Friday, 31 August 2012
31. Agustus 2012
The closing of another day in Salatiga!
Two weeks in Indonesia and what can I tell you? I’d love to say that we are pretty much locals now, but that would be lying. “Foreigners” still suit the YALT team better. However, I will say this for us: we are living in typical Indonesian homes; kami bisa mengerti dan bicara sedikit bahasa Indonesia (we can understand and speak a little bit of Indonesian); nasi goreng (delicious fried rice) is our new favourite food and handling city traffic on bicycles? No problem!
One week ago I moved into the home of an MCC staff member. Bapak (father/Mr.) and Ibu (mother/Mrs.) live in a lovely, 2-bedroom home on the outskirts of Salatiga with their two boys, aged 3 and 7. They have so much energy! I have inadequate experience with children (believe it or not) and even more with brothers but they seem to like me! Lovingly called Kak Lisi (Kakak being older sibling) from the start, they treat me as their own. Ibu is great and I enjoy learning and listening as I try to speak more Indonesian with her. I am very happy to be living here for 6 weeks!
On Monday we started language training at a small school downtown. Indonesian is not a very difficult language; I am especially thankful that my pronunciation is aided by being able to speak German. They are so similar that way! There is a lot to memorize and that is the hard part. Our vocabulary is still so small. During breaks we walk around the area and try different warungs (food stalls). I think I’m at the point now where, if I get lost, I can find my way in a relatively short period of time. As a class, we took an angkota (minibus) and today we walked around town, using our language skills to buy things. Not many people speak English on a regular basis but thankfully most understand hand gestures!
Our main mode of transportation around town is the trustworthy bicycle! On Monday we were set to go with helmets and waiver forms headed by “In case of death…” (Just kidding. These were filled out before leaving home). I ride with two other SALTers that live close by and the ride to the language school takes about 25 minutes, the MCC office being a halfway point. It’s mostly uphill on the way there and I can happily say that I’ve made most hills! I’m just super slow on them and my legs turn to jelly for the next 30 minutes… The best part of our journeys through town is the traffic. The left-handed driving is almost normal now but drivers are all over the road! Honking doesn’t mean “Hey, friend!” like it does in Canada. Rather, it’s “I’m passing you”, “I’m bigger than you” or “Get out of my way!” It’s a little nerve-wracking to manoeuver around motorbikes and cars and arrive at school without getting hit, but it’s a challenge! And I’ve enjoyed it :) By the end of 6 weeks, we will be so fit and have thighs that almost make it to speed-skater standards. I wish.
Thank you for reading the ramblings of a [cautiously] intrepid Canadian in Salatiga, a striving servant of the LORD. Thank you also for your prayers and thoughts! Selamat sore!
Lisi
Two weeks in Indonesia and what can I tell you? I’d love to say that we are pretty much locals now, but that would be lying. “Foreigners” still suit the YALT team better. However, I will say this for us: we are living in typical Indonesian homes; kami bisa mengerti dan bicara sedikit bahasa Indonesia (we can understand and speak a little bit of Indonesian); nasi goreng (delicious fried rice) is our new favourite food and handling city traffic on bicycles? No problem!
One week ago I moved into the home of an MCC staff member. Bapak (father/Mr.) and Ibu (mother/Mrs.) live in a lovely, 2-bedroom home on the outskirts of Salatiga with their two boys, aged 3 and 7. They have so much energy! I have inadequate experience with children (believe it or not) and even more with brothers but they seem to like me! Lovingly called Kak Lisi (Kakak being older sibling) from the start, they treat me as their own. Ibu is great and I enjoy learning and listening as I try to speak more Indonesian with her. I am very happy to be living here for 6 weeks!
My bedroom
My home!
