Tha..that..thats...that's all folks! :)

So, here we are, the moment all of you have been waiting for, my last assigned blog documenting my first international adventure.

I just had my wisdom teeth extracted this morning (my "welcome home!" present from the dentist) and while my face is completely numb I thought this might be a good time to stop all the chit chat and take a moment to reflect about my trip. Not only is it a required assignement for our class, but it also gives me something to do since I've become a mute. Overall, I must say, I had a great time. Before I left, a lot of people told me, or warned me rather, that this experience would come as quite the "culture shock" for a little naive Iowan girl like me, and to them I simply replied, "Good. Shock me." For so long I had felt cooped up, feeling like I was living a sub-ordinary life, all the while bursting at the seams just thinking about what extraordinary could be. I had a lot of high hopes and expectations for this trip because it was my first time abroad and I wanted it to be fantastic. Because of that, I think the self-fulfilling prophesy came into play during the first week, when I thought everything was amazing and beautiful. Since I wanted it to be perfect, it was. "Apples never tasted so good!" I had a sense I was standing on the edge of Lake Wobegon, where all the women were strong, all the men good looking, and all the children were above average.

But once I woke up from the haze of awe from our first week, I started noticing some serious flaws in the program. I've already filled out the course evaluation and survey so there's no need for me to give my critiques or suggestions on this platform, but I would like it known that not every day was filled with peaches and rosebuds. I do, however, believe in selective memory. And I'm choosing to remember, and will forever continue to highlight, those events which had a positive impact on me. For example, I was able to communicate with some of the nation's most influential educational leaders, not only about their institutions, but also about their visions for the future of Indonesia. You can't do that everyday. I had the chance to visit all 33 original provinces at the National Park, where I got to experience the lives of the indigenous people, and even pet a monkey. You can't beat that! I was able to build lifelong connections and friendships with 7 of the most talented and driven students I've ever met. And I was given a complete sense of independence and freedom. You can't take those away from me. Looking back, even after a week, the experience has not lost its luster. This 2 week trip taught me so much about myself and increased my desire to know more about the world around me. I will remember our culture trips to The Park, going down the zip line "Flying Fox" and sneaking out of the museum to ride an angdong with Bettina. But most of all, I'll remember our warm welcoming in Indonesia, and each and every one of the 8 crazy characters in our tight-knit group :)

(I will, of course, make a mental note of all the oversights and downfalls we experienced, I am Leo's daughter for crying out loud...but there's no need to keep those in the forefront of my memory :) )

I've been back in the states almost a week now and spend most of my free time (aka: when I'm not sleeping, eating, or icing my face) on the Study Abroad website. "Mary, don't get carried away now...you don't need to be planning 3 more trips abroad before next July! I find that a little excessive!" ..does that sound like Leo or what?! He's just excited to have me home.. As you can tell, I am very excited about traveling. I've been bitten by the travel bug and am looking into every opportunity to chase this addiction. But having a student's bank account, that 3 week stay in Brazil this winter break may have to remain on the back burner for now..

That now completes today's program, and this summer's blog. Thank you all for tuning in.
See you next time :)

And so it goes..(6/21/11)

Last day in Cikarang…and I knew we had to made it count! I had heard about this place at the country club complex called the “Outbound” that had a high ropes course, rock wall climbing, and a zip line named the “flying fox”. How could I NOT want to do that?! That’s awesome! Luckily, I was able to talk most of the rest of the group into joining me on this adventure and we spent a good portion of our day there. We started off with a delicious breakfast at the golf course (I just order pineapple since I had eaten before in my room…plus, I’m becoming a minimalist. I can sense it).

As we finished eating, I was getting antsy and ventured out to find this place we were to go to. It was spectacular! I was PUMPED to climb that ladder and zip line across the rice fields. Apparently, we had to go through the Tarzan-line ropes course to even GET to the start of the zip line; something I was up and ready to do..but had a to do a little convincing to get my colleagues on board.

There are some great shots that you could find on facebook, but needless to say, it was exhilarating! I had a lot of pent up frustration from the past week. I felt like we had wasted a lot of time sitting around and not “doing anything” so when it was my turn, I ran up the ladder, across the ropes course and flew down the field TWICE in the same time it took everyone to go through once. I didn’t want to let another opportunity pass me by and I’m glad I had this experience. After that adrenaline rush, Bettina and I jumped in the Country Club pool and had a little swimming and sun bathing time. Most everyone was in class so we had the place to ourselves and didn’t worry about looking like fools as we canon-balled into the deep end…repeatedly…like, for an hour.

When we were all tuckered out we returned to our dorms and grabbed some lunch at our favorite restaurant. We’ve ordered the exact same meal since day one “Nasi Goreng Ayam Spesial” and have had the same waiter this whole time. In our last week here, we could walk into “Happy Nice” and he’d just fill out our order for us…quick learner. We really enjoy that place and atmosphere and I know that I’ll miss it. After our relaxing morning, we went back to our rooms to clean up, pack, “get our daily dose of internet J” and get ready to make our departure back to the states. Saying goodbye to our helpers Mr. Long and Mr. John was a little hard for me. I’m becoming so sentimental these days! Geez! Mr. John was SO hilarious this whole time; he was definitely our comic relief. No matter what we were struggling with, all you had to do was talk to Mr. John for a while and he’d make you bust a gut! And Mr. Long (a former Air Force colonel) was our problem solver and substitute father figure during our two weeks here. If you had any problems, you went to Mr. Long. He was a joy to have around and we were so lucky to have those two guys taking care of us. I even hugged our driver, Mindun! He didn’t speak a word of English but just smiled and laughed as we greeted him each morning. I really think I’m going to miss this environment.

Now, we’re just sitting in the Korean airport waiting for our flight to take us home.

As I listen to the grown men snore and babies cry, it hits me that these are my last minutes abroad. Once we get back to Des Moines we’ll all go back to our regular lives and may only see each other if we plan a reunion. I’ve bonded with all the members of this group and it’s weird to think that we could be so easily separated. I have loved and embraced this trip for all that it is. Even though I’ve had my share of complaints, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Sign me up. I’ve learned so much about myself through this process and I pray to God that this isn’t my last time abroad. I’ve been bitten by the travel bug, and may have to make this a habit!

