Happy Halloween, Go Phillies, and changing seasons

It has been a very busy two weeks in Cirebon. I went to Jakarta two weekends ago(more on that later) and since then I've had my picture in the newspaper, and today (Friday) I have a radio interview to do. It's a very slow news day in Cirebon when they want to talk with me!

The picture in the paper is because Tasha won 2nd place at the National EF (English First) Spelling Bee. The reporter (perhaps 10 years old?) came to the school and interviewed Tasha. He then took a pic. The picture reminds me of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's travels with the Lilliputans. I appear very tall, blocking part of the school sign, while Regina and Tasha appear rather short.

Our season has also changed. We've gone from sunny hot humid days, to rainy, cloudy, hot humid days. The noticeable differences in the seasonal change are 1) whether my laundry will dry or mold first and 2) new creatures are inhabiting the dwelling. I now have frogs in my humble abode. In fact, the other night at 2:00 a.m. I got up to use the bathroom. As usual, I turn on the light and check out all nooks and crannies. There next to the hole/toilet was a frog. I looked at him, he looked at me and I realized I was not going to fight a frog for a hole in the ground. So back to bed I went with a full bladder. He or a relative have also taken up residence in my living room area. When I leave the house in the morning, there are a number of them in my yard, but so far none of them are singing!

2nd place in National EF Spelling Bee

Here's Natasha after winning second place in the spelling bee competition. She won a trophy, money, food and an MP3 player! After the competition we headed back to Cirebon via the train. We didn't get in until 10:30 Sunday night, so that Monday I was exhausted.

Bajay

This three wheeled contraption, called a bajay, is what got me to the American club so that I could vote via absentee- ballot. After taking a 3 hour train ride, we hoped into this "vehicle" and shook all the way to the Club. However, when I got there I couldn't get over all the people who looked like me! And talked like me! And to sweeten the deal the club provided brewed coffee with milk and carrot cake. Who says voting for the President of the United States is drudgery?

Obit

Unexpectedly, on October 11th Mr. Coffee Maker passed away. He was a youngster, only having brewed 3 pots of coffee. His personality bubbled over and delighted the many people he met He leaves behind a grieving friend, Carol Murphy, and a young vegetable steamer, who will continue on his tradition of making coffee at 4:00 a.m.
An autopsy revealed a broken part that is not found in Indonesia.
May we always remember Mr. Coffee as the “little engine that couldn’t”.

Marcel

This is Marcel, the school secretary/administration's son. He is in Kindergarten 2. Students here go to half day kindergarten for two years before entering Primary 1 or first grade. He loves to come and give me hugs and even though we each can't speak too much to each other, we enjoy each others company.

Lebaran Celebration at School

Today, Saturday, October 11th we invited all 28 Muslim students and their families to celebrate Lebaron. We had singing, musical performances, reading from the Koran, a fashion show of the students, and lots and lots of good food.

I don't want to work I just want to bang on the gong all day!

Here I am - making it look so easy! For all of you who think I have no rhythm back home - you can rest assured my gamelon talents are even less! Who knew how hard it was to keep the beat to Indonesian gamelon music. Eru, Anna's husband, and professional musician was very patient with me as I "gonged" too early, too late, or not at all through our two songs. But I still think I'm ready for Carnegie Hall with just a few more lessons.