Me and one of my little brothers, hanging out with my camera
I had a wonderful birthday! 25. Agustus, the first full day with my family, was spent mostly outside of the city. Driving out of Salatiga was the best gift, as I got to see rural Indonesia for the first time. I was in a state of awe and silent excitement as we passed rice fields, palm tree forests, brick homes of all sizes and colours and village markets teeming with fruits I haven’t even heard of! Because our destination was too full of other holiday tourists, we had lunch and then walked around a Catholic church garden. The air was clear up there on the mountainside and Merbabu stood tall across the valley. I will be hiking that mountain in the upcoming weeks, I can’t wait! I received roses from my family, a wonderful card from the other YALTers and staff and many messages from home and abroad. Thank you all! :) On Monday we started language training at a small school downtown. Indonesian is not a very difficult language; I am especially thankful that my pronunciation is aided by being able to speak German. They are so similar that way! There is a lot to memorize and that is the hard part. Our vocabulary is still so small. During breaks we walk around the area and try different warungs (food stalls). I think I’m at the point now where, if I get lost, I can find my way in a relatively short period of time. As a class, we took an angkota (minibus) and today we walked around town, using our language skills to buy things. Not many people speak English on a regular basis but thankfully most understand hand gestures!
The language school (sorry it's sideways...)
More words? And oh, there are no verb tenses?
A typical Indonesian day is different than I am used to but I am enjoying it a lot! Families wake up between 5:30 and 6:30 to get their children to school at 7:00. The mandi pagi (morning wash) is taken now, via bucket and dipper. Our language class starts at 8:00. An hour lunch break is around noon and many people eat out as food is very cheap everywhere. Most things are actually quite cheap from a North American perspective but we’ve been learning to look at it in the Indonesian context. School ends at 1:00 and work ends between 4:00 and 5:00, which means time for mandi sore! The evening wash is quite refreshing and gets one ready for the short evening, as it starts getting dark around 6:00. Dinner is eaten afterwards and then it’s time to relax (or, in my case, run around in circles chasing little boys, toy cars and flying stuffed animals). Bedtime is between 8:00 and 10:00. By this time, I’ve sweated as much as I could (average temperature is 25 degrees with 70-90 % humidity during the day), my brain is full of a new language and I am ready for bed! Our main mode of transportation around town is the trustworthy bicycle! On Monday we were set to go with helmets and waiver forms headed by “In case of death…” (Just kidding. These were filled out before leaving home). I ride with two other SALTers that live close by and the ride to the language school takes about 25 minutes, the MCC office being a halfway point. It’s mostly uphill on the way there and I can happily say that I’ve made most hills! I’m just super slow on them and my legs turn to jelly for the next 30 minutes… The best part of our journeys through town is the traffic. The left-handed driving is almost normal now but drivers are all over the road! Honking doesn’t mean “Hey, friend!” like it does in Canada. Rather, it’s “I’m passing you”, “I’m bigger than you” or “Get out of my way!” It’s a little nerve-wracking to manoeuver around motorbikes and cars and arrive at school without getting hit, but it’s a challenge! And I’ve enjoyed it :) By the end of 6 weeks, we will be so fit and have thighs that almost make it to speed-skater standards. I wish.
My motor helmet, for when I ride on the back with someone. This is so much fun too!
This is what the next 5 weeks will look like! I trust that God will take care of us all. We have been relatively healthy (save for a few cases), safe on the roads and are all enjoying our homes. We are increasingly independent as we find our way around Salatiga, in preparation for 10 months of living alone in cities around Java and Papua. I still love coming together with the MCC staff and learning more about their lives and work in Indonesia. It makes me think of my purpose for being here and what brought me here. While this year is about SALT and my CBC internship, it’s really about God and his mission. I am a small part in his plan that has been taking place for thousands of years, but wow what a privilege! To use the gifts and skills that he has given me for his glory and his name is awesome. Shalom, shalom… The world is thirsting for shalom and justice and grace and right relationship and I hope that, if anything, I can be an ambassador of this beautiful picture, wherever I am. Thank you for reading the ramblings of a [cautiously] intrepid Canadian in Salatiga, a striving servant of the LORD. Thank you also for your prayers and thoughts! Selamat sore!
