Wednesday, 19July06

Highlights: back to school, Allplus, quick trip to Bantul, unsuccessful struggle with internet

Ah,, transitions from play to school are always easier said than done,, aren’t they? Today was no different.

After class we switched around tutors though. So Merrie gets stuck with me on Mondays & Wednesdays now. I tried smoothing the transition out by taking both Sinta & Merrie to lunch. Ha ha.

There’s a language center in town (Allplus) looking for native English speakers to help both students and teachers practice & smooth out their English. A couple students came by & asked if I would help. Sure! Why not? We’ll meet on Mondays & Tuesdays at 7pm for an hour.

After discovering that one of the girls who works at my favorite head-neck & shoulder massage place (Ena) lives in Bantul, where her former house is still laying in crumbled heaps, I offered to go down this weekend & help her clean it up. It feels good helping people you’ve gotten to know. I followed her older brother down to their house, so I can find it again; especially if any of my peers feel like coming with, to lend a hand on Saturday or Sunday.

The older brother & sister were great. Almost everyone has scars from bricks falling on them from that day; particularly noticeable on their 7 year old sons head,,, but everyone made it out ok. We drank some tea & talked a bit before I ran off to cooking class.

Next door is an elementary school. All the desks and benches are under tents outside.