East Kosting

Today, some co-workers and I went around to a few different kosts and took photos for the other interns to look at before they get here (the first one might come next week?)

The good news: of the ones we looked at, ours is by far the nicest, and the best deal.
The bad news: none of the other ones are next door to mosques. Oh, well.

Erin and I attempted to grab some dinner from the tents that go up by the Pasar Santa at night, and we did get some sate, although we were afraid we had been ripped off (two dollars! so expensive!) We got lost on the way there, though, and our co-worker Iwan (who is actually going to DC for the next week!) had to save us. It is still bizarre to me how it turns pitch black here by 7 PM, but there are tons of people (and vehicles) on the streets, so it is hard not to feel safe.

It is really nice to be working at a place where you don't have to bill by the hour, and where learning about the culture and history of the country is just as important to the job as turning out deliverables. I spent almost an hour talking to my co worker about controversial issues in Indonesia, like abortion (commonly offered on the black market, but not safe), birth control (condoms abound, but good luck getting anything else unless you are married), and marital rape (no such thing). I also learned about ROHIS, the radical Muslim student society that exists at most campuses here. In contrast to the US< when you go to university, you are just as likely to become more conservative after spending time with these groups as you are to become more liberal!

My last note is that I got covered in bug bits while waiting for the sate. New plan: DEET 2x a day. NOW I understand why they like to cover up here.

(Photo: the nicest kost, but no internet, and 500,000 rupiyah more expensive than ours!)