Lisi
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
Hello!
Halo!
This mini blog post is to notify everyone that I will write a real post very soon! I am doing well here, 12 days into my time in Indonesia. I am healthy, living with a wonderful family - experiencing brothers for the first time! - and am learning an awesome language! God is so good.
Sampai nanti,
Lisi
This mini blog post is to notify everyone that I will write a real post very soon! I am doing well here, 12 days into my time in Indonesia. I am healthy, living with a wonderful family - experiencing brothers for the first time! - and am learning an awesome language! God is so good.
Sampai nanti,
Lisi
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Beginnings in Indonesia
The final arrival, we made it!
Our first day in Salatiga, gorgeous weather and good fellowship
Downtown Salatiga, on a slow day
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Travel and Arrival in Indonesia!
Hello everyone, selamat sore!
This is my first post from Indonesia, although I have been here since Saturday evening. What a great place I am in!
The journey was very interesting and incredibly long! We left Akron, PA at 5:30am on Thursday the 16th and departed from Philadelphia at 10:00am. Flew across to LA and then finally across the Pacific! I have to say, Singapore Airlines really knows how to treat its customers! We were comfortable, well-fed and got to refuel in Tokyo! What a pleasant surprise to sit in that airport for an hour. We flew onward to Singapore - a great airport that exudes prosperity - and met the first YAMENer there. The Young Anabaptist Mennonite Exchange Network of MCC sends volunteers across the global South. The YAMENers on the Indonesia come from India, Zambia, Uganda and China. We met the rest at the Jakarta airport. Landing here was a relief, in that we were more than halfway done our travel and finally in the country where we would be spending the next 11 months. The sights, sounds and smell were very reminiscent of India 3 years ago, but yet they were so different! And Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language) was almost completely foreign to me. Thank God for the language lessons coming in a few days!
On Saturday the 18th (Friday didn't really exist as we were jumping time zones), we were in Jakarta for 12 hours and then flew to Semarang, a smaller city in the north of Java. Picking out the two white faces in the small airport, we found the MCC representatives and departed for our home for the next six weeks, Salatiga. Salatiga is a reasonably-sized city close by, and the drive was slightly delayed by revellers in the streets. This weekend was the Indonesian national holiday and also Idul Fitri, the end of the Muslim tradition of Ramadan. We've been watching fireworks every evening for the past four nights! I look forward to Indonesian holidays; apparently there are many of them throughout the year, as the government recognizes Muslim and Christian calendars.
So, here we are in Salatiga! I am staying with the Exchange Coordinators, an awesome couple with a one month-old son. On the first day, our team of nine YALTers (SALT and YAMEN together - acronyms are very common in this organization) walked around Salatiga. The city was still moving at a lazy holiday pace so traffic wasn't bad. But no matter what the circumstance, there are always cars and people moving around! Opposite of how North Americans move on streets, I might add. I still look left when I should be looking right...
We also met some of the MCC staff here in Salatiga, as this is where the head office is. They are truly a family here and I am so excited to be part of it for a year!
For the past few days, we've been having sessions on policies, hanging around, getting to know each other, eating new and interesting meals (so far I have had nasi goreng, gado gado, ayam soto and mi ayam; look them up!) and catching up on sleep. For the past 2 days, we had our "survival Bahasa" crash course. A wonderful teacher brought us through basic Indonesian, so now we understand greetings, numbers, questions, family, likes/dislikes and other conversational topics. We finished today and boy, is there a lot to know! I feel slightly comfortable with it and hope that I retain everything. T. was a wonderful teacher, terima kasih!
In the next few days, our team is moving on to the homes of our language study host families for the following few weeks. I am looking forward to spending some time with an Indonesian family and practicing my Indonesian! I am excited to delve into the culture here and build relationships with these hospitable and wonderful people. I also learned about my host family for my assignment starting in October! More details to come when I get there.
