Pengalaman

That means "experience". When something happens here, we say, "You had a pengalaman." Today, I had two pengalamans (yes, we pluralize words in our 2nd language--it's called "campur" or "mix"--mixing of the 2 languages). Ok, now that you are all thoroughly confused, I will write about my pengalamans today.

Today, I had the privilege of returning to the village I have written about before. It was so good to see the smiling faces of the kids, read books to them, help them read books to me, teach them some English words that they wanted to know, and just touch them and talk with them. One little girl held my hand as we walked down the road. Another girl seemed so sad so I kept asking her things like, "Why aren't you smiling? Are you tired? Are you sad?" Eventually she warmed up to me and smiled and allowed me to help her read a book :) Ok, that whole paragraph was bonus. Sorry! Now for the real reason I'm blogging...

While we were letting the kids look at the books and pick which books they wanted to borrow, there was a little boy, probably 3 or 4 years old, with the cutest toothless smile. He kept touching me and wanting to be near me every time he passed by me. At one point, he was playing in a pile of dirt near where we were sitting. I asked him what he was building with the dirt, and his answer shocked and saddened me. He replied, "A grave." A grave. Wow. Totally took me aback. I can't imagine a life at 3 or 4 years old where playing in the dirt consisted of making a grave, of all things. Did I even know what a grave was at that age? No towers or houses or bike ramps like children normally think to build. A grave. This child has experienced more sickness and death in his short lifetime than I have in 24 years, I'm pretty sure. Someone in his village is always sick or dying. Today, we found out that a young mom there with 5 kids under the age of 12 (one being a baby) just passed away. And the leader of the village was in the hospital. The reality of poverty struck me again today. The simplest sicknesses can result in something as serious as death because of lack of education, lack of medicine, lack of money, lack of sanitary conditions.

From the village, we went to the hospital to visit the leader of the village. I had met this man last time I visited the village, and he was sick then too. But when I saw him today, the only word that came to mind was "death". This man looked horrible. I could see every bone in his body. He barely had enough energy to keep his eyes open, much less have much of a conversation with us. He was hooked up to an IV that was barely dripping. He's waiting from someone with his blood type to donate blood, and the doctor still doesn't know what's wrong with him. I kept watching for his stomach to rise and fall to make sure he was still breathing.

Let me describe the hospital to you. I've been in 2 other hospitals here before this one, but they are the nicest ones in the city. This one is a public hospital. Very different. As my friend with me said, it's more like a mall. There were so many people, everywhere we turned, whole families just camping out with their mats, food, bags, toys, etc. It was crazy. Loud. Crowded. When we walked in the building this man was staying in, it smelled. Not anywhere close to clean. Entering his room, I noticed 5 other patients in the same room, and beds for 8 people. Every patient had family there, so the room was filled with probably 15 people in addition to the patients. Mind you, this was not visiting hours. The family members were taking care of the patients like the nurses are supposed to, moving IV's and other tubes, lifting them in and out of bed, bringing them food, etc. I had heard about the state of hospitals here, but to see it firsthand was shocking for me. While we were there, sellers kept coming in and out of the rooms trying to get people to buy cakes, toys, other food, etc. Adding noise. Adding germs. All I could smell was bowel movements. My friend asked me when we left if I could smell that, and she said she had to try really hard to not throw up. The whole time we were there, I didn't see one doctor or one nurse. So so so different from any hospital I've been to in the states, yet I know that this is what most people in the world experience, if they're lucky enough to even receive medical care.

Sorry, I didn't end up taking any pictures today. Lots of mental pictures from today that will probably remain in my mind for a long time. One positive picture...I left the village seeing 2 little girls with their backs to me, huddled around a table reading their books that we lent them :) YAY!!

Cold

This marks the 3rd time I've been cold...today. No, it wasn't cold here today--not even close. Just means I've lived here long enough for my blood to turn to water, I'm pretty convinced. Does not bode well for returning to snow-filled winters!

