Project Plan Take 2

When I got to work on Monday this week, I was able to sit down with my supervisor and discuss my work plan. By discuss, I mean throw out what I originally planned and start from scratch. I was pretty sure that this was going to happen despite prior communication and planning.

I am pretty good at adapting to the unexpected at work if any of the stories from previous jobs are to be believed … the time I had to sharpen 500 pencils two at a time, or the several times I have broken shredders, lets not forget waxing the clothing racks, transferring a box of floppy disks onto the server, or dressing like a pirate!

Previous work stories aside, I am excited about my new project as it blends nicely with my interest in advocacy. I will be developing a resource guide and manual for the one-on-one coaching program with female politicians in Indonesia. The background research has been interesting and I am learning a lot about the challenges of political quotas and democracy in the developing world. I wondering if there will be a humorous work story from this summer to add to archives.

In other office news we got three new coworkers this week. Three kittens have claimed the office garage as their home. One thing I have noticed about Jakarta is the abundance of cats roaming the streets. Don't worry Jeff, none are as cute as the booboos.

The Booboos.

A taxi, a bus, a train, and an angkot

Yesterday started off with a taxi ride to the morning cake market. There were cakes, pastries, and savory treats galore. It was a feast for both my eyes and tastes buds. While maybe not the healthiest breakfast, it certainly was tasty. 

Making fresh cakes. These had meat inside.

Chocolate, need I say more.

Alex before trying green mystery cake!

After the cake market Alex and I jumped on a Transjakarta Bus to Monas and Gambir Station. The Transjakarta Busway is the city's attempt at mass transit. We didn't stop for long at Monas as we were trying to get to Bogor. It is something to come back to as there are many sights around the monument, including the largest Mosque in Jakarta.

After a couple of wrong turns and attempts at directions we made it to the train station. We almost got on the wrong train, but eventually made it on to the train to Bogor. 

View of Jakarta from train platform.

Upon  arriving in Bogor, we stopped at the Tourist Information Office for a map and some directions. Unfortunately those directions were a little off, left really meant right, so maybe the walk took a little longer than 15 minutes. Eventually, we arrived at the Botanic Gardens. While taking a water break on a shady bench, we were approached by an English Club who interviewed us. 

After the Botanic Gardens, we boarded an angkot to the Gong Factory. An angkot is a green minibus that seats 10 people. Though the Gong Factory was closed, we did get to see some of the gongs. 

Finally, it was time to make the journey back to Jakarta which was an angkot, a train, a bus, and then a taxi!

First Week

It is almost the end of my first week here in Jakarta. It is hard to believe the time is going so fast. The week has been filled with some great new experiences, some harrowing experiences, and some familiar experiences.

The new experiences mainly revolve around food. The first day at the office we went to a Sundanese restaurant. It is a West Javanese cuisine characterized as rich and spicy. I can't actually tell you what I ate as food names continue to be a slight mystery to me. The second day we went to a Padang restaurant, a West Sumatran cuisine. Though delicious, I can't remember what I ate (I will have to be better at taking pictures). Wednesday was Balinese food. Finally a dish I remember … ribs. Lunch consisted of beef ribs, rices, and a spicy broth. Yesterday was Indonesian noodles. As I was ordering I quickly learned from my coworker that Indonesia has many types of noodles. Todays lunch adventure is TBD.

The harrowing experience consists of having to cross Wolter Monginsidi everyday. It is a three lane road that has a constant stream of cars, buses, and ojeks (motorbikes). It is a little bit like playing frogger, but you are the frog.

The familiar … RED VELVET CAKE!!! Yesterday we got more standup comedy in the office. My coworker was being filmed for a tv spot and needed an audience. As a thank you, he got the office cake. I had to explain red velvet cake, beyond delicious. It was thought to be strawberry cake because of the red color. I think I alarmed some people when I mentioned the use of vinegar in the cake. It was a nice reminder of home.

Tonight is happy hour, and this weekend is exploring the city with a fellow intern Alex.

Dinner on a toilet and so much more

A lot has happened since my last post. I started work. I found more permanent housing. I have tried many new Indonesian dishes, most of which I do not know the name of. I purchased an Indonesian cell phone using my very limited Bahasa and a lot of charades. I am slowly overcoming my jet lag (the pictures below reveal me at the worst of my jet lag).

Last night was my first foray into a Jakarta mall. I went to go see a coworker perform in a standup comedy show. Before the show we went to dinner at Nanny's Pavilion Bathroom. Yes, bathroom. The decor of this restaurant is made to look like the inside of a house, complete with toilet seats. After eating dinner on a toilet seat I will say it is not the most comfortable way to eat dinner.

