place.  The church now meets in between services of another church.

Chicken Feet

This morning we went for Dim Sum with Michael (the Chinese expat teaching Mandarin) and his girlfriend Lena.  Everyone at the table enjoyed the chicken feet- except me!  I was amazed at how everyone was able to politely discard all the little bones.

Kindergarten Princess

I can't even imagine the time and effort it takes to create a princess for the performance. 

Nursery Students End of Year Performance



Love the water wings, goggles and smiles!

Ms. Medi's son "K"

Ms. Medi is my friend and the local teacher whom I met my first year here.  I went to her wedding, and was here when her son was born.  Now he is in Nursery School at the school I am in.  He was a monkey in the performance - and danced to his own music on stage.   He calls me "oma" which means grandmother in Bahasa. Ms. Medi's next son will be born this Thursday!



Blue Danube

Tomorrow is the end of year performance. The students will perform poems, music and speeches.  Tasha and Jason are practicing the Blue Danube with their mom.

Day time view out my bedroom window

Beautiful orchids

Nighttime view from my bedroom window- not too shabby!

Indoor kitchen!  They also have an oven, so Tasha asked me to help her bake a cake- she's never made one before.

Lunch is thawing.

Regina just got this tv  cable set up so that I can enjoy watching downstairs.

From the tv looking through the glass wall into my room.  The door and window open up to a little garden

 The dining area

Outside in the front "greeting room" -it's very peaceful and soothing.

Regina and Deni's new home

Finally, I've arrived at my home away from home.  The trip was very long and exhausting, but the Singapore Airbus was remarkable.  Roomy  (relatively speaking) and very friendly.  However, after travelling for two days I couldn't wait to be on terra firma.

Regina and Deni had a house built about 3 minutes walking distance from the school. Following are some pictures of their beautiful home, and I will be adding more as the weeks go by. This is the front "greeting room",  whichis actually outside rather than inside.