Sunday night, things went downhill... After a walk around Bedulu, my host mother asked if I wanted to try Sate Ayam or a form of chicken sold by street vendors. Feeling adventurous I agreed. The Ayam was delicious. However, my stomach became very sick.
After visiting the doctor a couple days later it is possible I have a form of food poisoning or that the spices simply did not agree with my body.
Regardless, the trip continues. On Monday we began our art projects. I took a jewelry making class and have almost completed a ring. I am to return sometime this week.
On Tuesday we visited a mask maker and he showed us how the wood masks are carved and sculpted. We also visited a puppet maker. He told stories and how you must change your voice.
Finally we visited our Academic Director, Bu Ary's home. She took another student and myself to the doctor.
Wednesday was an exciting day. We took a trip to the Neka art museum. I now want to take a painting class while in Bali as part of my art project. After the museum we changed clothes and attended a Hindu cremation processional to the cemetery. It was elaborate and different from anything I had ever seen.
example of Art at the Neka museum
cremation procession
Friday was the beginning of a great Birthday weekend. I received a scarf, card, and cake from the SIT staff. The card was signed by everyone including the students. After class, all students (except one sick student) went into Ubud for a Mexican lunch and then had a massage of their choice. I had a full body 1 hour long aromatherapy massage and then a pedicure. The total price was under $20 for the two combined. I spent the evening with my host family.
Saturday morning we met at the center at 9am and drove 1 hour to the town Sanur. We stayed in a small nice hotel and celebrated my birthday. We spent the afternoon on the beach and by the pool. That evening we started at an organic lounge that had two live singers. We made our way around the town visiting 3 more lounges with live bands. It was a great night. Sanur is in no way a party town. However it is a tourist town attracting older, mostly Australian couples. We met some great people. One couple gave us their business card and offered a place to stay if we decided to visit Australia. At every lounge Happy Birthday was sung for me. In Bali it is a tradition to line up and shake the hand of whomevers Birthday it is. I shook a lot of hands. We all enjoyed the night and I even attempted to teach some of the northerners how to shag. BTW apparently I have a great accent... According to an Australian couple.
We also spoke with many of the artists that sang at the lounges. I spoke with one singer from Jakarta for a long time. I asked about her religious affiliation (assuming she was Muslim or Hindu) but she is a Christian. She has invited us to church in Bali when we return from Java. Several of the students have agreed to go with me. That is an experience I look forward to!
The next day we returned to Bedulu. My family had a birthday celebration and I had another cake! My home stay father had a baker at the hotel he works at make a fancy cake for me. My little sisters wanted to pretend it was their birthday after mine so we relit the candles.
Adik Putu digging into the cake
partially eaten cake
For the next two weeks we will be in Java. (another island in Indonesia) I will be living with a Muslim family and attending lectures at the local university. We are even responsible for preparing a presentation for a cross cultural discussion with local students. My topic is the social relationship Americans have with tourists and immigrants in America. Since all most of what these students know is based on the movies, it is important to represent America well. Although we think the movies are unrealistic, I did base everything I knew about Bali before coming on Eat, Pray, Love...
Dah-Dah
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