Like a P1 student

As a teacher, I find that learning another language can be a great experience to allow you to understand the process their brain must go through. Similarly, converting currencies can be quite the math task.

I sit in a bank. I'm asked to figure out my yearly salary in Rupiah. Take the USD, multiply by 12, and multiply by 10,000. I look at the number and cannot read it. I try to count zeros, and finally give up and hand my phone to the HR rep. 

I've studied some Bahasa (Indonesian language) and I know a lot of random words. Staring at the signs above me I can see the word saya, bisa, along with two others. Post sentence there is a set of elipsis, followed by many different pictures: A couple in front of a house, a man with boxes and building plans, a young child wearing a cap and gown, and older couple with grey hair. I try to assess what the statement says. I know that saya is I. Bisa I know in the context of "Anda bisa bicara Inggris." Which means "Can you speak english?" Perhaps the statement is "I can..." 

Here I sit as a teacher using my sight words and context clues, doing math that is far to difficult for me. I remind myself that this is what it must be like to be a P1 student, and vow to tell the students the story so that they can see my understanding of their difficulty. 

Assessment: Stress

I sit in a meeting about our assessment procedures, 3 days into work. My mind begins to wander and I'm purely overwhelmed with resources, information, spaces, and faces. I long for something, anything familiar. And so it begins. The homesickness I knew would come eventually. What do I crave? A hug. Just one to make me feel something recognizable in the stream of confusion I’m drowning in.

My mind drifts back to home. I think about the wonderful time I was allowed to spend there. Hearing the music of the live concerts, smelling hops, I remember the final hug I got from my brother, tight and genuine. Then I tear up. It is too painful, so I pull myself back to the meeting. Assessment binders: to compile all of our tests in one easy access area for future reference.  More information to remember.

I can feel my mothers’ arms around me. Embracing me each night before I go to bed, reminding me that this is what we missed the most. At the time I was even slightly annoyed. But why? I miss it too, now. “Feel the hugs!!!” she reminds me with every single e-mail. And I can feel them now. But these ones are empty, and cold, and all I want is the warmth of an embrace.

I think about how lucky I am to have people in my life who even give me hugs. I consider it a privilege that I cannot count my goodbye hugs on my fingers. I remember that as I grew closer to my Tirana family their embraces, and words of encouragement seemed to suffice to make me feel better. I’m so much stronger now that I was a week into my time in Tirana, and that eases the desire a bit. There is so much to look forward to, so many new experiences to have, so many things I must do before I can miss home.

I yank myself back to the meeting. I won’t go down this easy. Assessment portfolios. I gottcha. This isn't homesickness. This is simply stress. 

If I Ever Write a Book

All of last year people kept mentioning that I should write a book. Now let’s be realistic, I don’t consider myself that great of a writer. I use the same boring ,words, my grammar is crap and I have more typos than many of my students probably would. But if I ever did write a book I have finally thought of a title for it.

“So You Think the Cheese and Beer is Bad in                         ?”

So you thought the cheese and beer was bad in Albania? My first sip of milk from my cereal bowl had to be spit out. The so-called “plain” yogurt was extremely sweet. I splurged on what I assumed to be the good gouda in the store (because it cost way more) and it is still processed disgusting cheese. Take me back to Europe. I’ll take the brie, fresh mozzarella, and parmesan over this. I think it is safe to say my days of consuming vast amounts of dairy are over. When I was back in Wisconsin my stomach couldn’t even handle an ice cream cone, or a few slices of cheese. With the exception of putting yogurt in my smoothies (I will continue to search for a decent kind) I don’t think I’ll be eating much dairy at all.

Beer-wise, I get pilsners. I’m trying not to get too disappointed on this one yet.  I've seen some decent beer listed, but it is all very expensive. I'm already angry at myself for thinking the beer in Albania was bad. It took me a few months to find good beer in Albania, so I still have hopes. I saw some stout in the store, I purchased each of the kinds, and they are each the worst stouts I’ve ever had. Nothing will compare to you, oh glorious IPA, or to you, Midwest coffee/chocolate stouts.

