Nine Weeks In

I've settled in to a routine here and I guess I can safely say that I am used to my new home and job.  The days are actually flying by, much like they do at home when I'm working.  School is very busy - there is lots expected as far as feedback to the parents goes - a weekly individual newsletter on each child and a bimonthly class newsletter.  This takes me a long time as it involves importing photos of each child and some written information too about what they are doing.  This week we are also completing a "settling in" form which is emailed to each parent in preparation for conferences the following week. Then, we have a week off and I'm heading for Bali!  I've also heard this week that I'm being sent to Mumbai for Professional Development for three days in November!  Every teacher in an International Bacculaureate School has to get the Primary Years Program training within their first year in the school - very exciting!  I think I will have to watch "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" again.

I thought I would write a bit about the culture here.  The people are very friendly.  Being Western attracts a bit of attention and people will call out in English as you go by.  The majority of the population is Muslim and all day long we hear the "call to prayer".  There are prayer rooms (musholas) in all the public buildings, malls etc.  Most Muslim women wear a headscarf and long skirts or pants and long sleeves but I rarely seen them wearing the full face cover.

The Indonesian people are warm and friendly. They have a take as it comes attitude and anything that happens is "nasib" (destiny).  Class distinction is very evident.  My school has worked hard to overcome some of this and everyone is expected to treat others with respect which seems normal to us, but here, with the heirarchy, it is very evident who is at the top and bottom of the totem pole.   Anyone in a position of authority is "Guru".  White = Fat= Wealthy, so anyone who it too thin is pitied.  When you meet someone for the first time that day, he/she will ask "Have you eaten?" but it translates literally to "have you had rice yet?" and if you haven't had rice, you haven't really eaten!

Everything is about saving face.  The people are very gentle (even the handshake is light) and shyness is part of being polite. When asked a question, they can't say they don't know and are "takut" afraid of getting it wrong.  They can't give an answer that disappoints, so yes doesn't always mean yes, which makes for some interesting situations at school.    Where we tend to be very black and white, here everything is shades of grey!

For all of this, the Indonesian people can be very direct with their questions and within a few minutes of meeting you will ask very personal questions - What's your name?  Where are you from? Then moving on quickly to, Are you married?  Do you have children?  What is your religion? What is your work?  These questions aren't being rude, they are just interested and trying to place you in the heirarchy that is their life.

People here talk about "rubber time" - stores don't necessarily open at a certain time or sometimes at all!  Deliveries may or may not arrive when scheduled.  Speaking of deliveries, I'm still waiting for my shipment from home!  I heard it had arrived in Jakarta Port two weeks ago and I'm still waiting to hear more.  Two other teachers got their shipment on Friday, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this week!  My wardrobe is getting pretty monotonous!

Well that's all for now.  Please keep sending those emails.  I love hearing from home!

                                                   Dinner at a Mexican restaurant

Security in Jakarta

Security is a big deal here.  Every large mall has security at all the entrances and all bags go through a scanner.  When I come home in a taxi, it pauses at the security gate and the contents of the trunk are scanned.  So far, nothing in my grocery bags has set off an alarm!

Security is also taken seriously at our school.  We go through security to enter the building, then when we get to the doors of our school on the 8^th or 9^th floor, we are met by our school security.  We have to be wearing our ID badge, then when we get to the doors, we use our fingerprint to unlock them.  To get out, we also use the fingerprint scanner.  The students have to be signed out by their nanny or parent every day, so my Teaching Assistant stands at the door at the end of the day and the children are dismissed one at a time.  Many of the children also have body guards that stay at the school all day, on the alert for any suspicious activity.  Apparently, the only thing that has caused an emergency so far,  was last year when word got out that one of the students had developed hoof and mouth disease.  This was so alarming that all the bodyguards rushed up, rescued their charges and within minutes most of the school was empty!  With all this security around, I feel that I’m pretty safe too, by association!  More seriously, a fire or earthquake would really be a disaster, as getting the students out down several flights of stairs, through a parkade, and down a lane to our assembly spot would be next to impossible.  My Indonesian Teaching Assistant says not to worry as all the body guards would come for the students and we would only have to take care of ourselves!

With all the nannies and body guards the children are growing up in a very rarified atmosphere.  They are very coddled.  I think I mentioned previously that if anyone is hurt, a phone call to the parent is made right away.  I’m not talking about stitches or concussions;  any bump to the head no matter how light and any scratch or bruise is reason to call.  We  have two full time nurses on duty and they are kept busy! We have to make sure we talk to the parent before the nanny sees them.  Apparently if the nanny notices anything, it’s a great upset.  The nannies are very reluctant to give up the care of the children to the school.  They also stay around all day, “in case they are needed”.   The parents are very concerned about germs, so the school has to be kept spotless (and it is!).  The children do not have to change into “inside shoes” as we do at home because their feet rarely touch the ground.  Considering how dirty the city is, maybe it’s understandable.    One of the teachers told me that last year she took her class on a field trip and they planned a picnic lunch in a park after the outing.  The parents that were along, were horrified when she asked them to sit on the ground.  There might be ants!  I think it is quite amusing and it makes our Canadian kids seem very rough and tumble in comparison!

The traffic at 6:00 pm on Jalen Sudiman, right by our school. There are just as many lanes going in the other direction.  This traffic was moving.  Sometimes it's at a standstill. To the right are Kathy and Rob, on the pedestrian overpass above the traffic last Friday night.