It has now been a month since I last wrote an update on here… so I will rack my brain and try not to bore you readers… because it’s once again time to tell you about things here. In March I started teaching English once a week for senior high students at a local government education facility (called SKB – sekolah (school)…something something; not sure what the acronym stands for). I still do not understand what exactly this place functions as – in terms of how it is categorized because it is not a regular public school – but I do know it aims to fill some gaps occupied by lower-income populations in this area. It offers sewing, crafts, computer courses (and some other practical skills-learning) to give men and women opportunities for income-generation. Kids from kindergarten to high school are offered schooling (more informal than regular public schools). There are the standard courses you would expect (sciences, maths, English, Indonesian, …) and there is at least one English course offered for anyone above high-school age.
I am also staying busy teaching private English conversation twice a week to a high-schooler and once a week to a big wig professor at a University in Solo. The prof is going to the US May-July so it will only be a few more weeks. I question whether or not it is worth the time and energy to go all the way to Solo (usually 2-3 hours one way from Ungaran), but they seem pretty eager to have a ‘native speaker’ helping them out. This week has been midterm testing (gr.1 and 2 midterm exams!), which has meant shorter days and a break from teaching. I have still been at the school every day, but instead of teaching it is monitoring, marking, etc. Yesterday I was at SKB for the 3rd time. I cannot believe how shy these kids can be, especially girls! I want to teach them some English of course, but I also want to encourage them to learn together – to speak out loud, to stand up in front of their classmates and just say something without laughing and covering their faces!! It’s unbelievable how much time it takes some of them to muster up courage just to say the simplest sentences. And I want them to trust each other and not be so afraid of making mistakes – how else are they supposed to learn?! So I’m gonna work on that. Maybe form the class in a circle next week instead of the usual setup.
Oma (Grandma) turned 87 the end of March! Naturally there was a party for her – they rented out a smallish Chinese restaurant with about 12 tables, maybe 8 people per table. She got her hair and makeup done and wore a fancy dress – they never fail to go all-out here for such occasions! She is really healthy and sharp for her age too… I am happy to eat the same diet as her while I’m here (minus the 2 spoons of honey every day because that is her special and expensive honey ..I have only been offered it once) – hoping her longevity rubs off a little. I was asked to start off the ‘happy birthday’ which I am sure had nothing to do with the fact that I was the only foreigner in the room… Of course I handled it like a good Mennonite and picked a good pitch for everyone. Always a lively bunch when it comes to singing happy birthday (in English of course) – then they have a follow-up song in Indonesian, sort of like our “how old are you” in English.
My skin is still peeling from being at the beach 3 weeks ago… it was lovely. Some of the other SALTers and I enjoyed a day and a half in Jepara – complete with burritos (that we made ourselves; there’s no way you can find them anywhere) ample sunshine and the resulting sunburns! Next Thurs the 21st is Kartini’s Day. Raden Ayu (or Ajeng) Kartini was "a prominent Javanese and an Indonesian national heroine. She is known as a pioneer in the area of women's rights for native Indonesians" (Wikipedia!!)... She was an educated writer, which was really rare in her day, especially for a Javanese woman. So we are having a joint Easter-Kartini's Day celebration at school. As far as I know, there will be traditional dress, easter egg decorating and hunt, and reflection on why we celebrate Easter, etc.. And food of course. Then MCC Indo staff are heading to BALI for team retreat! Really looking forward to some R&R and catching up with everyone. Plus we are staying in Northern Bali in a place known for dolphin-spotting that is not too busy with tourists. Should be very nice! Less than a week after coming home from retreat, I am having so very special visitors! 5 of them!! Lots to look forward to, and I cannot believe it is April already. Time flies.
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