My goal for this blog was to be more optimistic and happy, and less homesick. So here goes. The great thing about Indonesia is that there is a ton of delicious fruit to try, and I have a blender. All the fruit is also very inexpensive in comparison to American prices, which will hopefully make it fairly easy to eat healthy. Oats for breakfast, canteen for lunch, smoothie for dinner, is the ultimate plan. Angelique has agreed to help me learn to pick out good fruit, if I in turn teach her how to like beer. Lucky for her the thing she dislikes the most about beer is the bitter taste. Pilsners are perfect.

Another good thing about being here: Rumor has it I’m like a model here because I have 4 of the 4 things people look for. Firstly I have white skin. Then I have what is called a “tall nose” meaning that my nose is long and pointy instead of flat to my face. 3^rd I have blue eyes, and lastly I have blond hair.

Today we went out to lunch with some other people from the school and I met an expat who is very involved in Inter-nations. He has already suggested a trip to the Islands next weekend. I'm psyched to hopefully remain friends with him so that I can continue to meet others ex-pats. I had some curry that cost me a total of $2.20, which was less than my ice tea cost me. Insane. It was incredible! Then we went out for coffee and continued to talk about the school with the preschool teachers. They all seem really nice and I'm happy to be making friends with both ex-pats and locals :)

So there is my complaining, and my optimism.

My Independence Day

So I spent my second day getting acquainted with the other teachers, shopping for various items for the apartment, and organizing. So far everything is going really well, and I feel like I’m adjusting much better than I did in Albania. Having a roommate helps a lot. We met another teacher who has been here for 2 years and he has given us some awesome tips. He also told me that I have to redeem the American name, because apparently the Americans last year judged Indonesian culture a lot. Everyone here is so friendly and I can’t imagine not loving my time here.

Everything I need is in my building (except for some shopping.) Seriously. I have a pool, gym, small mini-market, laundry service, maintenance service, cantine, and super nice fancy restaurant. Now if I could just get my internet in my apartment to work. Also, the school is pretty much directly next to my apartment. It takes me about 5 minutes to get there. I go down the elevator, walk through a hallway and go up another elevator. I can’t see a reason to ever leave (other than to grab a drink.) I’ve already seen some stout in the stores, but haven’t purchased any yet.

Today is July 4^th and today I started work. We spent the morning doing training in the Mathematics curriculum, doing the first steps to get our computers set up, and made a trip to immigration to complete the necessary steps for our work permits. I got to meet the rest of the primary ex-pat staff, and I found out, to my pleasant surprise, that I will be teaching grade 1 instead of grade 2. Apparently the grade 1 class is the biggest. Currently there are 15 students registered and they expect to have 20 by the end of the year. I will have my hands full. On Monday I get to meet my partner teacher. I’m psyched to be getting some training and explanations of the expectations prior to starting. Tomorrow we get to go over the English portion of the curriculum and we get to finish looking at math stuff.

This evening we were treated to dinner, by the director of our program. It was a wonderful combination of Indonesian and European dishes. We had some fried potatoes, calamari, rice wrapped in banana leaves, creamy fried onion soup, fish with red peppers, 2 kinds of chicken, ribs, a delicious salad made from papaya flowers and desserts. The first dessert was like an apple pie. The second one was like a bubble gum flavored slushy in a bowl with gummies in it. It was disgusting and I nearly threw up. They also added American flags to the centerpieces to help me celebrate Independence Day.

We were warned against using the tap water for anything. Unfortunately, we have been brushing our teeth an washing our fruit with it. Here is to hoping nothing bad happens.

I’m looking forward to a weekend of exploring and getting out of this area, and hopefully getting my internet set up so I can really catch up with people.

Wherever you go, There you are

Saying goodbye at the airport. A little bit of the same as last time. Hugs and tears, and confused faces from my niece and nephew. K understands. She’s done this before. Q is just sick of me giving him hugs and kisses, and he is need of a nap from waking up extra early. Milwaukee to Chicago is short, and I easily find my gate in Chicago. Of course I have a window seat. I can never decide what is better, being in aisle so I can get up whenever I want, or being in a widow seat so I can lean my head against something. Luckily I’m sitting next to an older Chinese couple, They get up about every other hour to pee and I just follow their lead. I watch the flight time decrease. It doesn’t seem to be going anywhere until I finally sleep for 3 hours.

