Tears in the Field : Absolute Delight - loving the Indonesian Way of Life

After being here a while, I thought it would be interesting for you to share some "Indonesian" living experiences.

As a mom and wife, I found myself struggling a bit with my place here when we first moved. As uncomfortable as it was to have an Indonesian helper in my home then - it is such a godsend now. The number one reason is laundry! To help you understand what I mean:
- stop reading now
- walk over to your dryer and give it a big hug. Don't be shy, hug it for at least 30 seconds.

There you go - feel the love.

Here is my dryer -

Don't be jealous. No big deal, right? Just a little sacrifice of luxury. True. If not for my Indonesian helper who is here in the morning to do as pictured above, I am left with this:

Ok - not that extreme - although these are actual photos of laundry drying in Indonesia - we don't have near as much. BUT - praise God for my helper who will get it all in before I return home from school and before the rain comes each afternoon.

Praise God this is not what I have to do... but it is common for many. (Keep in mind, this is also the place where their sewage is dumped since a sewer system is uncommon in the villages - it also works for many as their bathtub.)

Speaking of rain.... most of the year we experience what is referred to as rainy season. Each day about 3pm it begins and continues through the night. It makes for interesting living. You have to learn how to work around it. Without helpers, clothes never get dry and start to mildew.

And believe me - you DO NOT want to be the smelly, mildewy person at the table!

As well, travel is harder. We live in a country that laughs at the American idea of traffic. What I would have referred to as traffic 5 years ago I now consider a good traffic flow. Oh how I long to weave back in forth in my large lane that others do not invade....

The majority travel by motor bike - imagine that in the rain every day on your commute home.

When sitting in traffic you will quickly become surrounded - motor bikes do not play by normal traffic rules - well, who does here? They weave in and out of every spare inch of space - it can feel claustrophobic.

Traffic here is such an issue it has created a job force...

You will see so many men and women who have started their own store in a cardboard box that they carry with them. Have you been sitting for an hour in traffic? Thirsty? No worries - you can buy bottled water for about $.50.

Are even better - are you a smoker (heaven forbid :/) - run out of smokes? No worries, they will sell you a SINGLE cigarette from their cardboard box store for about the same.

Running low on gas in traffic? Not to worry - again - just wave one of these guys over and let them know your dilemma. They will gladly go or find someone to run fill up one of those old water bottles with a bit of gas to get you though the traffic. Just pay them a bit of a finders fee - they are there for your convenience. :D However - if the traffic is too much - take a rickshaw. They go where cars fear to tread and get you there for about $1.

Ok - it is raining - you don't want to deal with traffic? Almost EVERYTHING delivers. This bike with the blue box on the back is a laundry service that picks up and delivers. You can also get KFC, McDonalds, Pizza - hey I have seen people on these motorbikes with goats, chickens, you name it.

But with the traffic also opens the door for those who beg. Whether they are trying to make it day by day, handicapped, or children - who are most often being used and exploited and many times even forced to beg. They are there - always. This was a hard thing for us to grapple with when we first came - what is our responsibility?

This cutie's sales pitch is most effective - how can you say no?

Travel for a family of four - feeling like giving it a try?

This is often seen - kids get tired - even from begging. It is hard to see.

Flash flooding can be a problem - this man has a restaurant on wheels - just in case you are hungry while sitting in traffic - or a flood.

Yes this small girl is running over in the crazy traffic for money - after five years it has become so normal to see - and that makes me a bit sad.

But the rain is good for farming - so many rely on farming to feed their families and make their very small salaries.

And the kids will often play - naked. Hey, why not?

But oh the beauty of this country. Laundry, traffic, flooding aside - we are in a place that is an obvious fingerprint of God. There are sacrifices - but the view is out of this world.... so are the beautiful people...