We were met in Jakarta, albeit about a day early. I wanted to secure our airplane tickets before we left Jakarta so we could spend as much time in Indramayu as possible. Esih told her family where we were and they took it upon themselves to foil my plans, come early, and imposed themselves upon us. It was nice to see them but since I was footing the bill for everyone, I didn’t want to add days to the journey. Many Indonesians I have met believe foreigners have fat stacks of cash that they can use at their will. Comparing Americans to Indonesians I suppose they are right, on some level. Our situation of moving overseas and having sold everything we didn’t mail or carry made it important to watch funds though, however small. It also put the screws to us as we don’t know Jakarta very well and needed to get a fair price on tickets to America for 3. This was right when oil prices were through the roof (October, 2008) and ticket prices were higher than ever too.
I was nervous as I don’t speak Indonesian and Esih’s personality doesn’t make her a good guide. I don’t mean to disparage her; It appears many Indonesians are like this. For example, there was one time she refused to ask a question to a local about where the Taiwanese embassy was, and insisted that I did it, even though the man didn’t speak English. She was frustrated because we were hot, in a city we don’t know, and she gave up. That is the sort of dilemma I run into at times, and it is woefully aggravating. Sort of like banging your head on a wall or burning yourself. Nothing good can come of situations like that. The stress level associated with being in a foreign country, not speaking the language, and being “the man”, or I should say the one responsible for everything where most people are incapable, is very high. Not being able to do something a westerner might consider normal doesn’t appear to be an issue with my wife only. I believe it is inherent in the culture. There is something lacking when compared to the knowledge and motivational base of the average American. Most Indonesians have no idea how to get a visa, buy international airplane tickets, or even find a phone number to a government institution. It can be terribly frustrating if you need to do things like this. I’d also like to stress that it doesn’t make them bad people.
So, we were picked up by Esih’s father, Wardiman (referred to as Baba Wawang), her niece Yi Yin, Her brother in law Darwin who drove, and her cousin, a young boy named Anga. They rented an SUV and drove it to Jakarta, came to Jalan Jaksa where we were, waited around for us to get the airplane tickets and check out of out hotel, and then returned to Indramayu. It was about a 5 hour trip, and we were packed in like sardines with all the people and our luggage. Indonesian people have no concerns about overloading a vehicle. You will see many photos in the future on this site emphasizing this point, some to a ridiculous level.
Our journey to Esih’s family was underway, and we we tired and excited to settle in somewhere and relax after weeks of moving and planning. Changes were abound and I was ready to absorb as much about Indramyu life as I could. This story will paint a picture of a culture and a place that will shock and mystify you, as well as pulling the dramatic thread of my mother-in-law’s diabetes.