After a 15 hour flight to Hong Kong, I arrived in my line to get my boarding pass for my final flight. I finally get to the desk, an hour before my flight leaves. After looking at my visa the lady informs me that I may have to purchase a return ticket upon arrival in Indonesia. I try not to panic. It’s fine. When I applied they told me I didn’t need one. And so it goes. I have a credit card, I have some cash, it will all be fine, I tell her. Lines at security and I’m supposed to be on my flight in 20 minutes. According to the map it takes 20 minutes to get to my gate. So it goes. I get through, run to my gate, stopping to pee on the way. In the bathroom I cry. Just a little. I already don’t know why I’m doing this. I miss English. I miss my family. I want a hug from my mom. I want an IPA.

Boarding. I’m behind a family of 4. One little girl looks bigger than my niece, but is potentially the same age. She whines that she doesn’t want to walk. I miss my family more. No one has blonde hair. No one has while skin. I want to go home. I find my seat. After 5 minutes 2 other American girls sit down next to me and introduce themselves, They are visiting their friends who just got done teaching in Jakarta for a year. Apparently they were transferred from Vietnam, and fell in love with Indonesia. They had a blast. My faith is semi-restored. They offer me a green tea kit-kat. It is delicious. My faith is restored more. I’m exhausted. The plane leaves 30 minutes late. I pass the time filling out the customs forms, praying I can just make it to the apartment and sleep. I pick at my chicken and rice. I gulp down two glasses of red wine and take a 30 minute wine nap.

I arrive in Jakarta and step off the plane. Instantly I’m blown away by how humid it is. My lungs fill with the dampness and I can’t breath. I regret my lack of appreciation for the clean, dry breathable air of Minneapolis. After getting in the wrong line and finally asking a policeman, I figure out where I need to go for customs. The man behind the counter takes a look at my passport, looks at me and immediately comments that he is also 23. He repeats my address out loud several times, trying to memorize it. “Can I come visit you sometime?” he asks me. My mind is blown. Is the customs officer really flirting with me? He asks me if I plan on traveling eyeing my hiking pack up and down. I respond by saying I’m very excited to explore the country. Baggage claim is crowded, but eventually I find my bags. Success! They both made it! I hurry through the second customs check, and they don’t even have me put my bags through security, just my handbag. I exchange money. I feel rich as I’m handed bills with 5000 written on them in exchange for my $120 USD. I find the girls who are waiting to pick me, among traffic and chaos, as multiple taxi drivers ask me where I’m going and offer me rides. The driver finds us and packs my bags in the trunk. I try to carry on the conversation started, but I’m exhausted. I watch the street and the city, taking note of the things that make this city better than the last one. Signs on the interstate, lines on the interstate, pedestrian overpasses on the main streets, an A&W, far less trash on the streets, recycling bins. The only similarities I can see so far is the smog that hangs over the buildings, and one small vendor selling cigarettes on the street corner. Suddenly I notice we aren’t on the right side of the street. But neither are the other cars. I’m confused and way over tired. They tell me one other teacher has arrived. Ruby from Ireland. Stephan from Belgium and Angelique (Angie) from South Africa (my roommate) will arrive tomorrow morning and afternoon.

I’m told we are getting close. I take note of the surroundings, trying to establish myself enough so I can explore. Places to eat are pointed out. Among them a bakery, a noodle place, and a McDonalds. That’s right. A McDonalds, right down my street. The building is tall, 25 stories high and I can see the school, located right in the bottom of it. This is going to be quite the adjustment. I walk in the main entrance and everything looks fancy, like a nice hotel. There is a security guard, and a pond with water flowing over rocks. Through the doors I can see a swimming pool. We turn the corner, and there is an unfinished portion of the building. Just cement. I take note of the floor and the room number as I enter my apartment. It is partially my style, partially not, but enough so that I will be able to live with it. I sign the waivers, receive my key and access card, and begin to work on setting up my room. Why am I doing this? It’s 1:00am. I become frustrated with trying to organize. I need more hangers, I need a few extra drawers or a shelf. I need hooks to hang things, and picture frames to decorate with. No, I need to go to bed.