Is that the fan belt making that noise?? (6/20/11)

What a day! I’m not going to lie, when I saw on our itinerary that our last school visit was going to be to a Junior High School, I completely dismissed it. But boy, was I wrong! We had one of our best experiences here. Not only were we given a royal welcoming complete with a military line up salute and a gift of traditional hand-woven clothes, but they were the most hospitable and gracious staff we have met. They treated us so well there. We got to see their welcoming dance from Papua and got a performance from their show choir. Members of Glee…watch out! These middle schoolers know what’s up! This one girl had a Maria Carey-like solo. We were ALL blow away with their poise and talent. After just their opening number we gave them a standing ovation…then we realized they had 3 more songs for us, so we took our seats again. They did a traditional Indonesian set which was glorious; the harmonies blended so beautifully. Then they went in to their “American Show Tunes” set. Mom, you would have wet your pants. They were so good! They started with “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away” by the Beatles and moved into “My Favorite Things” from the Sound of Music. I was even pulled up on “stage” during their closer “Sing, sing a song..sing out loud…sing out proud! Don’t worry that it’s not good enough..for anyone else to hear…just siiiiing, sing a song!” You know the one Carol! I hope you were singing and snapping along! It was FANTASTIC! I loved every minute of it and wished I had been recording it just to watch again! J Very talented group there.

As we were leaving, we had a little car trouble and were required to take the Junior High van back home from Jakarta. We felt pretty cool. But the principal made our commute a little easier by ordering 5 pizzas for us. They were so unbelievably gracious and thoughtful. I was completely overwhelmed and very appreciative of their hospitality. And when we tried to thank them they just smiled and said, “that’s what we do for our important guests.” It was an honor and a joy visiting that school.

Our night was not yet finished until we had a BBQ dinner at John’s house. This man is a character! And his house and strong perscription glasses just FIT him. I had a blast J He made chicken, hamburgers and sausages..delicious J We all hung out on his deck and just had a chance to unwind and have fun. It was much needed, and a great way to end our trip here.

Did you expect it to be cold here? (6/19/11)

Alright, another day of ups and downs! What is with these bipolar days? Can we not just pick an emotion and go with it? Oo doggy! Well, the day started off very promising. Sunday was supposed to be our trip to Thousand Islands to go on a boat ride and snorkeling and partake in other water activities. But once our group found out that we’d have to take a boat ride to get to the island they opted out of that adventure. (Seriously…I’m not making this up. They were deterred from going to an island..because we had to take a boat to get there…How did you think we were going to get to AN ISLAND?! Oh, those kinds of things just mystify me). But I had to “roll with the punches” and decided to make the most of this itinerary change. I had done some research the past weekend and found that the Jakarta Fair was going on; it’s the national celebration of Jakarta’s founding. 2011 marked the 484^th year of the city. I also read about Batavia, also called Jakarta Old Town located in Central Jakarta. It is a representation of what life was like during the Dutch invasion and colonization of Java. (I figured since I like Living History Farms and Colonial Williamsburg..I’d like this!) Needless to say, I was WAY excited about both of these possibilities and proposed them to the group the night before so we could make a plan for the following day. Everyone seemed gung-ho with the plan so we chose to do both the Fair and Batavia. When we got to the fair, it was packed! We had already spent 1.5 hours in a hot car ride and most of the group was a little agitated. That wasn’t going to stop us undergrads from having a good time. J We walked around the entire park and loved the whole atmosphere. The Ph.D students were “over the whole fair thing” from the minute we arrived and wanted to turn around and go home. But we pressed on and stayed and (the 3 of us) enjoyed the festivities while they lasted.

Here comes the REAL point of frustration for me. Some could say that I “snapped”. As we were leaving the fair and getting ready to make our trip to Batavia, the group started complaining about the heat (yeah…it tends to get hot here people). And the decision was made to not go to this famous historical landmark because A) it’ll be outside and B) we’ll have to walk. (Just let that sink in for a moment). That’s right folks! Frankly, I don’t understand either. We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to go explore the great city of Jakarta and we're letting the heat dictate our plans. The undergrads were pretty upset since we had been looking forward to these visits on our only day off. We, instead, went to sit inside an air conditioned mall to “get some internet.”  I was beyond peeved at this point. I’ll save my ranting and raving for another blog so ignore that one if you’re in a peppy mood :P The stop at the mall DID give me the chance to update my blogs and get my Father’s Day post out, which I was thankful for. But I just wish that our group had been more adaptable to these adverse conditions.

Father’s Day. I’m getting sentimental in my old age.

I was sitting in another one of our traffic jams the other day, when a wave of emotions came over me.  It was the first time I took a minute to think about how much I missed home, especially my family. As the tears started rolling down my face I was glad I was hidden in the backseat, surrounded by people who were preoccupied with other things and wouldn’t notice or bother me. My quiet and very personal display of emotion was triggered by the realization that Father’s Day is soon approaching, and I would not be able to spend it with my two favorite men. Last August, my grandfather James W. Hudson passed away peacefully in his sleep. It was one of the hardest things our family had to deal with. For months I wasn’t able to say his name without bursting into tears and I know that I’ll be coping with this loss for a while. Even now, I’m getting emotional just writing about my family. Grandpa Jim was a great man. He was a great lawyer, husband, father, and role model for all those around him. I always admired him growing up. I loved going over to his house to hear his stories or talk with him about politics and how outrageous our democrats are, but most of all, I just loved being in his presence. There was something about Grandpa that just drew people in. He was a captivating individual, and it wasn’t until his final days that I realized just how much I admired and respected him as a person. I spent a lot of time with him his last summer here. But I never took the chance to tell him how much I looked up to him. I don’t like having regrets…but that’s one. I knew he could tell how I felt and how much I appreciated him. But it would have been nice to solidify that for the both of us. I miss him like crazy. And I’m always reminded of the view from the front of the church as I looked out to see the whole town packed into his funeral ceremony. Only one word has been able to explain seeing that display of support…overwhelming. He touched so many lives. And I am proud to say I am his granddaughter. He raised one hell of a daughter, and I wish I could be there with Leo and Carol Hallman to morn our loss, and to celebrate our fathers on this special day.

