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!)

Let's go to the mall!

I went off in search of a citi bank this morning, and being adventurous, I decided to walk, with just a google map burned into my memory and a good sense of direction. While the streets only have sidewawlks about half the time, the traffic will avoid you, though unfortunately my fair skin, height, and light hair make me stick out like a sore thumb and everyone on the sidewalk wants to stop and talk to me. Too bad I don't understand anything they are saying!

After 15 minutes or so, still citibank-less, I found...Blok M. Blok M is the epitome of an American mall, but Indonesian-style. I believe there were 8 stories, full of small stores that sold American-style clothing that one could never wear in Jakarta out of modesty (unlesshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif there is an area I haven't seen yet where the women wear short dresses), cell phone stores galore, and luckily for me, both an American-style supermarket (no, not with familiar food, just that accepts credit cards) and a sort of Ace-hardware anything you can think of store (aka, extension cords, lamps, rice cookers, and towels). I did see and hear one other American while I was there-my first since the airport.

I enjoyed a 12,000 rupiyah (about $1.50) sit-down lunch of tea and gado gado, which was spicy as heck, but absolutely delicious. I then went in search of a stand that sold blended avocado juice, but couldn't find one, so I settled for an iced tea from the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf conveniently located in the mall. My iced coffee cost more than my lunch!

I took a taxi back, which took as long as my walk there had-I am pretty sure the driver drove around in circles for five minutes before heading back to the kost. When I was almost back, I saw...a citibank. Less than a 5 minute walk from the kost. Oh, well. I shall try tomorrow to go and open an account.

I chatted with my roommates for a bit on my return when they saw my purchases, and they filled me in on my first set of questions--do you tip at sit-down restaurants (no, only if you have extra change and really want to), can you walk around at night (yes, just keep the jewelery to a minimum), can you order delivery (yes, and you don't tip for that either!).

I found out they love watching American horror movies (great....), don't drink coffee (double great...) and are amazingly sweet, polite, and nice. I am so glad to have talked with them--I've been shy about asking my questions, but let them all out just now. Two of them work for an cigarette company just bought by Phillip Morris, and one is finishing her degree and wants to work there when she graduates. Apparently it is one of the nicest office jobs around, and has a very good reputation here. I tried to explain to them American smoking laws and the health concerns Americans have about smoking, but it is just a different view here.

I hope to post some pictures of the kost, and maybe a little more information about it, later on. For now, I really should start on that journal competition...