Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Indonesian Independence Day- August 17

This past Friday was a national holiday in Indonesia. August 17th is Independence Day. On Friday my roommate and I and some others went to the Kampung (translation: the neighborhood where the local people live). We visited our pembantu and some other people's helpers, who invited us into their homes and offered us something to eat. It was a world of difference to go and see where our pembantu lives and meet her family. Her name is Ibu Lilis. Her, her husband and two children share one small bedroom and have a living room that must only be 5 feet by 5 feet. It was very small to have all of us there visiting. But they were so happy that we came and gave us their best. Ibu Lilis made fresh, delicious cinnamon rolls and had fresh strawberries. These are definitely not things she would have had if we were not coming, but a special treat for the westerners.

From a different part of the city (up on a bridge) here is an aerial view of the kampung.


My roommate Emma and I with Ibu Lilis (our helper), visting her on Independence Day.


The Sung family (Jeannie the mom is the school's new Elementary Principle), hired Ibu Lilis's husband to be their driver. Along with the Sung family you can see Ibu Lilis, her husband, and their son Ramadan.

The view out from Ibu Lilis's unfinished second story/roof.

The view again, pretty incredible.

At the side of their house, Ibu Lilis and her family have a personal well so if (rather when) the city shuts off the water they have an endless supply.

It's pretty deep.

Our friend Aaron with his pembantu who we also visited.

1 comment:

Arijaan Bulk said...

LOVE all the pictures, thanks for taking the time to do that. I am praying for good rest this weekend and an excitement for the start of a new week "on the other side". Miss Clauson, I am so stinkin' proud of you. Miss you lots!