Family has always been important to me, but after Grandpa’s passing I knew I couldn’t take them for granted. He has made me appreciate my relatives and friendships even more, even after he has left this world. Now that’s saying something! The other important man, and by far the most influential for me, has been my father Leo Hallman. I started crying in the van because I was thinking that this was the first Father’s Day I wouldn’t get to spend with my dad. I know I may have complained about going fishing or golfing in the past, but I would give anything to get that chance today. I’d even drive a John Deere down mainstreet while sitting on his lap. I don’t like the term “daddy’s girl” but I had always wanted to be dad’s pal; I wanted us to be buddies. That was always known, and our similarities were forever immortalized in my nickname “little Leo” which mom gave me years ago. He pushed me through all my extracurricular activities; always striving for improvement. I like being good at things and part of that comes from his influence. He always made me want to be better. Growing up, I hated it...but it helped me to never settle for less than my best. He has been a guiding pillar of wisdom for me the last 20 years. I trust dad’s opinion more than most people and could turn to him with any issue. He’s always there to support me, no matter how many times I’ve changed my major. We’ve always gotten along, but in recent times dad and I have butted heads over some issues where I’ve taken mom’s side. “Mary, what are you doing?! Why am I arguing with YOU of all people?” Haha, as much as he won’t admit it, I think dad likes it when I stand up for what I believe is right, even if that goes against his view. I know he feels that way for all his children. Andy and Julie, if you’re reading this, know that your father sings your praises constantly. He won’t tell you because he doesn’t want you to get a big head, and he wants his complements to be valuable (personal insight there). But growing up behind you two has been intimidating. You are two of the brightest and most clever people I’ve ever known. And I know dad is so very proud of you guys. I’ve loved every minute of being in this family and am grateful for each member. Don’t worry mom, I didn’t forget about you! I love you too! But today is Dad’s day. So please try and find something special for him to do. And Dad, just know that I love you and miss you. I appreciate all you’ve done for me and this family. And I can’t wait to go on a tractor ride as soon as we can get back to Poky! Love you Dad J Happy Father’s Day!

Bacon Double Cheeseburger. Please. (6/18/11)

We had an AMAZING meeting at Education USA today. One professor asked me/us to come back to Indonesia and give our presentation of American schools to the students at his college. We were very honored and were able to get a lot of students interested in coming to ISU. One students even asked if there was a way that Iowa State could partner with an Indonesian school to create a dual university program to make it easier for students to transfer internationally. “Funny you should say that..that’s actually the purpose of our visit.” After our outstanding presentation and networking meeting we went to a batik exhibit. Batik is the traditional form of painting designs on clothing by using melted wax to create borders for the dye. There were over 400 exhibits…I think I saw all the printed fabric I need to for one life time. But I found the food court and relaxed in there with our Aussie tour guide for a while. I could listen to him talk about “bloody Indonesians” for hours. But we had to keep moving , because a visit to Monas was next on our itinerary. Monas is the national monument of Indonesia, sort of like our statue of liberty. I couldn’t find a description of its importance/significance anywhere. And all the Indonesians I asked didn’t seem to know either. But nevertheless, we got a lot of pictures with this statue.

John, our Aussie tour guide and constant comic relief, wanted to show us the National Museum..but he didn’t know where we were, or where IT was. That didn’t stop him. We walked around the park and forest area for a solid 30 minutes until we found a building he recognized. Following this crazy guy was like following Mr. Magoo. But that’s half the fun. I was a little perturbed we had to leave the park and carnival area (yeah, there was a carnival) so Bettina and I risked our lives to go on a pony ride. There are these little carts, andongs, pulled by miniature horses. We saw them earlier and didn’t want to spend an HOUR looking at figures and maps when we could get a andong ride. So without our professor knowing, we got in the cart and left area (don’t tell dad). But don’t worry. Our driver spoke a little English and we spoke a little Indonesian so we were able to relate that we needed to be back at the museum in time for them not to notice our absence. It was THRILLING! I felt like we were breaking the rules and I loved it. Professor didn’t seem to upset when she saw us coming back all smiles. No worries J

Next, we headed to John’s favorite pub for a burger and fries and some great dancing music. Julie, don’t judge, but I had a double bacon cheeseburger with fries….what else would you expect!? I needed that grease in me. As the night went on, we were “welcomed” by some British blokes who were so kind as to show us the error of our ways. They pointed out some serious defects in our schedule and living situation (most of which we were already aware of) and even had the nerve to approach our professor about his objections. He was a bit of a downer, but everything he said was completely realistic. He ended the night on a high note; singing karaoke songs all the way home. I’m glad “Ain’t No Mountain” is  well known, and that we were able to harmonize throughout the chorus. We may not be able to see all of Jakarta…but we can assemble a gospel choir on the spot! Look out now!

We have to plant this tree now! (6/17/11)

Early morning!! But we arrived at UPH school AN HOUR EARLY! (better to be an hour early than a minute late. That funny because we’ve been consistently late to all our appointments..but then all of a sudden we had to leave at the crack of dawn to get to the school and drink overpriced coffee for an hour. Lord have mercy!) They had great faculty and a foundation program in place for teacher education. They gave full scholarships to students in the education program with the agreement that the students would teach in remote areas for a certain length of time. Those areas are assigned by the foundation based on necessity of teachers. In many, if not most cases, it’s the graduates’ job to create a school in a desolate region as opposed to student teaching under the guidance of another instructor. Innovative program.

After that great meeting we hurried back to President’s University since we HAD to plant a tree.

