Our first day in Bali, well, first night in Bali. Customs feels like immigration. Cold stern looks gives me a false first impression of this country‘s opinion of me. Oh yeah, this is their government‘s territory. The really bold, red, intimidating “import of drugs is prohibited by death” sign reminds me of this. A couple steps, drags of bags, and we shuffle out into the real Bali. The hot Bali, the cluttered colorful Bali. Everyone is bunched together looking for their loved one’s, sweating and smoking. The humidity lightens the smell and atmosphere quickly, everyone’s smoking cloves anyway. The flowers around our necks given by our professor couldn’t be more of a blessing after breathing in nine hours of airplane air, fake air, the kind that makes your nostrils hurt. I love this island already, so moist it makes you feel alive. I can feel myself ripening as my fifty pound bags are generously unloaded off me by Professor Payne and Made Kevin (you’ll hear more details about him later, trust me!) The ride home proves to be fascinating, the colors shine through the darkness, motor bikes revving all around. Sleep also proves to be a more urgent vitality at the time and the next thing I know we’re at the greenest bungalow’s I’ve ever seen, well, the only bungalows I’ve ever seen. Honestly at first all I saw was a jungle. The rest of the night swirls together with excitement, exhaustion and an over all Bali high.
August 20th 2010
It’s morning all ready? It’s hot already? I hear...frogs, bugs,…animals? Is it rain or is it a fan? There’s defiantly a feel to this place I’ve never felt before. I need to get out of this room (no matter how much I've fallen in love with my temporary home here)and into the atmosphere as soon as possible.
My daze doesn’t where off quickly with out first walk through the village, and everyone else’s behavior implies the same. First observation of the village of Ubud and it’s people, you can see the struggle, but there is a lot of good all around it. People will try to sell you things, but there is no hostility in their demeanor, but a smile at the end of an interaction. The streets are corroded but the people helpful and friendly. There doesn’t seem to be many rules or regulating, but everyone is well behaved and one doesn’t feel threatened. An amazing lunch later, and the greatest traditional massage really is the only way to put your mind to ease and literally try to soak it all in. Never have I gone that quickly to completely comfortable, feeling free and fresh. I can understand why the Balinese would be so happy. Oh and we met Dewa today, first impression, and you can see the kindness on this face, hear the softness in his voice and see the sincerity in his smile. Dewa becomes a regular face in our lives, and personally I can say one of my favorites.August 21st 2010
Today was a day for the arts. There are many villages in Bali dedicated to a significant form of art form. We visited the wood carvers and the silver crafters. Zooming through these villages seeing their works of art displayed on the side of the road was inspiring. Each village had a technique they all knew, there was no better way to prove, you can do whatever you want. These villages were all skilled in their own form of art and nothing had held them back from being just as talented as their neighbors, along with their ancestors. Too many images to capture, too many to show, but not enough to fulfill the atmosphere. This is the beginning of many voyages we see through out the trip that displays the fact, every villager can do everything. They all are capable of farming, being merchants, artists, performing music, they all learn together their culture and it is amazing. The evidence is everywhere. There is a big difference here between Americans and Balinese. Yes in America we all know our culture, we don’t practice it often though, we’re not necessarily good at moderating it's display powerfully, we don’t seem to really pride ourselves in out nationality, and the ones that do, aren't always the best perception of our country. On this island you can tell from their craftsmanship, they love this, they pride themselves on being true to their culture. It doesn’t matter if they just end up using it to make money, or to represent themselves, they’re still doing it and keeping the culture alive. That is something that really matters, and something that is missing in American society, the representation and pride showing evenly among all. That night was a night to see the sacred Legong dance. I must admit, as much as it was entertaining at first I almost felt bad, I felt this was their tradition dance that they were slightly exploiting for the tourists because it’s one of the only things they know they can make a profit out of. It’s something they’ve known for so long and kept within the Balinese, I didn’t want it to be targeted to marketing. But as I continued to watch, I could tell the Gamelan players were really enjoying themselves, and they looked dashing too. I don’t know how many men in full bodied sarongs with head dresses kept the whole performance going with their instruments. And you could tell they were having a great time, smiling nodding, getting really into it, and kickin ass at it too. They performed astoundingly. Of course the dancing was impressive as well, but the Gamelan was just so unique. I continued to watch and forced myself not to think about wither or not this was for my entertainment or theirs.
