This past Tuesday marked the transition into a new year for Muslims around the world. Happy 1432! In my village that meant no school...and a parade featuring marching bands from the Islamic schools in the area, a group of approximately 50 ten-year old boys who would be circumcised the following day, and members of the local transgendered community in full traditional Javanese drag. The latter completely caught me off guard, but Bu S has promised one of our Sunday morning bike rides to further explore this seemingly paradoxical scenario seeing as how I live in an tremendously conservative community.
Prior to the parade Bu S and I had been offered an invitation to one of her former students’ homes in order to learn how to make klempon, a traditional Javanese snack. Since I’m not really allowed to cook at my homestay, I jumped on the opportunity to get messy in the kitchen and learn about local cuisine.
Part of the Indonesian English curriculum is teaching ‘Procedural Text’. So in tribute to this semester coming to a close, I thought I’d honor those teachings with a photo documentary presented in Procedural Text format.
1. Press the grains of green rice then sift into a fine powder.
2. Preheat the wood fire stove in preparation to boil water. 
3. Knead the green rice, flour, sugar, green food coloring, salt, and coconut milk into dough-like consistency. 
4. Grind the Javanese sugar into a softer, more moldable mound. 
5. Take a clump of dough approximately the size of a teaspoon, roll into a ball, and flatten in the palm of your hand.
7. Once you have finished with all of the dough, place the balls in boiling water. Transfer into cooler water.
9. Roll in shredded coconut.
I know it’s kind of vague, and this is probably the closest I’ll get to holiday baking, but I still enjoyed every minute of it…despite the occasional difficulties (i.e. uneven sized balls, sugar centers being exposed prematurely, green dye being splashed about). But most importantly, the end product was quite delicious, and I spent the morning with a wonderful family. A family who does this every day- without fail- in order to keep food on the table.
That house and family were more of how I pictured my PC experience. Being involved in traditional cooking, using a wood fire stove, sitting around laughing rather than silent in front of a TV, meeting the neighbors and feeling immediately like a part of the community. At least I am fortunate enough to experience days like this when I go on weekly adventures with Bu S.
Semester exams were postponed the following day so that the teachers could participate in Jalan Santai. That morning I met my fellow teachers at the school so we could carpool to Mojokerto. Low and behold, a brand new sports uniform was waiting for me! The importance of this may be difficult to communicate with mere words, but I’m undoubtedly still going to try. Sports uniforms in Indonesia are not only unflattering, long sleeved, and made of material that doesn’t breathe, but they always come in the most vibrant colors- neon green or orange, bright pink, etc. Most of the other volunteers already have their school’s sports uniform, and I’ve fancied one of these coveted treasures since the first day I started teaching. Looks like the new year brought me luck: mustard yellow top, black pants with bright yellow racing stripes, and everything trimmed in red. When we walked together, we kind of resembled the German flag.
This particular Jalan Santai is a once-a-year walking event where all of the Islamic schools in Mojokerto are represented…each in their own, unique, pulsating sports clothes. It was great! It was really nice to spend time with the teachers outside of school. Afterwards I went ‘out to lunch’ and shopping with some of the teachers…still in our mustard uniforms. It was nice to be reminded that I’m a normal person capable of having a regular social life. But today it’s back to school and the start of exams. Good luck to all of the students at MAN!
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