Weddings and Funerals

I finally have some time to relax after a couple of really, really busy weeks! I went to a traditional wedding with my host mom and got to get all dressed-up Indonesian style. The weddings here (at least in my region) are super elaborate, and are mostly paid for entirely by the bride's family. All of the guests kind of stand around, eating cakes, drinking tea and congratulating the couple. 

And I just got back yesterday from Toraja! It was about an eight hour drive up to the center of Sulawesi before my family and I arrived but it was well worth it! In Makassar, where I live, it's not nearly as modern as Chicago but there are movie theaters, malls and stuff but in Toraja is completely different. There are no McDonalds or chain restaurants (thank goodness), only small family-owned places to sit down and grab some nasi goreng (fried rice) or mie bakso (noodles with meatballs). Nearly all of the Torajan people still live in very traditional houses, with long, arching roofs layered with palm leaved on high platformed beams to protect them from the rainy seasons. All of the food I ate their I either picked from the front yard; papaya, mango, banana, or bought at the local market; fresh fish and rice. 

In Toraja, they really prize buffalo. Every few months, there is a buffalo fight in the soccer field where all the town gathers to watch. It was kind of a strange thing for me to see as a Westerner, but a really neat experience that I got to share with the locals. 

The last day that I was in Toraja, my family and I drove high up into the mountain to see the caves. The Torajan people lay their dead to rest in theses caves, and there are some families that have ancestors there dating back hundreds of years. It's a really interesting insight into the culture- seeing how they view life/death. It was a little strange to see bones just laying around everywhere in the caves, but once I got over my initial hesitation I had a really neat time hearing my host mom's friend (who is Torajan, and guided us through the caves) explain which family the groups of bones came from and their stories. 

The view from the mountains was incredible, the mountains were layered with rice fields  and their canopies filled with monkeys and birds of every color. I feel so lucky to be where I am! 

In three weeks, I have my inbound Rotary orientation with all of the other exchange students who are here in Indonesia. I can't wait to meet them and hear all of their stories, and I'm especially excited to see my friends. 

Everything is going really well for me right now! In nearly one month I'll be switching to my second host family, which is crazy to think about! I can't believe I'm nearly 1/3 finished with my exchange. It's all going by way too fast. 

Selamat!