Let me be the first to say that I am honored to have a tree planted in my honor at our host university here in Indonesia…but it was taking over our day! Everything we did surrounded around getting back to Cikarang to plant these trees. Once we did get there, everybody was busy praying (most of the officials are Muslim and were participating in selat, required prayer 5 times a day). We weren’t allowed to change out of our business school because it HAD to be done TODAY. So don’t you fret, we got our trees into the ground. Oh, and they don’t believe in shovels over here. I’m not making this up. Luckily our holes were already dug for us…but we had to cover the base with soil..with our bare hands. Don’t get me wrong, I love working with my hands and getting dirty! I was the only one participating! Most people stood around as I went from tree to tree covering them with dirt and watering them. But NO ONE was around or watching or documenting this…so WHAT was all the fuss about earlier?! As you might be able to tell, I was a little frustrated with the lack of planning and forethought on this issue (I’m sounding like Dad again). But hey, there is now a tree growing (behind the parking lot behind the university!) that says “Mary Hallman. Iowa State University. June 2011” on it. Go ISU..

Once we got done saving the environment, and everybody’s nerve, we had a little alone time which I spent working on the internet trying to research things to do in Jakarta this weekend. We have a free day on Sunday and I don’t want to let it go to waste. Honestly, there’s not much to see in Jakarta…and we’re a good 2 hour drive from there. It’s becoming a little disconcerting, and the group is getting tired of sitting in traffic only to arrive to a school or museum where we just mosey around. Oh, I had this sketchy meeting in the library. I’ve normally felt relatively safe and comfortable here but the term “STRANGER DANGER” took on a whole new meaning for me today. Don’t worry at home. There was just this one guy who wanted me to come to a party tonight and it was hard for him to accept “no”..but I’m pretty sure that he got the point after I walked away. For dinner, we met in Dr. H’s room to have some Papa Ron’s cheese crust pizza. It was a delight. I’ve enjoyed the traditional food here, but it was nice to have a little taste of home and relax together.

Paparazzi and Calamari (6/16/11)

Best. Day. Ever.

Slight exaggeration. But seriously, we had a very productive and efficient day. It was full of meetings and programs and great dialogue with school administrators. We started the day with a visit to Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia, a newly founded private Islamic school. Its goal is to help provide leadership and corporate training as well as the teaching of Islamic values to all of its students. They of course accept students from all religions, but many Muslims are attracted to this school because of its emphasis of traditional Muslim values and character. Al Azhar is only 10 years old, but with many corporate sponsors and faculty with endless credentials, it sees itself on the rise to compete with other universities at the international level. Their facility was very impressive…as were their photographers. Our job there (or so it seemed) was to smile and shake hands and pose for the incessant photographers. I couldn’t walk down the hall without being blinded by the flashes of half a dozen cameras. I had never experienced something like that, and decided I should be flattered and cooperate. I practiced my candid poses, which the paparazzi captured. I know they’re going to use them in fliers or brochures…I better get some royalties for my service today!

 Today was our first real chance to have a panel discussion with prospective students where we could address some of their concerns about coming to school in America. They asked great questions about students’ involvement in producing more organic foods, the possibility to have a double major, and whether or not America (ISU specifically) would be a hostile environment for Muslim students, and many more. Dr. H allowed us to answer most of them and I’m glad that we got a chance to speak on behalf of Iowa State. Everyone has a different area of expertise and we were all able to share tidbits of our experiences and knowledge.

After the cameras ran out of film, we went to visit the Public University of Jakarta, Univeristas Negeri Jakarta. This has been my favorite school visit so far. It even rivals petting that dancing monkey or running through the jungle. UNJ is known for its teacher training programs at all levels from Early Childhood Education to Education Management and even a program for teachers of Special Education. Some students did a short presentation on ISU and the Ames community, and afterwards we took questions from their educators. Most of the questions were directed at Dr. H in regards to the partnership that ISU is trying to form with Indonesian schools. The plan, which is already in place with some Chinese schools, is for students to take a year of courses at their home university, and then transfer to ISU to finish their degree and graduate with an ISU degree. The faculty of UNJ was VERY interested in this partnership and we got to spend a lot of time listening to some great dialogue between their professors and ours. One man in particular stood out to me. He was the most vocal and the most knowledgeable about what he wanted for UNJ and how his university could benefit from an agreement. He spoke fluent English and gave very eloquent suggestions to Dr. H. All I could think while listening to him was “I want to know him. I want to have a conversation with this individual.” Luckily, the school offered to buy us dinner and he joined us at the restaurant. I sat down beside him and the English professor and we had small talk for a little bit before I started asking him questions. People…It was fascinating. One of the best conversations I’ve had. Turns out he is Prof. Dr. Hafid Abbas, the Vice Minister of Law and Human Rights for the Republic of Indonesia (yeah…I had to look back at his business card). He works at the US Embassy and serves as a guest lecturer for UNJ. We talked about everything from Indonesian politics, religion, and culture to the different educational systems he’s worked with. I was mostly interested in the religious environment of Indonesia and their views towards American culture. This blog will not hold all the information in our hour long talk PLUS all my enthusiasm about being able to meet and converse him…so for now I’ll just include that I really enjoyed the company of the UNJ faculty. Outstanding staff. Amazing experience.

Now, I think I’m going to go watch the nightly volleyball games, cheer on the I.T. team, and go to bed. We have an early morning (leaving at 6am…WHAT?! Pray for me…dad, you know I need it!). So goodnight all J

Debriefing Moment (6/15/11)

Alright folks, you want an all inclusive look at this journey..here it is. Today was a roller coaster of emotions for our entire group. We had a late start this morning, not having to meet until 10 when we’d get together to discuss this next week’s agenda and sort of debrief about our experiences from the past week. Last night my roommates and I had a little venting session, which helped prepare us for this group meeting. I had no idea what to expect from the rest of the group, but once I stepped inside the study room I could feel the tension oozing from everyone. Dr. H asked us to go around and talk about our positive/negative/surprising experiences as a way for us to share this trip with each other. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve really enjoyed myself here, so I wanted to emphasize my positive encounters with the locals. My main complaints were with the preparation of this trip. We weren’t told what to expect, so everything from the living arrangements to the social climate were a shock to us. We were all asked to prepare a presentation, but again, no guidelines or rubrics where given on that assignment. I spoke my mind freely yet respectfully, and without a lot of censorship, and was worried that I may have offended some members of the group. Some things needed to be said though, and I didn’t want the giant elephants to remain in the room for our last week here.