I decide it is time to shower. Having no idea which side is hot and which side it cold, I hop in. I don’t even care. Once the hot water begins to pour out I do care. I need a cold shower. I feel as though I will never ever stop sweating. I freak out because I forgot to check for spiders before I got in. Short and done. I need to go to bed but I just want to write. So I write and I worry about using the toilet, reminding myself to always check for spiders. It’s 2:30am. I need to sleep.

I brush my teeth, almost forgetting that the water isn’t drinkable, I’m sure to spit it all out, and to wipe my mouth out. I crawl into bed, hoping to god for some kind of salvation from the jet lag I know will haunt me for the next 2 weeks. I’m wide awake

4 hours later I awake, to a very bright room. It is instantaneous. From darkness to light. It is as if the sun rises in about 10 seconds. I consider moving to the other of the two rooms because there are less windows, but I really like the long window and the bigger bed for purposes of when people visit. I get up and take an IB profen. My head is pounding, and I have no energy to deal with it. I heat water in the microwave and mix some of the instant coffee they left me. I eat cornflakes and milk, and can hardly keep it down. The milk is sweet, and so is the coffee, but my tummy is empty, and gurgling. I eat slow and combine the sweetness with sips of cold water. The apartment finally feels cool enough to put on clothes. I turn the air down 2 degrees Celsius, and dress in a hiking shirt and my longest pair of sleeping shorts.

Outside looks nothing like it did last night, other than the smog that still hangs over the buildings. I notice more trash on the streets. I notice a pack of dogs in the streets. I notice a gypsy village in the distance and people collecting trash. I notice unfinished buildings. I notice the mosques. It looks like Tirana, but with more trees. There is a block long park next to me, covered in green. Thank god there is more green here.

I explore the apartment, mapping out an organization plan. I find a second toilet, that I didn’t know existed. I already need to sweep, but there is no broom. I begin a list of things to get when I’m at the mall. They mentioned something about a mall trip once everyone has arrived. I soon begin on the rest of organizing my closet and room, and continue to add to the list. I need so much. I want this place to feel like home, because it will be for the next 2 years.

I desire internet, anything to help me check in with the real world. I want to tell my mom I arrived safely. I want to explore, but don’t want to do it on my own. Where is my sense of exploration? I want to be here in case anyone comes, and I’m able to make a connection of any sort. I consider a nap. It is too bright, and then all of the sudden it is pouring rain. 30 minutes later it is sunny again. I spend the day in the apartment, fearful of getting lost without a map or phone. I convince myself that I can explore tomorrow, but deep down I’m disappointed in my fear and inability to just do it on my own. I don't want to feel lost. I read Beyond the Sky and the Earth by Jamie Zeppa. "Wherever you go, There you are." I'm here. 

This. Is. My. Life.

I sit in Wisconsin, 12 hours before my 25 hour journey to Indonesia begins, reviewing the last year of my life, and contemplating the adjustments the next year will contain. 12 hours away and it still doesn't seem real. I'm forgetting something, surely (everyone drink.)

I go over my first few weeks in the last country (Albania) and wonder how this will compare:

Will I be able to get to a store in the first week to get the essentials I need?
      Why wouldn't I?
When will I get to do laundry again?
      It can't be as bad as the debacle in Albania. 3 weeks without a washer...
Will I catch onto the language?
      As long as I work at it and don't give up.
Will I make friends?
      Duh! The real question is will they be as awesome as the last group?
How long will it take to get internet working?
     It's fine. I'm taking the best book in the world with me, and living across from the school.
What will I miss?
     Lots, but that is part of this grand adventure I'm on

As I rocked my 15 month year old nephew to sleep tonight I thought to myself, "This is it. The last time you will ever do this." I cried. Then I was fine. Who am I, and how did I get here? 2 weeks ago I didn't want to leave, and now I can't wait to just get there and begin the next chapter of my life.

