Today is Idul Fitri. . . kinda

So it was suposed to be Idul Fitri. My orientation schedule said that it was Idul Fitri, and even gave me a day off because of it. Every one told me it was going to be Idul Fitri. I was all jazzed up about it being Idul Fitri, but alas, it is not Idul Fitri. . .yet.

So as I understand it, last night, minutes away till the big day, someone looked up at the moon and came to the realization that it was a little bit off. Hurriedly, he/she ran to. . . I don't know, someplace where people are in charge of this kind of thing. With much commotion and urgency, everyone pulled out their calendars and started crunching numbers. In the end, they concluded somewhere down the line someone was off, and the big day had to be pushed back.

Now everyone tells me that Idul Fitri getting pushed back a day is no big deal. I personally would have assumed it to be a really big deal. I mean, it's the night before the end of fasting, everyone has cooked lavish meals and is getting ready for the big day and then out of nowhere: "you guys have one more day." This is kinda like a coxswain screaming: "final stretch boys, empty those tanks!" after having previously screamed: "final stretch boys, empty those tanks!" a good while before that.

But the Indonesians are taking this in stride, and this had made me realize that perhaps this really is not that big of a deal and that life is too short to be getting mad over things. And perhaps now I will be well on my way to being chill like them. After all, I never once reached over and shoved a coxswain out of a boat.

lol, they told me to be prepared for hardship. . .

So yeah, this past week I have been in a luxurious hotel with everything either provided for or taken care of. About the hardest thing I have had to face this week is that the internet is a little slower than I'm used to it being. YouTube videos don't load instantly. . . actually, that is a problem. I should complain to the embassy.

But seriously, my dirty laundry comes back all nice and pressed. They even hang it up in the closet for me. It is cute to see the care they put into a t-shirt I bought at Target. They make my bed for me every morning. I probably have forgotten how to make my own bed by now, but I'm sure it will come back to me. "Like riding a bike," I was told, to which I responded "yeah, but riding a bike is fun." I get a buffet breakfast every morning. Freshly made omeletes, noodle soup, fresh fruit, fried noodles, french toast. . .you know, the usual.

However, the thing I love most about this hotel: not having to share the room with 3 other open weight rowers. Nothing against you guys, but I really do like rolling around my bed without fear of being the butt of homo-erotic jokes.

My site!

Traveled a lot, was at site for a week, things worth noting:

• I stayed at a hotel and played lots of Bananagrams
• I came really close to getting my visa, but the computer refused to acknowledge the bajillion pictures they took of me
•  My students where scared to talk to me. . . until I mentioned that I listen to K-pop. Then they just exploded with questions and all wanted to have their picture with me.
• Got mobbed by high school girls at a Independence day celebration event, who also all wanted pictures
• My counterpart is so good at chess that his 4 year old son can beat the computer on a consistant basis
• There is a beach with beautiful sapphire blue water very close to, and plenty of restaurants along the shore 
• My house is about as big as the place I shared with two other people last year
• The town sells razors, but no shaving cream.