Nina shared an interesting event tonight. Before I came, an older man from her best friend’s family, with an acclaimed 6th sense (ESP), told her that she will marry a westerner that she’ll meet next year, but not the one she’s dating now. Java is rich with mystical beliefs and superstitions… so even as Nina downplayed the forecast a bit for my benefit,,, it still carries some weight with her. Hmm.

Ok. Aside from a few little things like that, the quick marriage & changing religion subjects (which haven’t been brought up much, thankfully),,, one other thing bothers me. Nina’s dad has observed, in his own keen way- that Nina isn’t really ready yet for anything serious. I can recognize that for myself, as our experience here doesn’t really resemble dating norms in the states. In many ways, Nina is still the innocent girl unfamiliar with life outside of her tight family circle. That’s exactly what is expected of a proper Javanese girl, and that’s how her family wants to keep her. There’s nothing wrong with that. The unsolicited fortune telling threw a funny light on a question of self-reflection… perhaps the second part of his insights will ring true. Who knows.