After our rocky/touchy/emotional debriefing, we went to a vocational school ATMI to learn about their system and to present on American community colleges. We had a pleasant time there and I was very surprised by their craftsmanship and work ethic. Then the group split up. Some people went back to the dorms, others to the mall to find wifi, but 4 others and I went to the Jababeka country club to get massages. Afterwards our group ran into the manager of the club, whereupon he insisted we join him for dinner at the 5 star restaurant (he offered a 50% discount…how could we resist!?) We really enjoyed meeting with the manager, Tom. He has studied and lived all over the world and was able to provide some insight into the culture and mannerisms of Indonesians. (We’ve had some difficult personal experiences, most of which have been racist or at least derogatory towards members of our group. I won’t go into detail on here because it’s their personal business). Tom explained that Asians in general then to be a very discriminatory people. They focus on skin tone and status and “the coolness factor” more than other nationalities, so they tend to be more judgmental, blunt, and discriminatory towards members of ANY minority group. We shared our negative experiences, and Tom was able to make sense of why some people had treated us as poorly as they did.

My roommates and I ended the evening on a positive note! We’ve gotten into the habit of walking around the courtyard area between all the dorms just to see what’s going on. The other American students go to bed around 8:30-9, but we like to get out and meet new people. The past couple of nights there has been a volleyball tournament going on so we’ll sit and watch and cheer along with the other P.U. students. Most of the young Indonesians are very curious about us and will come up to our group and start conversations. Others have not been so friendly; we’ve heard the term “buleh” a couple times which is…if anything, hurtful. (It can be translated to “white” or “Caucasian” but is similar in connotation to the N word. I’m one of only 2 white students on this trip, so we’ve been treated different at times, again both negatively and positively). I can’t let it get to me though, because we’ve met some wonderful students and they’ve been very gracious to us. It’s our job to adapt to and learn from this culture, so that’s what we’re trying to do J Things are looking up for team U.S.A.

But I don’t play basketball….(6/14/11)

How do you survive in hot humid weather all day, a 3 hour traffic jam, only to come home to 20 cockroaches? How do you go 2 weeks without plugging in appliances, without warm any water, and without proper drinking water? How do you live in a country where you don’t know what you’re eating and you can’t speak the language? I’ll tell you. You only need 3 things: adaptability, a positive attitude, and a pocket dictionary/translator book. As long as you have those three things you can go anywhere and do anything. I’ve heard a lot of complaining on this trip but I would like to take a moment to say that I have loved every minute here.  And what’s more, Indonesians rarely get to see and interact with foreigners. It’s not a tourist attraction, so the locals are surprised, amazed, and curious about us. We represent America to them. My 7 colleagues and I have the chance to make a positive impression on this rising nation, so we must make the most of it. We have met with a lot of important people, not only in the University but also from businesses in Jakarta, and it has been an honor to represent the States and to discuss what our country has to offer Indonesian citizens. Our two main goals are to get more Indonesian students to attend ISU, and to develop programs in Indonesia to help them improve their teacher education programs, preferable by the instruction of ISU’s education department. But classroom education shouldn’t be our only focus here.  We’re not here for the weather, scenery, food, dorms, etc..We’re here to represent the country of the United States in the best light possible. And not just when we’re in the conference room, but constantly. If we want to improve the relationship between Indonesia and America let’s act like it! I want to show that Americans are more than our stereotypes, and that I’m willing and able to learn about and adapt to this culture. For example, my roommates and I have been practicing bahasa Indonesia daily, which is impressive to any Indonesian. Adaptability, a positive attitude and a pocket dictionary. The willingness to learn, a pleasant smile, and some phrases like, “Halo. Nama saya Mary Hallman. Apa Kabar??” and “Senang bertemu anda!” are all it took for me to get my foot into the door with school officials around Jakarta. I’ve even had a couple job offers already. Do I want to teach English in Indonesia?? Do I want to help promote USAID?? Maybe not now. Maybe never. But if the time is ever right, at least I’ll have a couple contacts I can turn to. I don’t say this to brag. I mention it to show that it can be done and that you shouldn’t piss and moan through every negative experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first week in Indonesia, and am very excited to see what unfolds in our last few days here. J

If you’re wondering about the title of today’s blog, I’ll explain now. We visited a public high school where we were welcomed with traditional songs and dances from the various islands of Indonesia. We had a panel discussion so the kids could ask Professor Hagedorn, and any of us, any questions they had regarding Iowa State or just higher education opportunities in America. The whole day went very smoothly…until we were ending our visit. One of the teachers came into the lounge where we were meeting with the Vice Principal, and said “the basketball team is ready”….as if that was supposed to mean something to us. Turns out, everyone here thinks all Americans are good at basketball. (I mentioned earlier that it was my goal to change people’s perceptions about Americans…so I had to take this as another opportunity to break the stereotypes). We taught them knock out; and our little USA group wasn’t that bad. Most of you would be surprised to hear this…but I was the last standing girl on the court. :O What?! Can she be serious??..I only speak the truth friends. It was a little comical trying to do lay-ups in a dress and heals while still remaining ladylike, but hey, I’m trying to be a Renaissance woman here people. You just go with it. Adapt, and smile. When all else fails…get out your buku saku.

Maaf! Kami bukah dari sini! …(6/12/11)

Sorry! We’re not from around here!                 

Oops! Forgot a day. I wrote this in Word on the 12th, and forgot to add it in time. Sorry it's out of order, but work with me here people! :)

Today was my favorite day so far. We visited the National Park of Indonesian in Jakarta. It was full of displays of traditional dress, musical instruments, agriculture tools and architecture from the original 33 provinces on Indonesia. It reminded me a little of Epcot Center at Disney World since ever 100 ft you’d get to walk into a totally different world. We only stayed there 3 hours so we only got to see about half of what they had to offer, but what we saw was gorgeous. All of the traditional houses we saw were built on stilts. Our tour guide told us it was for protection (there used to be a lot of inter-province wars) but also served as a barn. The family would live upstairs and house their goats, chickens, what-have-you, underneath.

