Life on the Musi River

We've had so many wonderful experiences the last several days! But without reliable internet, I haven't been able to post. So rather than starting from the beginning, I'll start from yesterday. Julie and I are back in Palembang after four days in Sekayu. Palembang is the capital of South Sumatra (Sumatera Selatan). It's a hustling, bustling kind of town and we've seen a nice slice thus far. Our host for the day was Lydia, a math teacher from Palembang but teaching in Sekayu. The day started with a visit to a wet market, where produce, meats and live animals are sold. Later we took a leisurely boat ride up the Musi river. The river is a major thoroughfare and many people still live along the banks in traditional south Sumatran homes (wooden homes on stilts). Our goal was to visit Kemaro Island, a teeny island with a Buddhist temple at its center. We made it there and it was lovely but it was the Musi river that kept me rapt. It was so vibrant, colorful and dynamic. It was alive. Children frolicking.  Fathers and sons fishing. Women rocking their children to sleep. People bathing. Laundry and kites and flags billowing in the wind.

And of course boats; big and small, wood and metal, fast and slow, ornate and simple. Thoughts of the Tigris, Euphrates, Indus and Nile came to mind. Rivers give birth to civilizations and continue to sustain them. Naturally my thoughts then drifted to environmental decline of the rivers, but that's another post for another day. On this day there was so much to absorb! If I looked on one side, would I miss something on the other? I was transported on that river ride, to another time and place and words just can't do it justice! Perhaps a few pictures will help? All photo credits to my partner in crime, Julie Wakefield. Thanks Julie!

Leaving Jakarta

The last two days were filled with some remarkable school visits and require a separate post. Julie and are I off to Palembang/sekayu for the next week and  a half where we will visit more schools and do some presentations. I woke up filled with anxiety for my 9th graders, wondering how the regents exam went. Talk to me 9th graders! And yes, I resisted the Krispy Kreme doughnuts. 

Found Luggage and Komodo Dragon!!

Python-Not a venomous snake. Death by constriction...

Lunch

Dessert

Shadow Puppet

Replica of Hindu Temple

Yesterday was so busy! More great food, lessons on Indonesian history,

20 Year old Komodo, Very Gentle

and adventures in the rain. We spent most of our day at an educational park called Tamanmini that highlights the history, culture, and architecture of the many civilizations and islands that comprise Indonesia. Along the way we got to visit some charming reptiles as well. Even better than the Komodo dragon? Found luggage!

Lost luggage and selak

Fried Rice, Sautéed Veggies, and Noodle soup with Fresh Green Curry. YUM!

First fruit tasting: Selak!

After 40 some hours of travel we made it to Jakarta yesterday afternoon! My luggage, on the other hand, didn't quite make it. Nor did Lauren's,  my fellow nyc teacher. Her's is still in LA, but they don't seem to know where mine is, NY, LA, HK? The savvy traveler in me knew to pack extra things in my carry on. However, the weary and exhausted teacher in me when offered to check two bags instead of one jumped (if ever so hesitantly) at the chance. Thus I have nothing but the clothes on my back, a few toiletries, passport, wallet, some books, phone and my Tom's shoes. Feeling hopeful though that the luggage will show up sooner rather than later. In the meantime the other lovely teachers and Pauline, our supervisor, have offered to lend me clothes. Prepare yourself for photos of me in school t-shirts from Illinois to Nevada. :)

In other news, our first meal was pretty great. And I've already eaten a never before eaten fruit, the selak. The outside of this tear drop shaped fruit has a scary, reptilian skin, and the inside is cream colored crunchy flesh. I approached it cautiously as it looked durian like on the inside. But it was yummy! It tastes like a pineapple meets strawberry meets banana but crunchy like a carrot. I've never seen it before in the US, not even in Chinatown. Guess you'll just have to come to Indonesia to eat one! p.s. blogging from my phone is tricky! Can't figure out captions and photos don't quite seem to show up in the right order. This bottom photo is Lauren and me at

With Lauren K: Registering our lost luggage.

the airport, trying to make sad faces because of lost luggage but unable to restrain giggles. 

Selak: aka snake fruit. Looks a little like dragon eggs (from Game of Thrones), no?

Short Layover in Hong Kong

After a 14 hour flight with my new comrades we have landed in Hong Kong. What a stunning city to fly into! Too bad I will spend no time here. Enjoying the free internet access while I wait for the last leg of our flight, 5 hours to Jakarta. Also most of the items on this page are in Chinese. So if something doesn't make sense it is likely a combination of sleep deprivation and lack of Chinese language skills. :) More from Jakarta I hope!

Long layover in LA

I wouldn't ordinarily write about a layover but Z said she wanted everything. All 11 teachers are meeting in LA then flying to Hong Kong together, a 14 hour flight. From there a 5 hour flight to Jakarta. Trying to pass the time by walking backwards on the moving walkways and resting. Travel isn't always glamorous Z. But it is always an adventure!

Last Day of School

Today was my last day of school and in so many ways I wasn't ready. It was too early to do the end of school thing: collecting textbooks, cleaning classrooms, handing in paperwork and saying goodbyes. I especially wasn't ready to say my goodbyes. The day was filled with fun, however, ranging from a Krav Maga Lesson from Ms. Kwan to field day frenzy in advisory and dumplings and silly photos in AP Biology. My AP biology students made their own NYC postcards to share with some of the Indonesian students. Their thought, care and creativity brought me both tears and laughter as I finally read the postcards on the train ride home. I feel so lucky and blessed in so many ways: I have extraordinary colleagues who shared gifts galore, students who teach me more than I could ever teach them and an exciting journey ahead! I hope my next post will be from Indonesia! My advisee, "Z" (not to be confused with species Z) wants me to "blog EVERYTHING" including sleeping on the plane. I'll do my best for you Z! Until then. Selamat Tingaal!

Where in the world is Indonesia?

Here are a few fun facts about Indonesia (courtesy of my Lonely Planet and only reliable sources via Google):

1. Largest archipeligo in the world
2. Capital: Jakarta
3. # of islands: ~17,000!
4. 4th most populace nation: ~250,000,000 (Did you know the U.S is the 3rd most populace nation?)
5. # of languages spoken: 300? 400? So many it's not entirely known.
6. National language: Bahasa Indonesia
7. Distance from NYC to Jakarta: ~10,000 miles or 16,000 km
8. Largest Muslim population in the world
9. Literacy rate: 90%!! (Literacy rate of U.S.- 99%)
10. Time zone: 11 hours ahead of NYC

What more do you want to know? Ask away! And by the way the answer to our mystery question? Z. 9th graders, I hope you all figured that out. :)

Lonely Planet + Beach stones from all all over the world.

Most of my time will be in Sekayu, near Palembang, on the island of Sumatra.

Rizqi comes to NYC!

A few weeks (or more) when the cherry blossoms were in bloom, there was a chill in the air and Indonesia and summer seemed months away, Rizqi came to town! She's an Indonesian teacher who has been living, working and learning about the U.S. educational system through an IREX program. She spoke at the TGC conference in February and if she is any representation of the generosity and kindness of Indonesians, we will all be well taken care of during our time in Indonesia and learn a great deal along the way. Thank you Rizqi and I hope to see you in Indonesia!