On my daily walk through the Kampong (Neighborhood) today I was chased by a couple of geese.  First they didn’t want me to pass and than, when I followed a motorcycle, they chased me.  Such ferocious watch dogs they are!  They are much more scary than my dog, Klaartje, when the mail man comes to the door.

This is actually a good intro to describe my daily routine during the week and when I am in Semarang.  We, Erni, Iin and I, get up around 7.  Now that I am not so intimidated by my surroundings anymore I have started walking in the Kampong.  Since I am the only one who does this, I am stared at by the neighbors.  It probably doesn’t help that I stick out like a sore thumb since I am so much taller and contrary with what I have been told growing up, don’t look Indonesian at all according to locals.

After the walk I go and mandi (shower with a bucket of cold water) and than enjoy the scrumptious breakfasts made by Iin.  Today for example she made vegetables fritters.  Breakfast, by the way, is not eggs and whatever or cereal but often left overs from the night before made in something totally different.  For example, yesterday Iin made rice porridge from left over rice which she spices up ( literally) with pepper, cumin and yes sugar too.  When everybody is ready we join the swarm of motor cycle wasps going to Semarang.  It takes about 40 minutes. Often we drop of laundry on our way up and pick it up again the next day.

When I arrive at work I immediately fire up my computer to get all the social media communications I can only get when I am in a wifi zone.  Which I only have when I am at work.  That is not the fault of Indonesia but off Apple.  My iPhone 3 is not compatible with any of the apps except gmail.  And my apple computer does not recognize the long distance connection of the company.  Stupid Steve Job with his control issues.

At the end of the work day, around 6 pm, we go home or more likely do some errand or meet with friends/family of Iin’s.  They politely will talk in English for a bit but than they soon switch over to Bahasa of which I don’t understand very, very little.  Incidentally, at first I thought they were talking about me because I heard the word Tanja a lot.  However Tanya in Bahasa means question, questioning, question mark.  I guess that seems to be very appropriate?!

After satisfying my addiction, I start doing my job.  I am in charge of developing colors and painting techniques for their different products.  Lunch is usually served by Eki.  I think she picks it up at one of the many street vendors.  It is usually rice with some meat and a saucy vegetable and of course kroepoek (shrimp chips).  For drinks you get some water and  hot tea.  At the end of the day we do some errands