It was time to go home to Yogya. I had a 6:30 a.m. flight to Jakarta in the morning. Mom & dad offered to give us both a ride to Ngawi (about 2 hours), where we could catch the bus for the rest of the trip home.

It was a fun trip actually. I saw a different part of East Java than the way out,,, and enjoyed talking to dad about history & politics in Indonesia… how do they feel about President SBY; what do Indonesians think of the U.S. - particularly the controversial issues surrounding the Middle-East, etc… Good conversation.

Earlier this morning, ‘mom’ asked about my religious background… I told them about growing up at Principia & finishing high school on a Christian Science campus… mentioned maman growing up Catholic in French schools & adopting C.S. in the 1960s… Mother B growing up with the Episcopalian church & changing Protestant beliefs before that, and the atmosphere of religious tolerance that I’ve grown up with.

It was almost a passing conversation (less than 5 minutes), but probably the most important one for Nina & her family. There it was. Factors that have nothing to do with me as a person… just moved in to pre-decide what’s good or not; what’s permissible or not. It’s an aspect of organized religion I’m not very fond of. I’m stuck with it.

The parting comment to Nina was, “he’s a nice boy. Too bad he’s not Muslim.”
I guess that sums up where I stand in mom’s eyes.

We took an air-conditioned bus from Ngawi to Yogya (about 4 hours) for $4 each. Nina stole a little time to sit with me at Cheers café & share a drink before we had to get her home to her kos & say goodbye. =/