Week 1: Introduction to Semarang-Navigated several foreign airports and one hotel
-Visited downtown Semarang multiple times
-Been given much information on what to do, what not to do, what to expect, and how to deal with it
-Ridden shotgun on a motorbike in a city where motorbikes are far more common than cars, and are certainly the authority
-Gone to a traditional market and shyly and pathetically attempted to bargain for a bit of fruit and a pair of sandals
-Been part of a disagreement between Indonesians and foreigners over an angkot fare (I'll explain what an angkot is later, but it's a form of public transportation). (Actually, I shouldn't say I was part of it, I really just stood there. Again, more on that later).
-Spent a day in the Yogasmara Special Needs School and met all of the teachers and students
Week 2: Cultural Heritage Work Camp
-Lived in a little village towards the south of central Java-Toured, learned about, and helped to restore 1200-year-old temples
-Learned to play the bonang, a traditional Indonesian instrument
-Went for my first run in-country, between the fields of tobacco and chili
-(shout out to the Austin Beer Run Club in helping me prepare for running in the humidity!)
-Attended a wonderful ballet describing the myth of Rama and Shinta (more on that later)
-Learned to do my laundry by hand-Made spaghetti and sauce with Indonesian ingredients
-Made friends from all over Indonesia, as well as from Tunisia and Egypt
I won't tell all of these stories, but hopefully that give you a taste of life here so far. I will certainly expand later where necessary, but for now I'll just describe the transition process so far and put any worries you have to rest.
On one hand, the transition has been fairly easy, though it is still ongoing. At this point, my body hasn't had any problems with the food, environment, or atmosphere, though I am still waiting for that shoe to drop. The language barrier hasn't been too much of a problem yet either, since nearly everyone I have been around thus far has known English. That will change very shortly when I move to my project tomorrow, but I have also become used to Indonesian being spoken around me. Jet lag hasn't been a problem either; in fact, I've tried to use it to my advantage. I've woken up after 7am only once. I'm trying to make it a good habit, albeit an attempt to change a life-long preference of sleeping in. We'll see what happens. 
I certainly don't mean to act like it's been all sunshine and rainbows (although technically, it's been 100% sunshine and 0% rain or rainbows). I have been homesick several times. My very first night in Semarang, I awoke with a spllitting headache. Naturally, I missed my own bed and, yes, my mother. During the work camp in the village, somebody put on various scenes from the Sound of Music. I grew up with that movie, so, naturally, I missed home. But the point is I'm doing alright; things could be much much worse.
I promise next post will be much less about me and much more about the stories I have to tell. There are already many concepts and parts of life here that I want to describe, and to elaborate on how different many things are, or how similar. I look forward to sharing them with you.
