Thursday, 17Aug06

Highlights: Indonesia’s Independence Day! Hanging out with my host family all day

Today is the 4th of July for Indonesia… all the patriotic paraphernalia was laid out all over town (= I was interested to see what would happen.

This morning I went with pak Rochmadi (dad) to UGM campus to watch/participate in the formal ceremony. Ibu didn’t want to go… I didn’t understand until later that the ceremony is the same every year- so after 2 or 3 times, it’s rather repetitive.

Once again, I tried to force myself to pay attention through all the formalities- but that was a losing battle. To sum up the ½ hour ceremony: all the professors formed up by faculty,, saluted a few times & sang Indonesia Raya, the national hymn after listening to a long winded speech about independence.

I tried to find my language teachers in the crowd afterwards, but people spread to the winds as soon as it was over. We went home, after picking up Ojik from a school competition day. No parades here.