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers! It's only the first week in Indonesia but I am already quite comfortable here. Naturally I will get homesick at one point, and culture shock will come and go. But God is good and I am here to serve :) May he keep bringing my team into fruitful opportunities and keep us in health and safety. Also, my stomach still hasn't been too unhappy! As many of you know, I have some dietary restrictions and therefore was quite worried when coming here. But it's doing better than I expected, so far!
If anyone wants to send me mail while I am here in Salatiga, the address is:
MCC Indonesia Office
#3 Jl. Merbabu
Salatiga, Jawa Tengah
507324 Indonesia
And it doesn't take too long! If it's a package, please label it with "Personal Effects" or have the value listed as $0.
Blessings,
Lisi
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14.
This is my first post from Indonesia, although I have been here since Saturday evening. What a great place I am in!
The journey was very interesting and incredibly long! We left Akron, PA at 5:30am on Thursday the 16th and departed from Philadelphia at 10:00am. Flew across to LA and then finally across the Pacific! I have to say, Singapore Airlines really knows how to treat its customers! We were comfortable, well-fed and got to refuel in Tokyo! What a pleasant surprise to sit in that airport for an hour. We flew onward to Singapore - a great airport that exudes prosperity - and met the first YAMENer there. The Young Anabaptist Mennonite Exchange Network of MCC sends volunteers across the global South. The YAMENers on the Indonesia come from India, Zambia, Uganda and China. We met the rest at the Jakarta airport. Landing here was a relief, in that we were more than halfway done our travel and finally in the country where we would be spending the next 11 months. The sights, sounds and smell were very reminiscent of India 3 years ago, but yet they were so different! And Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language) was almost completely foreign to me. Thank God for the language lessons coming in a few days!
On Saturday the 18th (Friday didn't really exist as we were jumping time zones), we were in Jakarta for 12 hours and then flew to Semarang, a smaller city in the north of Java. Picking out the two white faces in the small airport, we found the MCC representatives and departed for our home for the next six weeks, Salatiga. Salatiga is a reasonably-sized city close by, and the drive was slightly delayed by revellers in the streets. This weekend was the Indonesian national holiday and also Idul Fitri, the end of the Muslim tradition of Ramadan. We've been watching fireworks every evening for the past four nights! I look forward to Indonesian holidays; apparently there are many of them throughout the year, as the government recognizes Muslim and Christian calendars.
So, here we are in Salatiga! I am staying with the Exchange Coordinators, an awesome couple with a one month-old son. On the first day, our team of nine YALTers (SALT and YAMEN together - acronyms are very common in this organization) walked around Salatiga. The city was still moving at a lazy holiday pace so traffic wasn't bad. But no matter what the circumstance, there are always cars and people moving around! Opposite of how North Americans move on streets, I might add. I still look left when I should be looking right...
We also met some of the MCC staff here in Salatiga, as this is where the head office is. They are truly a family here and I am so excited to be part of it for a year!
For the past few days, we've been having sessions on policies, hanging around, getting to know each other, eating new and interesting meals (so far I have had nasi goreng, gado gado, ayam soto and mi ayam; look them up!) and catching up on sleep. For the past 2 days, we had our "survival Bahasa" crash course. A wonderful teacher brought us through basic Indonesian, so now we understand greetings, numbers, questions, family, likes/dislikes and other conversational topics. We finished today and boy, is there a lot to know! I feel slightly comfortable with it and hope that I retain everything. T. was a wonderful teacher, terima kasih!
In the next few days, our team is moving on to the homes of our language study host families for the following few weeks. I am looking forward to spending some time with an Indonesian family and practicing my Indonesian! I am excited to delve into the culture here and build relationships with these hospitable and wonderful people. I also learned about my host family for my assignment starting in October! More details to come when I get there.
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers! It's only the first week in Indonesia but I am already quite comfortable here. Naturally I will get homesick at one point, and culture shock will come and go. But God is good and I am here to serve :) May he keep bringing my team into fruitful opportunities and keep us in health and safety. Also, my stomach still hasn't been too unhappy! As many of you know, I have some dietary restrictions and therefore was quite worried when coming here. But it's doing better than I expected, so far!
