First of all, I apologize for my long overdue post! I have had both a lack of internet and lack of time. Internet was just installed in my kos so blogging should be a lot easier from now on.
It’s been about 3 weeks since my arrival to Indonesia. Settling in has taken up most of my time. My first few days in Yogya were spent “kos hunting” with my pendamping (a student volunteer “helper” from UGM). After my third day I have settled in an area called Gang Keruk. I live in the second floor of a home with 4 other female students. My room has its own washroom with western toilet, it includes electricity, cable, internet and does not have a jam malam (curfew). I also live above a pastry shop owned by our lovely Ibu and Bapak Kos (mother and father of our kos). They sell amazing little pastries called pia pia.The only downside is that my room doesn’t have A/C but I’m dealing with that just fine! Here’s a few photos:
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- My washroom, with western toilet. It is a cold water shower except the water pressure is too low so I just use the bucket and pail!
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- The hallway, a balcony and a kos mates room
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- Hallway leading to the common room and our fridge
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- the common room
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- ACICIS students on our newly purchased bikes
My kos is only 10 minutes, on the bike that I bought second hand here in Yogya, to University. Although traffic is crazy I feel safe on my bike and there is actually a bicycle lane on many roads here.
ACICIS students on our newly purchased bikes
After a placement test I was assessed as an intermediate student and today was the first day of class. After realizing my comprehension and conversation skills are severely inadequate I was nervous to start class again after two years of being out of practise. However, my first class went well and I understood everything the professor was saying in Indonesian! I’ve decided to take language courses on grammar, writing, and vocabulary, a course on Korupsi dan Anti- Korupsi (taught in English), and a immersion (taught in Indonesian) class called Pendidikan Kemasayaratkan (Community Education).
So far, I’ve just been exploring Yogya and the areas around. Everything I’ve seen so far I’ve loved. I cannot say enough about how pleasant Indonesians have been everyone has been incredibly friendly and hospitable. And the food is delicious!
- Chany
Chany,
Great to hear that you are settling in well in Yogya! It sounds like you are having a good time. I can’t wait to hear your stories when you get back to Victoria.
Sampai jumpa,
Daromir
Everything is going great so far, Indonesia is definitely living up to the high expectations that I had based on your’s and so many other people’s opinion’s. Also, it looks like they’ve tightened up on laws regarding helmets now! haha you won’t see anyone riding around with pots on their heads anymore.
Chany