We spent a lot of our time taking pictures with the natives there. As I may have mentioned before, seeing “white folk” is not very common. Bettina, my roommate, is Laotian and fits in perfectly here. Buy Kallie, my other roommate, and I stick out like sore thumbs. They call us over to get a picture on their phone, or just get their camera out and creep from afar. It was a totally new experience. But I liked getting to meet a lot of Indonesians and we had a lot of fun. We also came across some street performers who invited us to join in their traditional Indonesian dance. I’d like to think of myself as a quick learner, but I was struggling with the basic motions. After a while I was bobbing and side-stepping with the best of them.

They all have pet monkeys.

We then moved on to the sky-lift where we got to view the park from above. It was surreal.  I felt incredibly honored to be here sharing the traditional Indonesian culture with the natives. As I looked out over the park I felt so…small; like when you look at the stars at night and try to imagine the size of the universe. I had one of those “wow” moments then. I even got a little choked up. Here I was, halfway around the world, with the people of North Sumantra, loving this new and foreign culture…All I could think was…I want more. I want to know more, and experience more of what’s on this earth. Yes we’ve had to stay in bug ridden rooms, and no, it’s not ok to drink the water. The sidewalks have craters in them, and AC?? whats that? But WHY would we ever complain?? This is a part of *their* lifestyle! So let’s appreciate the fact that we get to have this adventure, and take advantage of what we DO have. The people here are decent and gentle and hardworking. They have a very rich history and always take pride in their work. They don’t take anything for granted. I have never complained about our living environment, and after interacting with the locals, I don’t think I ever could. I am grateful we’ve had such a warm welcoming, and I really appreciate all the help we’ve received here. It’s only been a week, but this entire experience has increased my desire to travel and explore.

Bersediakah anda berdansa dengan saya? (Would you like to dance with me) (6/13/11)

There’s one thing I forgot to tell you all in the last blog. It was Cameron’s birthday yesterday and to celebrate, we found a karaoke bar and sang with night away with Donna Summer and Prince. We had a blast! Luckily, Bettina got some great videos of Cameron’s solo on John Legend’s “Where Did My Baby Go?” It was a classic American good time.

Alright, on to today’s activities. We started with a visit to SDN Menteng, the State Elementary School of Menteng. This was the elementary school that Barack Obama attended during his 4^th grade year. We were able to see paintings and statues in his honor. We were asked to give some presentations about America to some of the students. Our colleague Kattrina talked about public libraries and their reading programs for children (libraries are very rare in Indonesia, so the concept that they could be fun or interactive is foreign to them). After that there was some down time and Professor Hagedorn looked around the room for someone else to present. No one had a presentation with them..so of course Dr. H turned to me and said “teach them something” (what am I? The dancing monkey of our group?!) so without hesitating, I got up, walked to the front of the class, and taught the 5^th graders some poky wrestling cheers. It was completely off the cuff but the students loved pounding on the desks and making fun noises. They were quick learners. After the classroom experience, we went to their end-of-the-year assembly and I led the entire school in the Cupid Shuffle and the Cha-Cha slide. A couple of the parents were there and they got in on the group dance too. It was adorable and everyone loved it. I had only planned to do one but they kept requesting more J Afterwards, I had a couple mothers and students come up to me and thank me for letting their girls dance.. “You’re such a good dancer. I’m going to stay with it.” That just warmed my heart! It was nice to hear…even though it was just a club dance.

We were then whizzed back to Cikarang to meet with the Rector (similar to the President) of President’s University. We had lunch with the Vice Rector at the Jababeka golf course, which is ranked in the top 5 hardest courses, and in my opinion, one of the most beautiful courses..Dad, you would have been in heaven! After dining with him (where I ate a traditional Sundanese meal..delicious) he escorted us back to the conference room of P.U. and we had a wonderful time conversing with the Rector. I impressed him with a little Indonesian I’d been learning and he suggested I come back to Cikarang to teach English. Connections people. Networking here. I loved every minute of it J

Berapa harganya? How much does this cost? (6/11/11)

Aaannnd, the adventures continue with another full day. Our first stop was a famous mall, sort of like the Mall of American: Jakarta-style. Before going into the stores, we stopped at a batik presentation. Batik is the traditional art of painting designs on fabric. The artist draws out intricate designs in hot wax. This wax provides a barrier when they apply the dye so the colors don’t run. We watched the expert at work for a while and were then given a chance to try our hand at this antique technique. It was a little tricky, but my flower turned out just fine. I loved being able to take part in a traditional Indonesian custom.

After the art display and session, we were finally able to get our shop on. This place is famous for having all sorts of souvenirs from all over Indonesia, and we had all morning to explore and spend our rupiahs. Even though I was really excited to go shopping for some gifts, I had a pretty poor shopping experience. Apparently they don’t get a lot of American traffic through Jakarta, and every shop assistant assumed I was some rich American. I had multiple people follow me throughout all the stores. They weren’t even shy about it; standing only 2 ft from me. I was very turned off and told them politely “Thanks, but I’m fine. I’m just looking” multiple times. I even tried switching floors in the mall and walking into the men’s clothing section to throw them off my tail but these assistants must have been trained in trickery because nothing I could do would shake them. It became very frustrating, but I decided I couldn’t let it bother me or ruin the chance to look at some great merchandise. So I just ignored them when they addressed me in English, or I responded in Spanish. That seemed to work. I ended up buying some really cute things and am pretty excited about bringing them back to the states J I hope you like grind rhinoceros horn Julie! I hear it goes great with humus.