If anyone wants to send me mail while I am here in Salatiga, the address is:
MCC Indonesia Office
#3 Jl. Merbabu
Salatiga, Jawa Tengah
507324 Indonesia
And it doesn't take too long! If it's a package, please label it with "Personal Effects" or have the value listed as $0.
Blessings,
Lisi
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14.
Monday, 13 August 2012
Some tidbits of Information
1. If anyone doesn't know what SALT is all about, please check out http://salt.mcc.org/. Furthermore, check out http://www.mcc.org/ to learn more about Mennonite Central Committee - what they do and where they do it. I am so excited to be a part of their work for a year! Their staff has been great this past week and I look forward to meeting the MCC Indonesia team in several days!
2. If anyone would like to make a donation, please send cheques to:
MCC Canada
134 Plaza Drive
Winnipeg MB
R3T 5K9
The memo line must read " Elisabeth Schrottner - PDA", for Personal Drawing Account.
3. I have changed the settings on here so now anyone can leave a comment on this blog! :)
Lisi
2. If anyone would like to make a donation, please send cheques to:
MCC Canada
134 Plaza Drive
Winnipeg MB
R3T 5K9
The memo line must read " Elisabeth Schrottner - PDA", for Personal Drawing Account.
3. I have changed the settings on here so now anyone can leave a comment on this blog! :)
Lisi
Akron, Pennsylvania
Hello everyone!
Thank you for your continued support and love. I am so blessed to be here!
My week has been awesome. There are 53 SALTers and 29 IVEPers participating in Orientation. The International Volunteer Exchange Program is a counterpart to SALT (Serving and Learning Together) in which young adults from around the world come and work in North America. I have had a great time getting to know people from Laos, Cambodia, Korea, Bangladesh, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Argentina and Egypt. I've also enjoyed getting to know my fellow SALTers from around N. America. This week has consisted of lots of rest, hanging and playing around the MCC compound, sessions on culture and mission, prayer, displays of cultural talent and lots of good Mennonite food! We are wrapping up the Orientation on Wednesday and most of us fly out the next morning. We are going to be in every continent except Europe and Antarctica! It has been amazing to prepare spiritually and mentally with everyone and to be surrounded by similar goals and passions. I can't wait for Re-entry (when we all return to Akron next July) so I can hear stories of crazy adventures and especially how God has worked!
Here is my schedule for the first few weeks in Indonesia, starting Aug. 18th:
1. A few days in Salatiga, Java, home of the MCC Indonesia headquarters, for rest and a "crash language course" in Bahasa Indonesia
2. A week in our placement communities (Yogyakarta, Java for me) with our host families. I am anxious and excited to meet the family, as I have no idea who they are! SALT has a reputation for being ambiguous in the details regarding one's position - which makes life just that much more fun :)
Until next time, may the joy of the LORD be with you all! I hope you are all enjoying your summer!
In Him,
Lisi
Touring the MCC Resource Centre
Thank you for your continued support and love. I am so blessed to be here!
My week has been awesome. There are 53 SALTers and 29 IVEPers participating in Orientation. The International Volunteer Exchange Program is a counterpart to SALT (Serving and Learning Together) in which young adults from around the world come and work in North America. I have had a great time getting to know people from Laos, Cambodia, Korea, Bangladesh, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Argentina and Egypt. I've also enjoyed getting to know my fellow SALTers from around N. America. This week has consisted of lots of rest, hanging and playing around the MCC compound, sessions on culture and mission, prayer, displays of cultural talent and lots of good Mennonite food! We are wrapping up the Orientation on Wednesday and most of us fly out the next morning. We are going to be in every continent except Europe and Antarctica! It has been amazing to prepare spiritually and mentally with everyone and to be surrounded by similar goals and passions. I can't wait for Re-entry (when we all return to Akron next July) so I can hear stories of crazy adventures and especially how God has worked!