August 22nd 2010
Today, we made a great friend. Who was soon to teach us more than he already has on this day. His name is Darta. Darta is capable of teaching us many things. He loves to talk about his island and his culture. Darta taught us the three principles of Balinese life. “Tri Hita Karana“, and they all proved to be honorable ones. The first is “Pow Wong On Wong“, which means something along the lines of human being. The second is “Pal La Mahan” meaning, the environment, and the third is “Para Yangan”, the Gods. He began to tell us stories and aspects about the Balinese that made all these things work hand in hand. He told us of the Bayang tree, how it’s the oldest and biggest try in the village, in the community of the people, and symbolizes the unity of the people in their community. He told us of their beliefs in animalistic instinct, and how every living thing has a spirit. The Balinese believe strongly from their roots in keeping the environment not only clean and beautiful, but happy and healthy. When they cut one coconut tree down, three are planted. These people want to preserve the universe, they have ceremonies for the trees, animals, and for many things to keep them alive and everyone aware of how important they are. I think this is so beautiful. Their idea of Gods, or their ancestors, and that everything came from them, keeps them appreciating their island. Their ethics of life is taught by action and the routine of daily life. He taught us a hundred ways to use a coconut. And I’m not sure if he meant to but through these things he really taught us how much potential the Balinese people are enriched with compared to us. How much they care about their culture and the sustainability of their island. The Balinese are eco friendly naturally, they leave offerings to the god of their island, rice, ancestors, in order to keep them and their families, and their island safe and full of good karma. The Balinese are not yet completely equip to keep up with the tourism and the poverty in their country while sustaining an eco friendly and clean environment. Here, we are confronted with one of the key global issue's we are here to study, Poverty, it's effects on their precious economy, globalization, environment, and ourselves. These are all things we continue to learn about throughout the trip.
On a lighter note, did I really forget to mention that this brilliant man fed us!? I compliment the Indonesian meal of the day prior, Darta has prepared us a delicious buffet of Balinese food! Resembling Indonesian, but with more ingredients and spice!August 23rd 2010
Today we really got around the island. We visited the textile factories, Gianyar Temesi waste project, Mt. Batur and got to see a display of agro tourism. I really appreciated this day because we saw a less touristy side of Bali (not that we had been that touristy) but the places we went taught us and showed us a lot about several different key things to know about Bali. The textile factory we saw a working side of Bali, how much time and detail they put into their work. All this time and attention makes a very beautiful piece that is reflected in many pieces of art done by the Balinese. Care is put into is and it shows through, the piece or artifact feels loved when you touch it or look at it. This is why I love Balinese art, it’s loved. This makes something mean so much more. And I believe they do this on purpose, they were raised and trained to make things this way, to please the Gods or to make a beautiful thing for someone, the earth, give it a spirit. I believe the Balinese belief in things you can’t see with your eyes. Objects are not made like this in America, there is an obsession with time and profit,(proficiency can be argued). The main focus of manufacturers is convenience, convenience of time, ease, and defiantly money. Things are made by machines, not people, they are made with no feeling and poor intentions. Products should not be made cheaply like this, and not in these crazy mass quantities. But supply and demand is what rules our nation and even if it rules the manufacturers here to some extent, there is a much different feel to this experience. The textile factory brought to us, along with a piece of beautiful culture, the inevitable, disappointing fact of, it is slowly fading. Young women are not learning these same qualities anymore as Bali is forced to try and keep up with globalization. It's all around, the hard truth. Mt. Batur was also a very impressive experience, we ate lunch on a cliff across from Batur and the scenery was breath taking. Of course the topic of the Aga came up, and the village, where it was in location. Another interesting part of Bali, its different people, so many different kinds of people. Even the fact a restaurant in nonchalantly on an overlooking cliff of such a beautiful sight. Dewa taught us of agro tourism. We walked with him and saw banana trees, coconut trees, cacao plants, young coffee beans, jackfruit, snake fruit, papaya, clove and many plants grown regularly in Bali. I decided then that listening to Dewe talk is one of my favorite things. Darta was an extremely charismatic speaker, but there is something in the softness of Dewa's voice. These people and their ways are so interesting, it leaves me yearning to learn more and more. That night we went to a Kecak dance. The only thing I can say to really justify it is that it was one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen. The men were making music with their mouths this time, and the whole thing was lit by candles, it was captivating. There was one part, in the middle when they were trying to portray a scene of two God’s conversing, an older one and a younger one I believe, and I hear English. It hasn’t been that strange to hear English in this society constantly, but it was in the middle of a performance that has thus far created such a ancient ambiance, that it threw me off. Again I felt like they were trying to please, the tourist through this dance and tradition they loved for themselves and their own culture.
