When we got back, Nina and I continued making the rounds to visit family, and her best friend Wenny. Wenny likes the direct approach,,, “so when is the wedding?” I believe is how she started conversation. Yeah- good times. Ha ha. Strangely Nina went mute again.

I forget when we got home, but guests & conversation kept going until I was about ready to pass out. A close family friend of Nina’s dad, Pak Sahala and another policeman uncle came over, and we enjoyed dissecting the vicious poverty-justice-education cycle again. What made it a lively and relevant conversation is that Pak Sahala is a former Marine Colonel, and now both he & Nina’s dad work as security managers for Exxon-Mobil here in Cepu, guarding the company from terrorist attack & local crime. Everyone had thoughtful opinions and a wealth of experience. Many issues need to be resolved at the central & regional government levels (as they control public worker salaries, and policy on education, costs, and law enforcement). We pulled the plug on conversation around the time the weight of my eye-lids surpassed 5 lbs each. (= I enjoyed talking with them though.