So we begin our first week of classes at Atma Jaya University, a Catholic university about a 15 minute walk from our kos. Indonesians do not really walk anywhere and seem confused as to why us Westerners refuse taxis and motorbikes and instead chose to stroll. There are no rules on the streets and you can pretty much walk hugging the shoulder, and the bikes and cars will just go around. To cross the road you simply walk into traffic and wave your hand down to gesture to the cars to stop. Quite practical actually. So it's Monday, our first day. Renae, a lovely girl living across the hall, and I had a quick brekkie of bread and fruit and headed out onto the street. After two weeks of walking this route every day I am sure we will be the neighbourhood celebrities. Our walk takes us across the busy Prof. Dr. Satrio street, then we cut through and take a small road which passes some absolutely foul and stagnant water, shacks and small businesses.
This morning we had a four hour language course, and I of course was in heaven. Having studied a little bit before, most of it was review, but it was good practice. Some of us will pick it pretty quickly, while it may take a while for others. After a free lunch, we had a two hour lecture on Indonesian political structure, learning the makeup of the government, how the Constitution has changed, as well as current issues facing the nation. We were all getting a little groggy towards the end but I feel like I have a good grounding in the basic background of Indonesian manic bureaucracy, as well as the imbedded corruption. The president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY for short), for instance, has some 34 cabinet members, as well as 20 deputy ministers. As the lecturer stated, we can't expect instant change after some forty years of dictatorship. Indonesia is also ranked #124 on the UN's Human Development Index (HDI), a measurement of many factors such as health, education, and GNP. Australia is #2 and the US is #4. We got to ask some questions at the end as well. Renae, my kos-mate, is travelling to Aceh when the two weeks are over, to work on a microfinance project. Aceh is on the farthest tip of Sumatra, and the site of the worst tsunami damage. It is now under sharia law and killings occur daily. West Papua is the other site of the most strife, as the movement for independence is still strong. All interesting stuff. Tomorrow is another full day of language class, then a lecture on economic trends, so for a dork like me, I am in heaven :)
So just walk out there and go for it!
Then you cross a bridge and are at the base of luxury apartment buildings with amazing pools, tennis courts, and security guards. That is the most surprising aspect of the city is that the rich and poor live side by side, practically on top of each other. Sure there are more affluent neighbourhoods, but there really is no divide.
Here you can see the contrast. At the left are the makeshift shacks and people living in filth, right beside the uber-wealthy.
Welcome to Atma Jaya Universitas!
Here's our uni! No smoking. In fact there is a public smoking ban in the whole city but no one follows it.
Some scenes from the uni, including the small jungle chapel.
And there are some squatter toilets on campus, taking me back to my Korean days. Just so you don't get confused, they give you some advice . . .
This morning we had a four hour language course, and I of course was in heaven. Having studied a little bit before, most of it was review, but it was good practice. Some of us will pick it pretty quickly, while it may take a while for others. After a free lunch, we had a two hour lecture on Indonesian political structure, learning the makeup of the government, how the Constitution has changed, as well as current issues facing the nation. We were all getting a little groggy towards the end but I feel like I have a good grounding in the basic background of Indonesian manic bureaucracy, as well as the imbedded corruption. The president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY for short), for instance, has some 34 cabinet members, as well as 20 deputy ministers. As the lecturer stated, we can't expect instant change after some forty years of dictatorship. Indonesia is also ranked #124 on the UN's Human Development Index (HDI), a measurement of many factors such as health, education, and GNP. Australia is #2 and the US is #4. We got to ask some questions at the end as well. Renae, my kos-mate, is travelling to Aceh when the two weeks are over, to work on a microfinance project. Aceh is on the farthest tip of Sumatra, and the site of the worst tsunami damage. It is now under sharia law and killings occur daily. West Papua is the other site of the most strife, as the movement for independence is still strong. All interesting stuff. Tomorrow is another full day of language class, then a lecture on economic trends, so for a dork like me, I am in heaven :)
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