I don’t like feeling that catered to by a culture I’m trying to learn first had. They were trying to please me for money more than perform and present for knowledge, because that’s what they knew we wanted. As I began to feel almost angry about it, I just realize, it’s true. Something I've obviously began to struggle with but must accept while on this trip. Watching the incredibly dressed up, beautiful Balinese dancers jump on their motorbikes as soon as they could and ride of giggling brought my heart back to peace.August 24th 2010
Today was amazing. Am I over stating myself yet? I'm sure you're thinking, there's a surprise. Well grow accustom to the enthusiasm. The whole group got sarongs on, and for the full moon ceremony, we went to a sacred temple, the holy spring Sabatu. At first I wasn’t sure what to expect at all. I’ve never been a religious person, I had read about Balinese’s beliefs in holy water, offerings for the Gods, but still, no experience in much religious practice. I remember going to church once or twice, we ate a piece of bread, drank juice, a guy in a robe told me how to feel. I refused to get baptized because I didn’t think dunking my head in a pool of water was going to change my fate or make me feel any different, I didn't get it. So I went into this situation completely open minded and just happy to be wearing tradition Balinese dress. When we got there, I was very intrigued and slightly confused. But with a little guidance and observation we all found our way into the holy spring, and loosened up enough to really indulge. The way they all sat in the stream and let everything go, lead me to do the same, lead me to almost feel carried away by the current running in between my limbs. Riveting enough to be in a fresh water spring. We next ventured to the waterfall, which felt even that much more empowering. There’s always something invigorating about stepping into a stream with clothes on, but then laying your head under the rushing waterfall really let something out, the pressure is intense but doesn’t hurt or push you but lifts you up almost. Laying against the rushing waterfall on a rock felt even better, not like a massage but like a cleanse of any sores or tightened muscles, including the heart and head. For the first time in a very long time I felt comfortable praying, leaving an offering for I don’t even knowing who, and praying. It was the best mental release. Maybe it was the mind set of all those around me, or maybe I feel very in tune with this time of spirituality, either way, I enjoyed the feeling immensely. I owe that new sensation to the Balinese. There wasn’t much for anyone to say after that, just feel. Feel great physically, about whatever you prayed about, and feel great about the very kind Balinese (Dewa and Darta) that brought us hear, shared this with us and trusted us with it. It will forever be in my heart, and has opened it up.
August 25th 2010
When I found out about this study abroad opportunity in Bali, Indonesia, I was intrigued not just for the traveling aspect, but for the knowledge I already knew about Indonesia. I didn’t know much at this time except for the magnificent agriculture, environment and over all flora these islands hold. I knew it had also been very taken advantage of, land cleared for rice fields, villages, accommodation, which had taken a vital toll on their tropical rain forests and animals. Because this country has so much to offer naturally, humans have prospered on the land and benefits. The country’s agriculture is fascinating but their eco systems, trees, and environment had been badly hurt. This was why I wanted to come here, to see this amazing place and if it’s getting better, to identify sustainability in their culture and society. Our visit to The Green School today was exactly what I wanted, we saw so many forms of improvement in environmentally friendly aspects of living. This school is completely green, they utilize the benefits of bamboo like no other, and it’s outcome is beautiful architecture. This school also found a way to create power with water without hurting fish, which is amazing and would be incredibly successful if more studying and experimenting is done with this technique. Their science projects focus on being green in such ways as growing rice the way they used to before the green revolution (which is not green at all, just implies it created new ways for effective agriculture in mass quantities which are not environmentally friendly) their students learn how to grow red rice again, instead of white which does not hold as much beneficial value. This is what I wanted to see happen, this is the answer to solve any environmental issues. Education is the answer, to teach kids from the very beginning. Not necessarily making it a number one conscious concern, but to teach children ways of life that do not hurt the planet. There are millions of alternative to the way we dispose garbage, build architecture, grow crops, that aren’t that hard but people just don’t know about. From the root up, this style of living is completely achievable and wouldn't require adaptation if it was just a known way of life. This school sets a perfect example of the smallest step we could take.
