Cultural Adaptations - Mold Reduction

I apologize for the few weeks that have passed since our last cultural adaptation post. We'll call our 3-week hiatus our "sick leave." We are all healthy again, or almost there. :)

Well, while I am sitting at my computer screen trying to decide what cultural adaptation to share with you this week, it is raining outside...did I say raining?...I meant pouring. It still amazes me how much water can fall from the sky at one time. Within minutes our "street" is no longer a street, but is a small river about 4 inches deep. Easily, if someone wanted to, they could take a shower in the rain here. I'm not complaining, in fact, I actually love the rain...I always have. Yes, it's cloudy and overcast when it rains but it is refreshing, the air is cooler, and it makes everything greener. The rain has always reminded me of God. Yes, during the rain it is dark, ugly, and messy (our trials), but once the rain has stopped, and the sun shines once again, the air is cleaner, the sky is an incredible shade of blue, the grass is vibrant green, all the dirt has been washed away, and all is clean and fresh (God's grace, the hope in the midst of trials, and His promise to make all things new again). I love the rain, because I love the One it reminds me of.

Ok, back to my point...it is pouring outside. Living in the tropics definitely has its advantages: warmer climate and the beautiful scenery, but the tropics also have tropical weather...lots of rain. Lots of rain brings humidity, humidity brings moisture, moisture brings mold. Mold is an issue in the tropics. If you have air-conditioning, then it's not a problem. But, for those of us who do not, mold is a problem. It grows everywhere and on everything...its on our kids stuffed animals (they constantly smell musty), its on their toys, its on our furniture, its on our food canisters, and its also on our clothes in our lemaris. So, to help reduce (notice I say reduce, not prevent) mold from growing on our clothes, we place a heat lamp and fan in our lemari. This is appreciated by all, as you don't want to be known as the one who constantly smells like mold. :) So, for you Ohioans who are not big snowy-weather fans, rejoice in the fact that the cold, dry air is your friend as it keeps the yucky mold away!

I've decided to change the lyrics to the popular children's song about rain:
"Mold, Mold, go away, you're really gross, please leave today!"

Picture of some mold growing in our cabinet


Our heat lamp and fan in our lemari.

Onward we go!

Today we had our evaluation for Unit 5. We both passed - YAY! So we were handed our book for our next unit!



So, what is involved in an evaluation at our school? Glad you asked...

During an evaluation, each student will sit across the table from two instructors who take copious notes throughout the evaluation. The evaluation begins with the student opening in prayer - in Indonesian, of course! Then the questions begin to fly; from the student's thoughts and feelings about how they did during class, to relationships with neighbors and friends, to common cultural mistakes that they continue to make, etc.. Then the instructors will often test the student on the grammar that was taught that month. And sometimes the instructors will have the student read a story to listen to pronunciation and to check reading skills. Once the questioning is completed, the evaluation is over. They will then give the student his/her strengths and weaknesses that they observed from the evaluation - hopefully the student understands what is being said, if not, they will have to wait for a couple weeks to receive the written results of their evaluation. And then the best part...a week off from studying! Ahhhh!

Selamat beristirahat! (translated: Happy resting!)

My Big Brother is Getting Married!

Today, my brother, Lance, is getting married! YAY! I am sad that I will be missing this, as I would love to be there to watch my brother get married. But I am certainly rejoicing with Him from afar (I want pictures - and Catelyn wants to see her Aunt Lisette in her "princess dress"!)! Blessings to you both, Lance & Lisette, may this day (and the many years to follow) be filled with indescribable joy! Enjoy your time away together on your honeymoon!!! :)

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Smith! :)

The "Loaner"

So, we thought "the loaner" cars in America were pretty bad. But I think the one Corey got handed to use for the day while his motorcycle's tire got replaced may get the award for The Most Embarrassing, Emasculating, and What-Was-The-Owner-Thinking-When-They-Bought-This loaner bike! I'm a girl, and I admit that I was even embarrassed to be riding on the BARBIE bike! Corey said that he wouldn't have minded driving the Barbie Corvette if they had given him that!

My Turn!

Catelyn loves her sister, Ella, so much that she likes to share everything with her...including her illnesses. While Catelyn is starting to do better, it's now Ella's turn to be sick. So, now we'd love for you to pray for Ella to get better quickly. She's a funny sick girl, she goes from one extreme to another throughout the day - absolute silliness to I'm-gonna-scream-about-everything-for-the-next-twenty-minutes. That's our funny and adorable little Ella. :)