There was nothing terribly special about this day, so there is no real reason why I decided to break it down like this. However, it has been a long time since I blogged and a) I am easing myself back into the writing habit with an easy exercise and b) I didn’t know where to … More Wednesday, January 13, 2016: A Day in the Life

It is currently half past midnight on the morning of December 15, 2015, which means that my 23rd birthday in Indonesia is officially over. And after at least two days of prepping, partying, and cleaning up, I am beyond satisfied to see this milestone pass. First thing tomorrow morning I am going to Thailand for … More Selamat ulang tahun! Happy birthday!

Last Two Three Tuesdays ago, I was asked by my school (Ibu Evi, specifically) if I had ever been Belitung. Last Two Three Wednesdays ago, I was asked by Ibu Evi for my full name. Last Two Three Thursdays ago, I was taken on a surprise visit to Belitung with Ibu Evi and Ibu Kun, my headmistress. It was a … More Belitung

My posting spree over the extended school holiday continues! I just arrived home from a quick visit to school to a) pick up some packages that Ibu Evi called me about yesterday (thanks Mom, Dad, and Aunt Betsy); b) make some plans for a birthday bash I want to host next weekend; and c) pay … More Mail Time!

This post serves two purposes. 1) I am checking the capability of WordPress to host embedded YouTube videos. If successful, Indonesiaful.com will soon have some fabulous video footage of ETAs in action in Indonesia. If successful, this will be my first time trying to do anything with the Internet that is not a built-in feature. … More “Bento”

The “3 Month Slump” is a phenomenon that I have been observing in the blogs kept by other ETAs. From loneliness to injuries to outright culture shock, my fellow Fulbrighters have had the grace and gumption to share their stories online with the world. We have all had our own challenges, a fact that I … More The 3 Month Slump

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