August 26th 2010
Throughout this trip, I have felt many emotions. Many intense good and eager emotions. Today I felt new ones, extreme compassion and sadness. We visited three of the NGO’s we had been contacting while being in Seattle, also the three NGO’s we figured the majority of our donations would be for. At this time we had to just visit all these places, because of some confusion between Shoreline Community College and The Indonesian Government, our idea was that our visitor visa was going to keep us from volunteering, working or helping these people. This devastated all of us. The three places we visited were all in pretty good condition but still you could see it on their faces that they need help and would appreciate the consideration, not necessarily the help we can give them of employees, doctors, or of regular volunteers, but we can give them our time and attention for a week set aside for this. They eagerly greeted and encouraged our presence, even if it’s not considered volunteering, we would be visiting and working with the kids. One of the first places we went to was Bali Hati, we didn’t get to see the facilities in which the kids are subject to or the clinic, except for one small computer room, but we saw there main buildings and spa. The facilities were very clean, and we saw the spa which funded the school, it was very nice and the coordinator told us about all these changes he was planning on making towards healthier choices for the clinic in Bali Hati. Perfect, they didn't need our help as volunteers but simply our presence with the people involved. The next place we went to wasn’t as well off, it was a clinic called Bumi Sehat, a clinic meant for pregnant women and water births for healthy pregnancies. Bumi Sehat does not charge, has paid midwives and doctors and nurses that give their time. They seemed to be doing pretty moderate with money but implied that more help never hurts, the amount of women that come in and need help from start to finish seemed over whelming. These women needed more healthy births through water birthing and good prenatal care. Robin the coordinator had many stories to tell us and was full of information, she made it clear the area around her needed help. Help to be more educated on what to do for prenatal cautions. Again, it starts with education. We next move on to what becomes almost our main focus, Yayasan Widya Gunga. Here is a man name Ketut’s home compound, full of children (including his own), some come here for school classes, some are orphans, some are mentally handicapped and some just get dropped off for daycare more or less. This is a man and his family’s home, tons of children are there everyday, they have a class room, music room, a complete working facility. We visited for not too long, but little things really struck me about this place. While we were walking to the rice fields where a new school is to be built, a little girl offered me one of the only two crackers she had for a snack. I know it’s impolite in this culture to turn down food, but I couldn’t possible take it. I refused but thanked her kindly, she didn't seem to mind. Later I saw her and one of her friends picking up garbage off the ground outside to see if there was food in it, they would check inside and then throw it back down. This hurt me to see of course, but I was even more shocked by the fact she had been so sharing. Even if her small gesture was just to be polite, it showed great character. I think because we saw these children, played with them, talked with them and hung out for awhile we really bonded with them and all became extremely motivated to return and give as much time as possible, and this is when we started signing up for hours. Our status on where we'd be, what we'd be allowed to do was still up in the air, but Ketut and the children excitement rubbed off on us. I think we all knew it would feel good to come back. The children brought up a new emotion in me, the one I’ve been waiting for, all I want to do is help people, I truly felt this. Not just for these children, or Bali, or anything specific. I honestly believe that’s what I was meant to do and that I’d be good at. If I could achieve this, I wouldn't just be helping others but myself entirely. Does that sound selfish? I would benefit greatly from working with less fortunate, deserving circumstances in a nourishing accelerating way.
August 27th 2010
Our final NGO was quite far away, so there was no options to regularly visit even more than once. We traveled three hours to reach Lovina Beach, where Gloria’s Lovina Crisis Clinic is. This isn't anything one would imagine a tropical islands beach life to look like, Kuta is the beach in Bali were people find 'paradise'. We were pre warned that this one would be a tough one to see, the people here are much poorer and have worse situations to deal with than central Bali. So we walked into that clinic with open hearts and dedication, after being greeted by tons of adorable school children. The clinic was small and could be compared to even a small clinic in America, but you could see the pride in Gloria’s face. They had a decent amount of supplies and beds, but not enough for how big their hearts are and how much they really want to help these people. Gloria shared stories and pictures, non of which were very pleasant. She told us of what happens if people can't reach her clinic, what kind of treatment was regular in this community, which really endorsed how important her cause and clinic is. Piling the donations on two of the hospital beds felt awesome, and the gratitude that came from this and the incubator the rotary earned for the clinic was even better. Gloria and her staffs attempts at making a better life for these people made everyone feel like we could do more, that we should do more, she really is an amazing women with so much to give. Saying goodbye was even hard, many eyes filed up with tears and a very soft side of everyone came out. I think for the first time in the whole trip, we were all on the exact same level. It was a quiet car ride to our place of rest that evening, and I think the tension hit us all when we were trying to get situated. I think I can say for everyone, at that point we were really glad to be on the beach.