After that new experience we went to the Hash House Harrier run/walk. This was the strangest 5k I’ve ever gone on. The Hash run is put on by members of the TGIS club (Thank God It’s Saturday). It’s an international club and event and has been put on all over the world (basically, each “chapter” sponsors their own event, and any member can attend if they so choose). I ran with an Australian who was telling me he’s traveled all over the world to go to these Hash runs. The next big annual run is in Ethiopia. Any takers? Before you sign up, know that this is not your regular run. We all started out not knowing where we were going, or how far we would go (whose idea was that?!) They had the “hash” go forward and leave a trail of shredded paper. So no one who ran knew the trail…kind of intriguing actually. There were piles of paper along the route and spray painted arrows leading the way. We were taken into the forests and through small country villages and farmsteads during this adventure. It was a great way to see a bit of the countryside in Java. I think we ended up running about 6 miles, and it felt great to run with a lot of international people..most of whom just showed up for the free beer at the end, but still! It was a lot of fun J

Come to ISU! (6/10/11)

Today’s early morning wasn’t hard after getting 12 hours of sleep. We went to bed around 5pm last night and woke up before our 6am alarm. To say that I like sleeping would be an understatement, but after a 12 hour time change we all needed some rest. Our day started with a 3 hour car ride during “rush hour traffic” which really occurs at every hour of the day.  We visited Pacific Place in Jakarta to meet with @america, a company that helps educate Indonesian students about American culture and education opportunities in the US. USAID, the over-arching umbrella organization that @america is associated with, works with Indonesia schools to improve management and teacher training programs. They’ve also helped improve children’s access to schools, especially in the remote areas of many mountainous islands of Indonesia.

After hearing their presentation, they asked us to meet with some Indonesian undergraduate students who were interested in coming to school in America. We were all very excited to talk to these prospective students and tried to get them all excited about ISU. A couple of the students I met with were very interested in American politics, economics and lifestyle in general and asked a lot of pointed questions. They were curious about part-time jobs (a rarity in Indonesia) and fun activities on campus. I couldn’t help feeling like I was on cross-examination while they were shooting all these pointed questions our way. The dialogue we had with these young Indonesians was very mature and I was very impressed with their poise and understanding of American ways. On the other hand, a majority of the kids just wanted a picture with a foreigner. It seemed a little comical but I didn’t mind, and obliged J We made a bunch of new facebook friends today. So, hopefully these encounters will help increase interest in Iowa State. I’m pretty sure we hooked a couple of the students today; something Dr. Hagedorn was very excited about. J

Private School and Transvestites (6/9/11)

s opposed to the excitement of yesterday, today was a pretty relaxed day. We visited Sekolah Pelita Harapan Elementary school. It’s a private Christian school that teaches kids ages 3-18. The literal translation of Sekola Pelita Harapan is “School Light Hope” or “The School of light and hope” with their motto being “These schools can change Indonesia through Christian character.” Their fundamental teachings are based off of the KFC philosophy, or rather “Knowledge, Faith, and Character.” There are 3 levels of schooling in Indonesia. SPH schools are in the top tier and normally for the elite class. The middle class schools are called Sekolah Dian Harapan, and the lower class and cheaper schools are referred to as Sekolah Lentera Harapan schools.  In this system the SPH, or elite class, schools have very high tuitions and use part of that money to fund the SLH schools, which not have as many resources and may not have accredited teachers, but are free to attend. The SDH schools for the middle class are the most populous so it’s possible for them to be self-funded.

SPH, pronounced Es Peh Ha, was very impressive. They have about 250 students in grades k-12 so class sizes are very small and interactive. The facility was beautiful and fully equipped with soccer fields, basketball courts, music rooms, and even a dance studio all for exploratory classes. After a grand tour of the campus we played games with 3^rd graders (I got beat in UNO by a bunch of 9yr olds..they ganged up on me). This was their last day of class before summer break so we attended their final assembly and they performed some traditional songs and dances for us. It was so very rewarding experience to interact with them and meet with all their instructors. Overall, the entire facility was very impressive.

3 o’clock marked the end of our adventures for today. On our ride home we saw a couple transvestites on the street soliciting money from businesses. Coming from a small town and a fairly sheltered lifestyle, this was completely foreign and surprising to me. Apparently there aren’t very many traffic regulations either. Everybody treats the lane markings as “suggested” and can turn a 3 lanes into 5 when it gets crowded. It’s also very common to see whole families on scooters or motorcycles. We see dozens of babies holding onto parents as they go buzzing by our van. At first I was surprised and appalled to see 3 kids on the back of a Honda motor bike, but then it hit me that THAT was the entire family’s mode of transportation. These cities are very crowded and it’s impossible to get anywhere in a vehicle. The people on scooters can pass on by during traffic jams and it’s much more economical to own a scooter as opposed to a full-sized car. It’s still entertaining for us to play “count the babies” during our road trips, but we’re getting used to it with each passing day.

Halo! Terima kasih! (6/8/11)

Bettina, Kallie, and I got about 2 hours of sleep this last night. The time difference has a little backwards here but we’re all adjusting pretty well so far. This morning, we got up at 5:30 (did you read that dad!? Can you believe it?!) and did a lot of household and preparation tasks around our dorm. Then we decided to just walk around the area and get a feel for the President’s University campus. I was shocked at the beautiful 85 degree weather at 8am, and all the Indonesian people were just as shocked to see us. I’d never had as many people stare at my group. It was like we were wearing giant neon “I’M AMERICAN” signs. But everyone was very nice and friendly. We live right across the street from the police “polisi” station and wanted to see inside the building. So, obviously, as Americans would, we just walked up to the gated entrance and asked to have a tour. The officers obliged kindly and found us a translator. Needless to say, the officers inside were very taken with our “American ways.” We were escorted to the Central Intelligence area of the building were most of the people could speak some English. We ended up taking pictures with everyone in the office. They ordered us some coffee and tea (“bagus!” it was very good) and we ended up staying about an hour conversing about Indonesian and Muslim culture. Everyone was very reserved and polite, but one was outspoken enough to invite us to a Karaoke night event, so we may take the policemen up on that offer  J

Our next adventure was going to a local mall for some lunch and shopping. It was extremely hard trying to order and bargain without knowing a lick on Indonesian. But we quickly learned the money system and were able to make some great purchases. I even haggled with a jewelry salesman on some earrings. At my side was former Colonel Long, who was telling me the price was lower last week. So instead of buying 1 pair for 15,000 rupiah (about $1.67 USD) I got 2 for 20,000 or about $2.22. I could have bought 2 pairs for 3 dollars, but what fun would that have been. This coming weekend we’re going to Plaza Grand, which is a cultural market that sells souvenir goods from all Indonesia. In contrast to today’s trip, none of the items will have price tags so it’s up to us to bargain for a deal.

