School is Cool

Independence Day (Independence Weeks, I should say) finally ended! The last celebration was hands down the most fun. My fellow teachers and I dressed up what looked like a pirates costume and marched in a parade in the village center. There were groups that represented different parts of Java. There was a float that had 2 teenagers dressed as the Javanese kind and queen. My favorite group was a group of young boys dressed in ugly masks. The masks represented the idea that a person’s inner beauty is more important than their outer beauty. I danced through the streets under the hot island sun. It was the perfect way to end Independence Day celebrations.

Fellow teachers and me (dressed in the red and white stripes). I was dressed like a man and had a makeup mustache and beard

Boy with an ugly mask to represent inner beauty

And more good news! School finally started. I started observing my counterpart. Yesterday, however, I helped with a reading comprehension activity. I can only teach 10^th and 11^th graders. I am not able to teach the senior class because their English class is focused primarily on the passing the national exam. However, I asked my counterpart if I could still help out with the class. I want to help the students with their homework or class assignment. I’m trying to be as involved as possible.

I’m hoping to join the English club at my school. I want to paint a large map of the glove at my school. I will assign each student a country and he/she will present on the assigned country. I’m so excited to finally start! My counterpart is great to work with and my students are eager to have me in class. It’s good vibe all around.

My New Goal

Everyone tells me that the Peace Corps is an amazing, life changing experience. It is, but no one ever warned me about the boring days that drag on. Of course, this happens in the US. You go through days where time passes slowly or you wait in line for what seems like an eternity. That same feeling happens here and I'm experiencing it now.

Classes still haven't started and they won't start for another week. I've been trying to keep myself busy by planning trips, training for the half marathon, and studying for the GRE's. I've written letters to people, gone to festivals with my host family, and met knew people around the village. I've also started small lessons outside of class, but students are busy with Independence Day festivities (by the way, Independence Day lasts about 3 weeks here....)

But now all I want is for school to start. I want to start teaching so I can get to know my students and do what I came here to do. As a result of all this waiting, I'm getting a little anxious. So...I started a new project and I need YOUR help. I have a wall in my room that is completely blank. It needs to be decorated. I would love it if people sent me postcards from their hometowns or from places they've traveled to. I want to collect postcards from ALL OVER and put them up on my wall! Even if you're a stranger, please write and of course I'll give you a postcard from Indonesia in return. 

The blog website that I use has a breakdown of countries that my blog has been read in. People have read my blog from the UK, Germany, France, Canada, the US, Indonesia, Japan, Columbia, Brazil and a few other countries. It would be wonderful if people could send me postcards from the location where they read my blog! Please help the time go by quickly and write to me! 

Kruti Patel 
Jl. P. Sudirman
87 Bodag Panggul
Trenggalek 66364
Jawa Timur, Indonesia

Again, I will write back to you. It might take a month or two for the letter to reach you, but it will get to you slowly but surly. Thank you!

Sincerely,
Your Bored Peace Corps Volunteer

Independence Day

When I lived in Washington, D.C., I loved celebrating Independence Day. My friends and I would drink America-themed booz the in the early afternoon and head downtown afterwards. I’d watch the fireworks from the National Mall and listen to the loud, patriotic music playing in the background. Even in Indonesia, I managed to have a spectacular Independence Day celebration. My fellow Peace Corps volunteers and I headed to Pachitan Beach for the weekend. We got drunk and ate a lot during the day. At night, we realized there was not going to be a firework show. Naturally we created our own. We torched a few firecrackers towards the Indian Ocean and played drinking games while sitting on the beach. It felt refreshing to forget about Peace Corps life for just a night.

Indonesians celebrate their Independence Day a little bit differently.

Last week, my school officially opened for the new semester. I was so ready. I was eager to teach, to start a new schedule, to get to know my students, etc. I walked into school looking for my counterpart. When I located her in the teacher’s lounge, she frowned.

“Kruti, I am so sorry to tell you this, but there are no classes this week. We are preparing for Independence Day. Will you join us?” She asked

At first, I was confused. I assumed that classes started at the beginning of the semester. Well, the joke is on me. I shouldn’t assume anything since assuming just makes an ass out of u and me (especially here).