August 28th 2010
New day brings new feelings, new comings. During breakfast I was surprised to see two Balinese style boats pull up right next to us, on our own little beach. I knew we were going snorkeling but I didn’t know it’d be this easy. There canoe style motor boats were afloat with bamboo, another great thing about Bali, the many uses of bamboo and seeing them everywhere. We’re taken out to see dolphins, it was as if we were playing with them, they seemed to understand and recognize almost every boat. The Balinese have a way with animals, even when it seems the boats are chasing the dolphins, you can tell they’re not. The dolphins could go away and never come back, but here they are swimming along side cause somehow, they know it’s what we want to see, and what the Balinese make a living off of. Are the dolphins really just that smart? Or are the Balinese on to something with this offering ritual and belief in spirits everywhere? The snorkeling was even better, and very anticipated. Swimming with all the fish looking down at beautiful coral that is two feet beneath you. Floating with along the space between the sky and ocean floor with the entire scene on display, such a simple yet extravagant luxury. This place is so enriched with beautiful and beneficial things, it’s be a shame to not preserve as much of it as it has left, I tried not to think about that as I floated above the sea's skeleton.
August 29th 2010
Cultural outings galore! Darta takes us to the real Ubud market, the market of the people and item required for living their lives on this island. Offerings everywhere, weird fast snacks, tropical fruit, bamboo, banana leaves, the things these people need daily for regular life but so new and foreign for us! It’s fascinating to see what they need, and what we need. They need fresh fruit, useful material to make useful things, and offerings mainly. What do we need? Convenience, satisfaction, quick, cheap and easy solutions. I wonder if anything is easy in Bali, everything seems like a project, everything seems like good hard work and learning. Maybe I have the wrong impression or maybe I’m naïve but I feel like these people work a lot harder for a life they deserve than we do. A quick duck into an alley way and we find ourselves on a path to the rice fields, which we all know inevitably leads us back to the beloved Arjana bungalows, and a goodbye to Darta, but I plan on seeing him again. Next On the agenda is something we’ve all been waiting for, and Tim has been waiting for even longer to show us, a cremation ceremony. We’ve seen pictures heard stories but I really don’t think anyone knew what to expect. Other than sarong required. If no one had told me it was a cremation ceremony , I would’ve thought it was a parade. The men carry giant horses made of fabrics and gold coloring, a small boy is on top looking quick confused. Many many of these go through the streets moving from side to side, running in circles and acting mad. This is to ensure the spirit does not get left on earth and is cast into the second life. Then we follow tons of people, a marching gamelan band and the majestic horses to a large field. They’re placed all around and the whole village is in this one place for this day, eating ice cream, laughing, running, enjoying themselves, respecting their deceased and setting up the horses to be burned. Objects and pictures of the deceased are abundant, probably to remind us all that is why we’re here. To celebrate these lives. Something unexpected happens (well unexpected to the tourists anyways) and there is much commotion, many men surrounding and digging a certain area, the women circle around to see. The gamelan music gets crazy and all the white people realize, they’re digging up a body. A body to be burned. A body only lying within the ground for three months. Their excitement makes us come out of our comfort zone and want to look and see, be excited too, not feel bad for being curious. Because in all reality, this is normal! It is nature more or less and they will send this body out in the next world, life, in the best way possible to get it there. A hand is thrown up in the crowd and the cheering leads to running and the body is stored in a cute little horse. We're left after the crowd rejoices, next to the hole all thinking the same thing. Did we just really see that? More puzzling is probably how calm we all were, how submerged we had become that it didn't phase us as much as it would have a week previous in our lives. While trying to get out of my own head and back in the present, feeling like nothing can shock me now, everything starts burning. Every horse, in the distance, right in front of my face, is suddenly on fire. Everything burning but somehow everything under control, people scatter and for all I can tell, the cremation is a great success. They’re very good at all being on the same page here in Bali, they all really know their stuff. This is when I begin to feel even more intrusive and it’s time to retreat. The walk back to the car is hot and my mind doesn't have a problem with going back to wondering if my hair will ever feel clean again.