Here is my schedule for the first few weeks in Indonesia, starting Aug. 18th:
1. A few days in Salatiga, Java, home of the MCC Indonesia headquarters, for rest and a "crash language course" in Bahasa Indonesia
2. A week in our placement communities (Yogyakarta, Java for me) with our host families. I am anxious and excited to meet the family, as I have no idea who they are! SALT has a reputation for being ambiguous in the details regarding one's position - which makes life just that much more fun :)
3. Return to Salatiga for 6 weeks of language training
4. Return to Yogyakarta to begin working as an English Language Coach and Community Worker for the rest of the year
Until next time, may the joy of the LORD be with you all! I hope you are all enjoying your summer!
In Him,
Lisi
Arrival in Akron - welcome to Pennsylvania Dutch Country!
MCC's "Welcoming Centre" - a small retreat compound of lovely guesthouses. I'm in Asia house
Time well spent in fellowship
The dining room
SALTers having a "campfire"! Sonia going to Indonesia and Erica going to India
Wade, our SALT coordinator, Teddy going to Mexico, Frank going to Bolivia and Erica
Quilting done by volunteers. There are so many devoted workers in this great organization!
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
Departure!
Well this is it, I'm off on my SALT adventure and blessed opportunity to serve the LORD in Indonesia! I'm currently sitting at YVR (Vancouver Int'l) and waiting for my flight to Chicago. Eventually I'll end up in Pennsylvania tonight and head to Akron for a week-long orientation session at the MCC headquarters. I am so excited to meet my fellow SALTers from North America before we all head to our respective countries! On August 16th, I will fly with 7 other SALTers to Jakarta Indonesia. Bouncing around between Yogyakarta (my city) and Salatiga (MCC Indonesia headquarters) for a while, I will learn Bahasa Indonesian and settle into the Indonesian context. Then I start my position as an English language teacher and Community Worker! Can't wait :) But for now, I need sleep, a real meal and the peace of God to sustain me through this next time.
Saturday, 4 August 2012
Almost there
I'm leaving Kamloops in 3 days! The past few days have brought about so many new stresses and emotions. It didn't help that the other Indonesian SALTers and I had to suddenly apply for a different single-entry visa on Tuesday! I still don't have my passport back from the consulate in Vancouver, but hopefully Canada Post will do its job well and get it back to me asap!
Aside from not having a passport or visa, there's packing to be done. I've never packed for 11 months before! What do I need to buy that will sustain me for a year and that cannot be bought in Yogyakarta? Should I pack anything that will be damaged by ridiculous humidity levels? Oh dear...
So the excitement is here- yes - but it's seemingly contained at the moment. I am, however, praising the LORD every day for this opportunity to go and serve in Indonesia. Man, he is doing great things everywhere and we need but to recognize this and join in his grand mission! God desires the shalom - peace, justice, righteousness, mercy - that was initially present in every aspect of humanity and his created order. Let's have a heart that beats in time with God's and crave the world that he made so perfectly! I pray that you all, wherever you are, and me in Indonesia will take every chance we get to spread his love and shalom.
Until next time (sooner than last, I promise) and all for God's glory,
Lisi
Aside from not having a passport or visa, there's packing to be done. I've never packed for 11 months before! What do I need to buy that will sustain me for a year and that cannot be bought in Yogyakarta? Should I pack anything that will be damaged by ridiculous humidity levels? Oh dear...
So the excitement is here- yes - but it's seemingly contained at the moment. I am, however, praising the LORD every day for this opportunity to go and serve in Indonesia. Man, he is doing great things everywhere and we need but to recognize this and join in his grand mission! God desires the shalom - peace, justice, righteousness, mercy - that was initially present in every aspect of humanity and his created order. Let's have a heart that beats in time with God's and crave the world that he made so perfectly! I pray that you all, wherever you are, and me in Indonesia will take every chance we get to spread his love and shalom.
Until next time (sooner than last, I promise) and all for God's glory,
Lisi
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