I gulp the last sip of my last IPA. This means it is time for bed, but my mind is finally working, realizing the adventures are just around the corner. The adrenaline flows. This. Is. My. Life.

Obtaining an Indonesian Visa

Congrats! If you are reading this, then hopefully it means you are on your way to Indonesia. I promised myself that along with treating this blog as a journal for myself, family, and friends I would also try to make it a useful blog for other travelers. With that in mind I'm sitting down to force myself to write a blog on the headache that obtaining a Indonesian year-long visa has been. It is my hope that this post will help you (the reader) have less of a headache. Throughout the process I felt like my list of documents needed was completely unorganized, and that it was totally unclear about what my portion of applying for a visa was. I was getting different lists from different people, and none of them seemed complete. I will try to procure a list and step by step directions of how to obtain your 1 year temporary stay visa. I should note that I am an America citizen and I'm moving to Jakarta to teach at an international school. Visa requirements may be different if you are from another country, or if you are going for a different purpose. I recommend you stay in close contact with whoever is helping you get the visa an/or the consulate office nearest to you.

Step 1: Getting your Authorization Letter
Items you will need:
copy of you diploma*
copy of your official transcripts*
copy of your teaching license
a signed statement saying you agree to abide by the laws of the Indonesian government (given by my employer)
HIV/AIDS free test*
Drugs free test*
Copy of your complete passport, all pages (they ask for random pages, but it is easier to just have the whole thing scanned)
10 passport photos with a red background (4x6cm)
10 passport photos with a white background(4x6cm)
CV form filled out and translated to Indonesian (given by my employer)

*these will need to be certified copies, which if you are in the United States means you will need to get them notarized and apostilled. You should check your secretary of states website for how to do this. It should be no more than 2-3 months before you leave. Originally, you will not need the apostille to get the authorization letter from the government, and can send scanned copies. I was told once I arrive in Indonesia they will need the certified copies.
**Not everyone needs to get this done. They randomly choose people. If you are insured or it will not cost you a lot of money, you may want to do it just to have it done. Where I was located both tests cost me about 60USD. I simply went to the doctor and told them what I needed. They ran full blood work and a urine test and gave me my results the following day.

Some of these items needed to be translated to Indonesian. The HR rep of my school agreed to do this for me there and then take the charge out of my first paycheck. Once I gave the HR rep in Indonesia all of these items she submitted them to the appropriate places to go through the following process:
1) Approval for your employment issued by the Manpower Ministry
2) Recommendation Letter issued by the Education Ministry to obtain work permit from the Manpower Ministry. 
3) Approval to obtain residence permit from the Immigration Directorate General Office
Your sponsor in Indonesia will contact you once the authorization letter is done. And then it is time for the Visa pick-up process

Items needed for Visa pick-up
1. 2 passport photos, size 2inches x 2inches
2. copy of ticket or itinerary for flight
3. 2 copies of the visa application
       a. You can leave the return flight details blank if you are staying for a year
       b. if you need more space for adresses or names you can write outside the boxes
       c. for time you are staying the most you can put is 1 year since you have to reapply after a year
4. 2 copies of the Authorization Letter of your working visa (you will receive this from your school when it is ready
5. Passport
6. Money order or cashiers check for the appropriate amount (check consular website under visas)

Congrats! Once you have all of these items together you are ready to process your visa for pick-up. There are a few ways to do this.
1) Take all the items to the consular office. Be sure to check the hour of operation as there are usually only 3 hours a day you are allowed to apply for a visa. Then after 3 business days you can go back and pick up your visa. Once again there are only 3 hours a day to pick up a visa.
2) Mail the above items using a postal service with tracking available. FedEx or UPS are good options. include one more item: a pre-paid return trackable envelope with your name and address on it. They will send it back to you with your passport and receipt once it is processed.

If you are still confused about anything call the consulate nearest to you. They are super helpful. I was in a very big hurry, and tracked my item. Once it arrived I called and asked them to begin processing it right away. I received it back the next day (I paid for one day shipping on my return package.)

I just received the Visa yesterday and I head to Indonesia soon. I will update this if I discover any other necessary requirements for the visa process.