August 30th 2010
Today was our day off, no plans, no rotary meetings, culture outings or playing, visiting, children. Instead of talking about my day I’d like to that this passage to talk about all the things I’ve absorbed so far from Bali, because checking your e-mail here is way too sobering. I really just want to talk about all the things I love. I love the gecko’s all over the walls in restaurants, our bungalows, signs, everywhere. I love the crazy noises I've never heard before of these geckos, joined with locus's and god knows what else, maybe I should say 'universe knows what else' technically there is no "God" here. I love taking my shoes off every time I enter a room, or an outside patio. I love the outside patio rooms, the no front walls anywhere, the open air surrounding everyone. Feels like a putting down of arms and walls to welcome warmth and demolish fear. This effect also makes the streets so alive at night, you can hear the music from the warung across from you, see the performer, smile at the people. Even from the balconies everyone is together with the people on the street, and enjoying the same environment. I love the frogs instead of mice all over the gutters and sidewalks. I love the roosters, chickens, and chicks freely walking the streets, alleys and greenery. I love even more that this phases no one. I love the bats that flutter in and out of your sight constantly once it’s seven o clock. I love the bird, bug, and amphibian orchestra outside my window. I love the rain that comes so suddenly and angrier every time, like the earth just decided to water itself for twenty minutes then you see the sun again. I love the children that are tougher than me, the women who can carry more weight on top of their heads than I could in my arms, working around town as tough as the toughest soldiers. I’m not sure how I’m going to feel once I’m home. Outside all the sudden won’t be inside. I won’t be sticky anymore, I’ll probably start looking in the mirror and brushing my hair again. I'll have to wear deodorant again because the Bali water and Arjana laundry smell will be gone. I’m not sure if I even want to do those kinds of things again. The people here hold such a different demeanor, I’ve adjusted so well I’m not sure if I even act like myself anymore. There are things I won’t miss, well, maybe that’s not the best way to put it. But, seeing globalization up close and personal is very…I don’t even know how to explain. Sobering? Refreshing in a wake up sort of way? When the proof is staring you right in the face what can you do to change it, you can’t look the other way, pretend what you’re buying isn’t made in China, it’s right there and there’s no escaping a guilt you feel. Is this karma? What if I don’t know how to make it better? I just hope this is the kind of karma where I will change it, where we can make a difference. Other things strike me too, such as, agriculture. I see their beautiful fields and am very impressed about the hard work. But I know the truth, this rice is bad, the green revolution has ruined a lot of good land for these people and many don’t even know it. The rice isn’t as healthy, babies and mothers are struggling from malnourishment because of it. It all runs in a big circle, these people need education. Marketing is where some of their education comes from because it’s free, companies will tell them anything to get them to spend their money. If education was more accessible, they’d know the truth on their own. They’re strong and smart enough to turn it all around, they believe in good intentions and every living thing has a soul. But because of the poor conditions many are subject to, there is a downward spiral the more fortunate have used to take advantage of the economy. Here’s that feeling again, I see it right here, I’m taking pictures of these rice fields and land cleared for beautiful accommodation. What do we do? Now all I can do is learn as much as I can, being here has given me the best opportunity I will get to understand these things and make a difference in places. This isn’t just motivation anymore this is a decision. Anyway, I need to get up at two thirty in the morning tomorrow, I should probably not spend so much time in the internet café.
Oh yeah, I won't miss the dogs, there's one thing. I like dogs but we can't touch these ones, which is hard when there as many wild dogs as people. During the day they're everywhere, completely coexisting with the people, and just as independently, but at night they're almost the only ones that dwell the streets.
