Brides and Basketballs
On a Monday morning, ETA Sam Chen got an impromptu call from a friend, who told him that the pickup basketball team he plays with (poorly) was planning on meeting up that afternoon to jalan-jalan. Excitedly, Sam agreed, and soon found himself jammed into a small car with some of the tallest men he knew… Read More.
Semester Picnic
To celebrate the end of fall semester classes, ETA Sheldon Ruby went to a picnic hosted by a fellow teacher. Upon arriving, Sheldon was greeted by fellow teachers and their families. He had the opportunity to watch his co-teacher cook chicken and fish over a fire beside a nearby river. All of the teachers were.. Read More.
A Visit to the Magic Mosque
In early December, ETA Elena Dietz’s mom came to her site to visit her school and get a better understanding of the life she’s been living for the past five months. Together with two of Elena’s co-teachers, Bu Anis and Pak Sin, they visited the mosque in Turen, East Java. This mosque is quite famous.. Read More.
Time to Practice!
This month, ETA Jam Sulahry had a close friend, Chris, from college come and visit him in Padang. Chris and Jam wanted to find a way to incorporate English in a fun way with the students since they would be stressed due to exam week. Jam and Chris had a bag of 500 warheads (unknown.. Read More.
Alun-Alun Exercise
Every morning, at around 6:00 am, ETA Matt Poissant goes jogging around the alun-alun (town square) in Demak. He has found it to be a very effective way to get his energy up in the morning. Usually the alun-alun is quite empty in the morning but during the holidays it was quite busy. This is.. Read More.
International Homestay
ETA Nitika Johri enjoyed her travels and break in December, but was happy to return to a full homestay in December. Her homestay in Salatiga became an international house as two Australians and another American moved in. Nitika was initially welcomed into her Indonesian homestay in August by Ibu Eny, Pak Herni, Ayes, and Ninon… Read More.
Getting to Know the Community
In the month of December, during the school holiday, ETA Nageen Sherani spent most of her free time getting to know her outdoors community. A few blocks down from where her site mate and she live is a community golf course, encircled by a narrow, paved road. The road is busy most mornings and evenings.. Read More.
A Day to Remember
ETA Khalid Osman attended a wedding party for his counterpart’s family, Ibu Saras. The day started at the crack of dawn as he helped prepare wedding preparations. Over the next few hours, Khalid welcomed guests and bonded with the groom on his big day. Around 10 o’clock the bulk of the 1,600 guests had arrived.. Read More.
The Giving Tree
The week following up to Thanksgiving, ETA Nageen Sherani and students from her English Club and Conversation Group read a children’s short story called “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. The book, in part, was selected to convey the larger themes surrounding the American holiday such as giving and gratefulness. Post-reading, Nageen asked the students.. Read More.
Giving Thanks
ETA Amy Quirion celebrated Thanksgiving with her students on Thursday, November 23rd. Although it was hard being away from family, her students and teachers made it a memorable day. Amy taught her students the meaning behind Thanksgiving and what it means to be thankful. They had activities that talked about showing gratefulness and being thankful for.. Read More.