It is very important to me that I don’t perpetuate any already held negative beliefs about Americans. We’ve only been here 12 hours and I’ve heard people describe US citizens as selfish, greedy, loud, arrogant, obnoxious, and that was just in the airport. But for the most part, everyone we’ve run into has been respectful and gracious. I only hope our group can make a positive impression of American students for our new Indonesian friends.

Talk about Jet Lag! (6/6/11)

Don’t worry parents. I’m alive. We just haven’t been able to access the internet for a while. But here’s what all of you have missed since my last update.

Surprisingly, the plane ride wasn’t as grueling as I expected it to be. From Chicago to Seoul, we spent 13 hours and 20 minutes at 35,000 ft. It wasn’t that bad since they had many movies, shows and electronic games to keep you busy. Dad, I almost watched “Sunset Blvd” in your honor. But instead, I spent 2 hours playing Free Cell trying to set new records. You wouldn’t believe it, but there was one game that I didn’t have a 2 of clubs. How can you finish a game of free cell without a 2 of clubs?...Easy answer, you can’t. But other than card games and mediocre comedy films, I spent a little time chatting with the fellow next to me. He seemed to know his way around the electronics and all the complementary materials, and could tell that my seat mate and I were first time flyers. He was very helpful, and after a while we really got to know each other. Turns out, he was returning to his homeland of the Philippines to start a pediatric practice there. He had been working as a nurse in the US for a while, and has also worked in the health care jobs in the Middle East and throughout Southeast Asia. I asked him which working environment was his favorite or, in his words “the best” and he said without question, the *Oyem* system in the middle east. There, people paid a flat rate for each procedure, and there aren’t separate hospital charges, doctor fees, and the medication is “relatively cheap; much more affordable.”

So AFTER learning about this man’s entire life history, we parted ways and our group started our final leg to Jakarta. I slept most of that turbulent 7 hour flight. Once we landed, we were welcomed by Dr. John Mewburn of the President’s University. All of our chaperones and helpers are extremely kind and generous. Our luggage was taken care of for us, and upon arrival we were given clean water and a box of snacks. We are all very appreciative for the help and assistance given by everyone here. Our first night in Indonesia was made very comfortable, but my roommates and I couldn’t sleep, partly due to the time difference, but mostly because we were so excited about finally being here!

The Last Supper

Well team, as Michael Jackson's stage crew would say.."This is it!" Tonight was my last night in America, and ironically, we went out for Chinese food. I guess I should have figured as much since our family consumes a steady diet of Chinese buffets, but I didn't mind.
As I sat at dinner, I thought about why I wanted to go on this trip and what it meant to me. I've been getting some guff from some people in my home town to the tune of "whyyy, would you ever want to go to Indonesia??" Honestly readers, I'm not sure if there's anything of interest there. But I'm dying to find out. I'm so terribly curious about the world around me.
But this experience is more than just a chance to see a small slice of the world. Its really a step (or leap, rather) towards greater independence. I've always had a security blanket around me; my parents, close friends and family, or at least a familiar environment. Even going to college didn't seem like a huge ordeal because my older sister lived two blocks away. But now, leaving here, I feel like I'll be completely on my own, which scares the living bejesus out of me! (...even though my parents will take me to the airport and hold my hand until I get my boarding pass.) I love my family, and have been somewhat of a homebody for 20 years. But it's really important to me that I become independent, confident, and self-sufficient. This whole process is a little scary and nerve-wracking and exhilarating all at the same time.
But I'm already loving it. :)

Kamu bisa bicara bahasa indonesia?

For all of you who love to learn languages, the title here means "Do you speak Indonesian?" In Indonesia, the national language is Indonesian. The natives refer to their language as "bahasa" which literally translates to "language". But to be more specific, they'll refer to it as "bahasa Indonesia" or literally the "Indonesian language." I sheepishly admit that my Indonesian is a little rusty. I fly out in a matter of days and have only mastered hello and sorry (Halo and Maaf) which will probably be the only two words I'll need. Also by popular demand, I've learned "Di manakah kamar kecil?" since its only practical to know how to ask "where's the toilet?" in many languages.

Other than reviewing my useful Indonesian phrase book, I also need to finish planning and packing everything I need for the trip. I've been under the weather for the past two weeks and haven't been as productive as I would have liked. So today is the day to clean and finalize all of my luggage. Thanks to my Aunt Tracy Simon I have a very spacious carry-on laptop bag so my PC and personals will stay protected (don't worry dad). Once Pretty in Pink gets over on Oxygen, I'll get right on that whole packing thing. Stay tuned for any future developments.

One more thing: My best friend Courtney Hornick turned 20 today! I can't believe how fast they're all growing up. It feels just like yesterday that we were those two lost freshman, holding up campus maps, trying to find out Bio 211 lab so we could start cultivating our bacteria plots. And to think, today she's taking care of and rehabilitating wildlife in Kansas City...That girl is going places, and I'd like to wish her a very happy 20th birthday!

Hello World :)

Hello my trusty followers. This is just the first of many posts about my trip to Indonesia this summer. I’m traveling with the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program at Iowa State. On this 2 week guided educational and cultural tour, we will be able to experience Indonesia first hand. The course will emphasize how international education affects U.S. education and institutions of higher education.

My first duty was to get immunized. I forgot how much I hated needles until I had to get a Flu shot and a Hepatitis A vaccine. For any of you who are thinking about traveling abroad in the near future, make sure to get your vaccinations done early to ensure thorough protection.
In preparation for our trip, we’ve been given a lot of reading about Indonesian politics, culture, education, and religion. Not only are we learning about this foreign nation, but we’re also expected to teach a lesson to our Indonesian friends about American culture. My assignment, thankfully, is to present on American Music. Anyone who knows me can attest to my affinity for music, especially 80′s power ballads. But I think for this assignment, I’ll try to touch on a little bit of everything. From legendary groups like the Rat Pack and Temptations to comtemporary sensations Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber, I’ll give the Indonesian students a taste of some of the most popular and influential artists in America.