August 31st 2010
Sleeping last night would’ve been successful, but the rain came back, with vengeance. I fall asleep for about an hour, to my ipod (American), when the rain wakes me up. It’s so loud it sounds like the beach is falling on us. I check the time on my ipod and it says 2:30 a.m. I’m thinking, what? I lay there for one or more seconds longer, check again, check again. It can’t be 2:30 already, where’s Lilya to wake me up. It can’t be. Here’s another thing about Bali TIME IS CRAZY. I finally get up to check my computer, I have to add three hours to the time that says then it’s the opposite of AM or PM here. Ok, so that tells me 12:30. Still so confused why my ipods time changed itself when I had set it on Denpasar time, oh and along the tiny purple clock I’ve already learned not to rely on. No, no, don’t even look at the tiny little purple clock it makes me feel like I’m crazy. Anyway, I go back to bed trusting I’ll wake up in time. I do. But my sense of time and structure is still so confusing. The hike is amazing, all the way up in the dark, and it starts to get hot. The sun rises as soon as we get to the top. I have never experienced anything like this before. Being from the Pacific Northwest and taken a lot of hikes. This is new. A volcano against a sunrise over a river. Wow Bali, I know I keep saying this but I love you so much. The top of the volcano does not love us though, the wind is vicious but were able to enjoy the breakfast wonderful Made Kevin prepared for us. A hard boiled egg will never taste this satisfying again. The trek down is easier, basically slide down the nearly ninety degree angle half way. We see some monkeys and it’s hot again. Wild monkeys are nicer than the one in Ubud, those ones will chase you. Bumi Sehat is later, and this is one experience I’m entering, completely blind. I’ve never taught kids before, never babysat either, I haven't even seen the place where we’ll be teaching. So me and Nick are assigned ESL and Igor is assigned computers. We get a white board and a circle of students from fourteen to twenty, all on different levels of speaking English. No lesson plan or direction so I didn't know what to teach, my nervous tendencies got the best of me, but I think they could tell I was new at this. So me and Nick started slow, numbers, letters, some looked at us as if we were ridiculous for not knowing if they could do this, some sat very quietly and I don’t think could understand me. We progressively made it more complicated, past tense, future tense, present tense. Started to hear them all speak up a little bit more. They were really good at all these things, identifying objects, english structure rules and terms, months, expressions and parts of the face. Still, some seemed confused and didn’t respond unless one of their class mates would speak Balinese to them to clarify. This was frustrating, but there wasn’t much we could do. Our lesson ended with a picture of the world and trying to explain hemisphere’s, hemi meaning half, sphere’s meaning a ball. Maybe they got it, they wrote it down at least.September 1st 2010
I was looking forward to today, because I was spending the whole day at Widya Guna, one of the yayasans that really touched me. Devon and I started with the special needs kids. Because there were only three of them, it was relatively easy, but I couldn’t tell if they were really digesting anything I was telling them. They were pretty good at the ABC’s and we tried to focus on the ones they had a hard time pronouncing. When we began an art project of coloring things, drawing inside the lines, I could tell there was progression in their learning. They were very good at coloring in a butterfly symmetrically and staying within the lines. I was impressed, they seemed to somewhat understand the certain amount of structure this required. Their regular teacher, a young Dutch women helped us a bit, we took them on a short walk. It was hot and they got tired quickly. There was a short break, and one of the sweetest girls who was an orphan living there made us a very delicious Nasi Goreng lunch. I don't think I'll ever be over that lunch, rice and fried egg on top. One more thing I love about Bali, they eggs on everything, yum. Next it was me and Liliya teaching four to eight year olds, I believe. They had a hard time staying focused and settling down (obviously), but they listened very well and paid attention, writing everything down. They would listen to us and cooperate when we asked then to. They were a lot of fun, I’m not the best with kids but I like these ones. The smallest boy who lived at the house compound, Kawai, was so sweet. He sat write in front of me, and everything we asked him to draw or write he would try to give to me as a present. He was adorable. When we went over emotions he drew me a four headed monster with all the emotions on it, I think this is so clever. We did a science/art project with them with solar paper. This blue paper which you put an object on and leave in the sun. When you take the object off and the paper out of the sun there is an imprint of it left on the paper. The kids loved it, explaining it to them was kind of difficult, they kept wanting to add things when the paper was developed, block the sun or stare too close, but I think they understood after some trial and errors. We let them keep these papers, out of the sun they will turn a solid blue again and I hope they remember how to do it so they can have more fun with it. Then we took them outside to play, all the big kids, against little kids in soccer. Twenty against four, it was so much fun. The heat really toke a toll on our performance and the kids beat us. Not to say they wouldn’t have beat us anyway, they were amazing. There were kids half my size that could kick the ball all the way across the field. One hell of a work out. It was a good day, with a perfect ending.
