Yesterday I returned to Pangkal Pinang from a 24 hour trip to Jakarta to attend a luncheon at the U.S. ambassador’s house to celebrate Thanksgiving. I had been planning on attending after Ambassador Blake personally invited us ETAs during orientation in Bandung, though my travel plans weren’t finalized until last Thursday. Even American holidays happen … More 24 Hours in the Big, Bad City

Nearly seven months ago, I completed my Bachelor’s degree the University of Tampa. Though I am TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certified, prior to Indonesia I had very little practical experience teaching. November 25 is a national holiday in Indonesia — Hari Guru [Teacher Day] — and during the celebrations yesterday I … More Happy Teachers’ Day / Thanksgiving

Indonesia reached a new level of awesome today thanks to Babel Entertainment (Babel = Bangka-Belitung, my province) and the epic Zombie Run that they held at BBG (Bangka Botanical Gardens) this morning. This event combined some of my favorite things: loud music, getting dirty, beautiful nature, communal exercise, lot of laughter, and — of course … More Zombie Run

For a country where watches are must-have accessories, Indonesians generally run on jam karet, or rubber time. Despite the fact that the actual time is only a quick glance at your wrist (or at one of the several phones that are always in reach) away, the “real” time just… well, punctuality is not exactly one … More Rubber Time

“Love is in the air” is how I began my last post and it is still a fitting introduction for this next (very brief) post. In short: I am happy here. Very happy. Outrageously happy, even. There are certainly ups and downs, but as I am getting more comfortable here there seem to be many more ups … More A Love that Grows Day by Day

Love is in the air. It is wedding season in Indonesia, and my fellow ETAs have been sharing about their experiences with Indonesian weddings across the archipelago. From Manado to Malang to Gorontalo, us bules have run the gamut of wedding experiences. It is no different in Pangkal Pinang. Prior to this year, I have … More Weddings, Bangka Style

It has taken months, more trips to the immigration/other offices than I can count on two hands, and many appeals to the heavens…. But at long last, the Immigration Saga has reached a happy ending. I have my KITAS (Kartu Izin Tinggal Terbatas = Limited Stay Permit Card) as well as a MERP (Multiple Re-Entry … More Immigration Part 2