Multi-Cultural Day :)

Last Saturday, my roommate, closest national friend, and I went to an Indian man's house to learn how to cook Indian food! Um, yes please!! Bring on the curry! Here are some pictures:

Fresh fish and veggies from the market

All the yummy fresh spices: ginger, garlic, & turmeric

Hard at work...well, some of us ;)

Tika and me :)

Part of the feast--complete with fresh pineapple!

Curry chicken started...smelled AMAZING!

The makings of sambal: roasted tomato, a lot of chiles, garlic, and shallots

The best part of the day wasn't even the Indian food (however delicious it was!). The best part of the day was being and cooking together with one Indian man, three Filipino women, two Indonesians from completely different backgrounds, and us two Americans. What a fun multi-cultural day!

Was Wishing...

...I had this tonight...

...an American-sized kleenex. The whole 2-square-toilet paper-sized kleenex just doesn't go far, ya know? At least it's more than 1 ply ;) [that was for all you Ellen fans out there who are now quoting that entire scene either in your heads...or out loud...and probly laughing to yourself....and now you're quoting the elevator scene and thinking about what funny thing you could say next time...you're welcome, that was all bonus]. ANYWAY, wishin for some big kleenex for this cold of mine. That's all. Sometimes, bigger really is better.

Yesterday and Today

Yesterday, I had my first motorcycle lesson. It was so fun! I was really nervous, to be honest, especially about staying balanced, but it was actually really easy. I think going 4wheeling so much helped me a lot. I just turned the triple speed bumps in my path into logs/trees that I'm used to driving over in my quad. Thanks for all the lessons and experience, Dad :) Haven't driven on busy streets yet...not even close, but I'll get there :)

Today, we went to the local fair. Many similarities and also many differences. There were booths, cotton candy, popcorn, paintings, even a ferris wheel. There were also cultural buildings that showcased the specific cultural foods, art, fabrics, dances, etc. of each part of our province. It was really fun to see such rich culture :) One difference--I've never been famous or had random people take my picture at any fair in the states. At one point, I told my roommate, "If one more person takes a picture of me without asking, I'm gonna..." Not sure what I was gonna do, but it made me mad. Not a very good attitude to have, but sometimes a girl gets tired of being stared at and yelled at and taken her picture taken by total strangers just cuz of the color of her skin, ya know?! All in all, though, a very fun evening with my friends :)

In the Land of Toilet Paper, Soap, and Paper Towels

I just got home from a land that had all of the above in every restroom I went to! Now, that sounds like a very small thing, but really, it was shocking...in a good way! Here are some pictures :)

Bellamy and me

Celebrating Bellamy's bday with Lizzie and Megan :)

Asher...trying to hold up the volcano??

Sirsak (green fruit)--one of my favs--and marquisa (orange)

MOUNTAINS!!!! made this CA heart happy :)

View from our hotel room--can't beat that!

When the tide went out, it went OUT!

Clouds--one of my favorite parts of creation in this part of the world

Reminded me of the Nor Cal coast with all the rocks

Asher and Brenden

Hope you enjoyed some pictures from the first 2 legs of my vacation. It was an amazing time with family and also of meeting new friends. And all the scenery I got to enjoy from volcanoes to mountains to beach was a like a breath of fresh air from the busy, dirty city I spend every day in. And, I got to enjoy toilet paper, soap, and paper towels for a week and a half :) What else can a girl ask for?!

Music Play

Last week, we had a music play day at a preschool behind my house that I've been working at every other week. It was so much fun playing with 3-6 year olds all morning :) They learned the Hokey Pokey--definitely the favorite--Itsy Bitsy Spider, I'm a Little Teapot, and others. A family visiting from the states juggled for them too! They were so impressed.

So grateful for the opportunity to be with kids! I've been able to hang out with the teachers a lot this past semester and am hoping to continue that when school starts again. They're such sweet women!! And these kids--adorable :)