September 2nd 2010
Bali Hati was a much different story. They had many classrooms, an impressive facility, and faculty present for every group, oh and uniforms. We were accommodated with cookies and coffee, it was very pleasant. We didn’t do much teaching but presented an art project with the kids of making sun catchers with paint and sharpies. They loved it, they don't have guests often, especially weird foreign one's with stupid questions and silly presents. The kids weren’t as talkative but the ones that were, knew their English very very well. This was a much tamer experience, but not as much fun. These kids are well funded and I don’t think our services were as vital as it is to others. I returned to Bali Hati in the evening, for the adult classes, and I was so surprised. I had no idea I could teach English. But this experience made me feel very confident that I could. I enjoyed working with the teens and adults very much, they listened well and every time I explained something they eventually really understood it. It felt so great to see the impact almost instantly. They were very interested in what I had to say and I think I really helped them. We just talked about food and how to prepare it, favorite dishes. We worked through work sheets assigned to them and they asked me a lot of questions. The hardest part was trying to explain what beans and yogurt was to them. It went very well and I feel confident about everything, I hope I left them with the same mutual feeling. This has opened some doors for me, if I was to learn a language such as Spanish, or Indonesian, I would possibly want to teach English as a second language for a job, volunteering experience or for fun. It would be great. A capability I never would have considered previously, now I feel so silly.
September 3rd 2010
Our last day of volunteering. First was Bali Hati School, they performed a traditional dance for us, the boys and girls, showed us what they had been learning. They were fantastic, it’s very impressive how well they know the dance at such a young age. The girls did the hand motion and posture perfectly, some even had the expression and eye movements down. I like how the Balinese really invest in their culture at such a young age, so every knows how to perform traditionally and are very in tune with things their ancestors used to do. Then, we all danced together, we taught them the chicken dance, and they already knew the hokey pokey, it was a lot of fun. They laugh so fully when they’re having fun and I really enjoyed playing with them one last time. After this we met the rest of the group at Widya Guna. I think we all knew leaving this school was going to be harder.
I love these kids, this is the most in my life I have spent time with children and I’m so glad it was these kids. We taught a little bit, but I think everyone was feeling angst and just wanted to hang out and enjoy our time together. We helped them with their community project and picked up plastic and garbage outside, then we played soccer, or more appropriately futbol. Dewa and Tim joined in too, which is probably why we finally has a chance. This was one of my favorite things to do with them. They are so good at it that we got a real work out. They had beat us last time so we put up a real fight and won, which was very unexpected, knowing these kids. It was so much fun I don’t even know how to describe the youth they re-inspired within me. All the running, laughing, chasing, falling over, tickling, I think these kids really liked us. Komang gave me one last hard time and I spent the last ten minutes chasing him around the feild after everyone was already on their way back. He knew what he was doing and he knew I would fall for it. I eventually caught him and practically had to throw him up the hill. The feeling was mutual.September 4th 2010
The program is over? I program is over. There was a program? Oh! Yeah, I'm here for school! I was learning in a whole new way, I didn't imagine this as school at all. This was my experience, shared with new people, submerged into this fascinating culture. And I'm getting credit for it!? Deal! Dream come true. Global Issue's class, or credit? Oh, not sure. Who wouldn't want to take a global issue's class though, even if I wasn't going to Bali. Global issue's is the future, international relations is the only direction for countries worldwide. My focus and comparison of this magnificent place has been the best way to learn, and truly believe this. Bring it on Political Science and International Relations classes! We were lucky enough to have a goodbye party thrown by our new Swiss friend David Kuper from the waste treatment plant. He has a beautiful house he built himself. Dewa and Made Kevin hung out with us. We had arak (strong rice wine), kuwak (made by Made Kevin) mixed with Bintang (Balinese beer, bintang means star) and some brem. Of course the beautiful pool deserved our attention in chicken fighting, Made Kevin beat us all. Dewa did not want to swim. I think this is because of a fear he has of the ocean, thus all bodies of water probably. He believes this is where the dark spirits are, and unhappy gods. Interesting, since I remembered a fascinating story Tim told us of a menacing dragon siting he has at Dewa's years ago that Dewa refused to believe at the time, for to him bad spirits did not exist. But of course everything changes, the first time Tim introduced cheese to Dewa he didn't approve either. But I saw him with pizza a couple times on this trip.
Saying goodbye to Dewa and Kevin was hard. They are some of the most magnificent people I have ever met. They shared so much with us, their homes, families, culture, food, language, and knowledge. They enabled this trip completely by giving us the real Bali experience. I am so grateful Tim chose to take students here and had these amazing connections on this island. I gave them both Swiss Trader Joe's chocolate to share with their families. I hoped they liked it. I will always keep the maroon sequined bag Dewa was nice enough to give to me. The following night spent in an empty airport didn't help heartache much.When the ecstasy of this experience has finally sunken in, the program is over, but I still have many days before I return home. My adventures thus far will take me to Sanur beach, Thailand, and then even to Kuta beach, back in Bali for a final farewell.
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