so monday got up at at around 445 because i couldnt sleep anymore because i was pretty excited to start my adventure.. so got up did the normal morning routine and then left for the angkot terminal to meet everyone.. i was the first one there of course and but thankfully i didnt have to stand around that long before some other people showwed up.. and then the confusion began..
so we were told to meet AT the terminal but we werent really sure if that meant at the ternminal or across the street so about 10 of us walked over to the terminal and waited and of course i text one of the cfs and they say yeah the terminal but so far only one other person has walked over to our group so i call erin and ask her what to do and she says shes across the street and half of our group is there.. so we walk back over and halfway there we see one of the cfs.. its funny what different people mean by meet at the terminal.. i would assume its at the actual place.. but i think sometimes people have their own ideas..
so we get on an angkot and the ride takes like 50 minutes to get to the bus station.. it was the longest angkot ride yet.. by the time we got there we were all ready to get on the bus and stretch out.. so we find our bus with a little help from the cfs and we get on..
the ride was nice and short and thankfully air conditioned.. we sat in the way back in a big seat since there was 4 of us going.. i got a few pictures of the scenery in the ride in.. it was ncie to see a little bit more of indonesia besides the two cities i am right in the middle of..
so we get to probolinggo and immediately are accosted by all these people asking us where we want to go.. its really annoying and we just say no thanks, no thanks since most of them are asking us if we want to go to bromo.. we find sarah who is a current volunteer and she was gunna take us to meet up with gio who was still teaching.. we got into a little mini bus and took about a 45 minute ride close to where Gio lived and then me and erin got off and met gio by the side of the road.. then we got in a becak, which is kinda like a bike with a little wagon on the front and took a 10 minute ride to her house.. it was pretty neat.. she lives really close to the city so she can go into it whenever she needs anything and she has a bike.. its interesting, here in malang and batu almost no one has a bike but a ton of people had bikes where gio lived.. it was also a lot cleaner.. its probably the cleanest place i have seen in indonesia thus far.. they have garbage cans every where which is really really nice..
so we get to gios, get the tour of her house, which is really really nice, and then we went exploring.. we got es degan which is just like coconut juice with shavings of coconut in the glass and then afterwards we ventured out to find some food.. we went to this really cool place that gio says she usually goes to when she goes out and then we went on an adventure to the harbor.. its pretty neat.. probolinggo is really really close to the ocean.. kinda just felt like i was on lake erie though.. doesnt really feel like an island.. i never feel like im on an island here..
but i got some pictures and it was nice to feel the breeze.. we went back to here house took a mandi (which was a lot warmer than the water in malang) and then had some food and went outside for a little bit to talk with her family.. around 8ish we went in went to bed.. i woke up in the middle of the night convinced it was morning because the room was so bright.. i checked my phone an it said 10 and i was like no way i have only been asleep for like 2 hours.. so i turn on my other phone and it says ten too and im like im losing my mind! its bright outside.. so i lift my head a little bit and there i see it.. its a light thats on in the hall.. i just drove myself crazy over a light bulb.. haha so i fall back asleep and then its morning and around 8 we wnt to school..
it was nice for breakfast we didnt have to eat regular food.. we had an apple and some bread and gio said she usually has fruit or oatmeal and i cannot wait to start that in the next house.. it was fine in the beginning eating regular food for breakfast but i cant handle that all the time.. it just gets monontonous.. but its nice to see you can change some things if you ask.. and now that i know enough of the language to get that across, i can start right out in my next family..
but anyways we we went to school and then went to one teachers class while gio prepared her other class.. we got to see how her counter part teaches and it was a pretty typical lesson.. a lot like the teaching at MAN 2 Batu.. we then sat through a couple speeches some students had in preparation for a speach contest.. it was nice hearing students speak english and it being loud and clear, for the most part.. i think usually they are just so quiet.. after that we went to two classes with gio and watched her review with jeopardy.. we also got interviewed by the students which was the same as it usually is.. what do you like about indonesia, whats your favorite indonesian food.. usually if erin spoke before me she would say everything that i was going to say so i kept my mouth shut a lot haha.. tends to happen to me more often than not.. but ohhh well.. i dont really mind..
so after class (which ended at 120) we went and got lunch in the canteen which was awesome.. it was so good.. and then we had english club.. it started late since indonesians almost always run on their own time haha but it was fun.. we went on a scavenger hunt and we (erin and i) talked about american culture and stuff we do at home.. it was fun.. afterwards we went home changed and then went out for ice cream down the street..
tried my first magnum bar.. and wow.. real chocolate and real ice cream.. it was awesome.. it was only like a dollar and some change in US dollars but its the most expensive ice cream bar here.. but it was worth it.. it was hot and it was probably the most delicious thing i have had yet.. now i know why my friend mike raves about them..
so after that we went home and it was already pretty late.. we mandi, ate and then sat around.. it was a relaxing night.. and then next morning i got up at like 545 because i couldnt sleep anymore so i just took a mandi and got ready for the day and then around 6 we were all up getting ready to leave.. left gios house around 630 and then made it to the bus station around 730ish.. we had to wait about 20 minutes for the other two people but they got there and they were so ready to go.. from comparing experiences it seems like they had a wayyyy different time.. they had fun and laughed a lot but it made them think about the whole experience and i think they both got a little nervous for the site announcment tomorrow..
which i felt just an nervous even though i had a great time.. gio and sarah are only like an hour away from each other but thats still pretty far.. the more i think about it the more i hope that i am close to someone.. or else i may be getting pretty homesick for americans haha.. but we will see.. im not going to pass any judgements on my experience through this experience because everyones is different.. its just going to be tough learning how to be without all my friends.. and i love saying that since a lot of these people have become my friends.. its gunna suck when we all have to leave each other.. i hope im close to some awesome people though.. but i cant think about it! i dont want to have my hopes raised..
one day at a time..
so now im home.. i took a two hour nap but im still really tired.. im probably just gunna read for an hour take a mnadi eat and then around 630 go to bed.. cannot wait to use the interent tomorrow.. not that i have much to expect but its been over a week.. and i love reading the few emails i do get everyday..
well i gotta go..
love you all :)
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