This is one hell of a city. A third world New York. Packed, hot, sticky, with eyes starring at you in all directions. The people here seem sweet. Even the men at the airport helped me pull my three oversized, overweight suitcases with grace and genuine kindness. Once at our hotel (a beauty on the website but surrounded by slums in reality), we showered (western bathrooms here, thank god) and went to find food. I like the hot air. Always have enjoyed humidity. But the air conditioning in the restaurant was chilling my bones, reminding me of Chicago in March. The food was also not what I expected. My plate of fried rice with seafood was served as an upside down cup of rice with prawns and squid (not my favorite). Since I've been told not to eat cold vegetables for fear of food poisoning, my cucumbers remained untouched.
My fellow ELFs (English Language Fellows) and I went to get converters for the electrical sockets. Word to the wise. They cost $2 here and $30 in the States. And the one I got in Chicago, feeling oh so prepared and savvy, I can't even open due to my lack of scissors and over packaging...ah, the many lessons I will soon learn.
I'm adjusting. I'm suffering from culture shock and a seriously confused sense of time. But I'm happy to share this with all of you. I miss you. I miss Chicago. My cat, my front porch, all the lovely people that I've shared eight years with. I plan to return. But before then, I'll be here. Doing things I never thought I could or would do.
The sun is rising. 5:46am. Hazy city outside my window. A day of orientation and more culture shock for sure.
This is my first blog. It's going to be under construction for a bit. Bear with me.
Love,
Court
thanks for sharing your thoughts and detailed observations. so happy you will be in touch with us from far away.
ReplyDeleteRock on Court! You are fearless and you inspire me. Please keep up the entries.
ReplyDeleteHey guys. Thanks for the comments. But um, Gyro...identify yourself please. Do I know you?
ReplyDeleteCourt - beautiful picture, I must say!! And fabulous to hear news so quickly. I look forward to keeping up with your adventures. Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your post, I feel asleep and I had a dream you showed up to my first broadway musical. Yes you read that right. I couldn't remember my lines during a monologue and you walked up from the crowd in an Indonesian dress and went onstage. You started repeition with me and it got me back into the "zone". I finished out an emotional dream monologue thanks to you!
ReplyDeleteCourtney-
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to follow your story while you are so far away. I thought you might not be where you could share. I look forward to reading all about your adventures and experiences in Indonesia. You, of all the cousins, are the most inspiring in your endeavors! You have always done things the rest of us would never do. :)
Jonny! I will ALWAYS do repetition with you. Not sure about wearing the Indonesian outfits though. We'll have to talk about that. Miss you buddy! And Meisner. Sigh.
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