These are some photos from weeks after the Merapi eruptions when I had the chance to go along to deliver supplies and goods to victims. I was just through this area a couple days ago and although there are still piles of volcanic ash in places, and greyish mud, life looks back to normal. However, I also saw a community only 6km from Merapi that was devastated by hot pyroclastic flows...the word that comes to mind is destitute. Trees that are still standing are bare and black, there is debris, rubble and ashy mud everywhere, and it is now largely deserted. Well over 1000 families lost their homes and though I'm not sure how many died, this area was just outside the 5km warning zone that was told to evacuate before the volcano's eruption.
Now for less gloomy talk, it's that time of year again.......the beginning of it! Christmas and New Years were, as expected, busy and church-oriented here. Before the Christmas break, the kids at school made Christmas cards (as you can see in the photos). They also performed their Christmas play the week before Christmas at the church for their parents and other kids. I got to dress up as an angel for that performance, and again in a white dress for the Christmas day service. A lot of makeup and fake eyelashes were involved.
Over the holidays I was able to go to Jakarta with my host family to visit more family for a few days. It was much like everyone says: big, crowded, commercialized and tons of traffic. We drove there (about 10-12 hours one way, survived the crowds and traffic for a few days, attended another wedding (8-course meal and 500+ guests!!!), and returned home again in time for Christmas. Christmas eve I went swimming at an outdoor place called 'the fountain' - that was a first for Dec.24! Christmas day involved a 4am outdoor church service that all are invited to in the city, back home to eat, nap and visit with family before going to my own church in the afternoon where the makeup was being applied and excitement building for the service that evening.
I went with one of my students and her family to visit a nearby temple called Gedong Songo. There are 9 different temples to see (although some are no longer intact), and we were able to skip the hiking and take advantage of the horse option! And note the geeky/awk picture of me and the scenery! It was a great view. I think that is Mt. Ungaran in the background. New Year's eve we went to Pizza Hut (very busy place esp on special occasions, even at 10pm) after which we went to church. It was my first time having communion on New Years Eve, and I reflected on how different that is from champagne or egg nog or hot apple cider that are often celebratory drinks of choice in the part of the western world where I come from.
I've been back at the school for 2 weeks now, and it is lots of fun! The kids and teachers seem happy to be back and ready for another semester. Last weekend I went to Jakarta again for another wedding! This time it was my host mom's cousin, so I had the privilege of dressing up and having makeup and hair done (yet again) with all the aunties and girl cousins. Oh dear, don't even get me started on my hairdo. Let's just say I felt like I could have been the bride's mother. We also saw a huge gold mosque outside Jakarta - just to drive through the gate onto the property required payment, and that's without parking! It is considerably easy to build a mosque anywhere, anytime here in Indonesia but a very different story if you want to build a church.
Today I went with the preschool/kindergarten classes on a field trip to "Dreamland"- we rode bumper cars, went on the merry-go-round (kids laughed because I was too big for the horse I was riding) and played on indoor and outdoor playgrounds. They had a blast! And so did I. Hmm there is probably so much more to say. I continue to turn whiter as there is not many hours of sun these days. It's funny how people here think it's cold when I think it's comfortable! But I do look forward to the sunshine and dry season. Ok. That's all I can think of for now. UNTIL NEXT TIME!!
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