After dinner we went to see a coworker perform in a standup comedy show. I also got to have an American cultural experience. The show was held at @America, a cultural center where you can learn about and experience a little of the United States. The comedy show was to promote diversity. Here is the link to the video of the show, don't worry it is mainly in English. My coworker, Reggy, is the last comedian to perform before the Q&A session. 

All in all it has been a good first few days in Indonesian. I am slowly adjusting to all the traffic, but not so much to the heat. 

Worlds Away

After less than 24 hours in Jakarta it is abundantly clear that I am worlds away from my comfort zone. The last time I lived in a country where I did not speak the language I was 6 years old. Needless to say my parents took care of everything.

Things I have discovered so far:

• I can walk in what I think is a straight line and end up back where I started. At least I can find my hotel. The other places I am looking for not so much. The streets in Jakarta are only occasionally labeled and do not resemble any sort of grid. I definitely got several laughs from the food vendors I passed three times as I tried to find my way to the office. Luckily this was just a practice run for tomorrow. 
• Even the few words I have learned in Bahasa Indonesian throw me off. I understand the general greetings … Selamat Pagi (Good Morning), yet whenever anyone said that to me today they got a blank stare for about 5 seconds before anything processed. I am sure this will get better with time, but for now I am woefully lost. 

On the other hand, I tried Nasi Goreng last night. It is Indonesia's version of fired rice. As my first foray into Indonesian food I am excited to try more dishes. I managed to go to the store buy water and biscuits without incident. I decided to try a new biscuit though there were Tim Tams, an Australian biscuit that I almost lived on last summer when I was traveling in Down Under.

I think it might be time for a nap. Thanks to jet lag I woke up at 3 am this morning.

Bon Voyage Berkeley

 I have spent the past two days in Berkeley visiting my bother. My first day was spent walking all around Berkeley. We strolled through campus which provided my brother a great opportunity to tell me  how much better UC Berkeley is than the Clinton School. Even while tuning out his commentary I did get to enjoy many sites and tastes in Berkeley include: a cup of coffee from Philz (it is brewed one cup at a time, the tesoro with mint was quite good), a piece of pizza from the Cheeseboard (the flavor of the day include roasted potatoes and key lime, my verdict is still out on this pizza combination), and the view from the Berkeley Rose Garden. The picture on the right is the Campanile on campus.

Today was taken up exploring the sites in San Francisco. Below are some of the pictures from the day. It was a little sad to say goodbye to my brother and board the BART (train) for SFO, but I am excited to be on my way.

My brother did leave me with one thing to think about on the 14 hour flight to Hong Kong … what are my goals for my time in Indonesia, and more importantly what is my plan to accomplish them? Maybe I will contemplate this after I sleep on the plane.

At the end of my first year

As I scramble to write an integrative learning paper, prepare a group oral presentation on Nicaragua, answer the questions on a program evaluation final exam, analyze the inner workings of a political campaign, and finish a policy brief on Indonesian forest management policies all before I board a plane next Tuesday, I find myself reflecting on what an amazing year this has been. This time last year I was packing up my life to move to Arkansas, with a small detour for an Australian vacation. Since then I have:

•  Met 35 amazing classmates, more if you include Class 6. This experience would not be the same without the passionate people who make up my class.
• Completed a needs assessment on sustainable businesses thanks to my fellow practicum team members. 
• Baked too many cookies to count.
• Worked on a candidates political campaign for state representative. 
• Co-captained a kickball team (pretty amazing if you know what a klutz I am).
• Introduced two amazing speakers and listened to many more. 
• Spent the night at the Heifer Ranch learning about world hunger.
• Taught nutrition and cooking in an after-school program.
• Completed 28 credit hours!

Looking back I am amazed out how quickly time has passed. I am also excited for all the adventures to come during the summer. I guess it is time to finish that last logic model. 

IRB Approval!

Today, in between writing a program evaluation plan and developing a brief on decriminalizing prostitution, I received exciting news … my project received IRB approval.

If you asked me six months ago about the IRB, you would have received a blank stare. IRB or institutional review board is a process researchers must undergo to protect human subjects. This year is the first time the Clinton School is requiring all IPSPs to receive IRB approval. Lets just say there are definitely some growing pains as the school and student learn how to navigate this process.

I am happy to say that I have successfully navigated the month-long process to receive approval.

Now back to writing my program evaluation final project.

Two weeks til ...

Hello,

It is two weeks until I leave Little Rock for my summer adventure living and working in Indonesia. As part of my graduate program at the Clinton School of Public Service, I will spend the summer working at Search For Common Ground completing an International Public Service Project (IPSP). While I would love to write more, I need to finish all my papers due in the next two weeks before I can actually leave.

Check back for regular updates about what happens as I spend 77 days on my 7th continent!