I then had the following conversation with my counterpart, Bunda:

Me: “Hmm..Well, what do you do for Independence Day, Bunda?” 

Bunda:  “We march. We march from the school to downtown. You will join us, yes?”

Me: “Why do you march?”

Bunda: “It’s a symbol of discipline. You will join us, yes?”

Me: “What do we wear?”

Bunda: holds up grey pants, grey t-shirt, black sleeves, and black hat “These. You will join us, yes?”

Me: “What are those? Are those sleeves?”

Bunda: “Yes, so that the women can cover their arms. The t-shirt only goes up to the elbow. You will join us, yes?”

Me: “…..Yes’

So, what I’ve gathered about Indonesian Independence Day is this: multiple groups of people march downtown (approximately 2.8 miles) in a military-like fashion. The groups are determined by your school, your neighborhood, your sports team…whatever group you want to choose. But all group members need matching outfits; that’s a must. All groups are judged by how well they march, but most don’t take the competition seriously. Honestly, the whole production looks like a long parade without the floats. Once the march is completed, everyone eats. Game over.

I marched with a group of teachers from my school. No one was serious about the military-like fashion of the march. In fact, we walked about half of it. Our group leader was this guy, who everyone calls Uncle Sam. He had no clue what commands to yell or even when to march or stop marching. We were just a confused group of people marching under the blazing hot Javanese sun.

In the middle of the march, I got noticeably hot. Now I’m quite used to the heat. In fact, I know I adapted to the weather because I now get chilly in the mornings. However, marching in the island heat with no water for over an hour was torture. My counterpart came up to me during the march to ask how I was doing.

Me: “Bunda, I’m so hot!”

Bunda: “Oh, please take off your sleeves. It is ok. We know you are not used to this type of heat.”

Me: “Will I offend anyone? Most of my arms are showing.”

Bunda: “Do not worry about anyone else. Take care of yourself.”

This was by far one of the nicest conversations I have had with my counterpart. I’ve been so worried about being culturally insensitive. I don’t want to be the talk of the town just for wearing shorts around my house. I’ve been so consumed with hurting others that I forgot about taking a step back into my own comfort zone.

I ripped off the sleeves and shoved them deep into my pocket. I marched the last half hour showing off my sweaty arms. I even wore my hat backwards, just to make a point (and soon, all the men in the group copied me!). 

I clearly looked different from all the other women who were marching. But to me, that screams independence! 

I'm An English Teacher, Aren't I?

People ask me what I do in the Peace Corps. I tell them, “I’m an English teacher.” When they ask me how I like it, I can’t answer. I’ve been at my permanent site for 2 months. I have yet to step foot inside a classroom. I proctored tests in June, but I literally sat on my computer chatting with my sisters and friends. I was new to the village when I “watched” kids during testing. I couldn’t help them even if they asked.

It is now August and I still haven’t taught a single lesson. First, there was a two week break after testing. Then there was school during Ramadan for another 2 weeks. However, there were no classes. Students just came to school for orientation and to go to prayer sessions. Then there was another two week break. Now, school has started up today.

However, I went to school without knowing the semester schedule. I asked my counter part (co-teacher) when I would be teaching. She said, “We will get the schedule soon. Hopefully by tomorrow.”

I sat through a meeting. I didn’t understand a word, so I sat on my computer updating myself on current events. I also planned a trip to Singapore. But good news! The schedule was distributed at the end of the meeting. However, I still won’t be able to teach until September. I am required to observe for a minimum of two weeks before I even think about touching a piece of chalk to a chalkboard.  Oh well. I’m patient.

Overall, I’ve learned that Indonesian culture is similar to me. It’s nonchalant and flexible. Locals may not be the best when it comes to planning. In fact, a lot of events seem to be planned last minute or on the spot. No one knows what’s going on or when things will start. Everyone is a little aloof, but they like it that way. It’s as if I’m living in a village full of people exactly like me. Naturally we have other differences, but I am not bothered by the relaxed atmosphere of me school. I feel at home here. The locals just get me.