Every country we have lived in has had it's own peculiarities and eccentricities. We were able to see a high worship season in Nepal during October last year... we saw "Father's Day" (aka King's Birthday) in Thailand as hundreds of thousands of Thai people dressed up in the same shirts and showed support for a bike race for their king. And now, in Indonesia, we are living through our first Idul Fitri.
The past month, during Ramadan, everyone around us, from language helpers to our house helper, to guards etc, have fasted from sun-up to sun-down. They do this to show how sorry they are for their sins. Each day is a mini sacrifice - and each day they conclude this time with a big meal to break their fast. This week, in Indonesia, a unique characteristic is that at the end of Ramadan, there is a day when everyone must go and ask forgiveness from their families. They see family you have not seen all year. They travel hundreds of miles to ask forgiveness from moms and dads- and so socially it serves the purpose of Christmas back in the states. They say the words "I am so sorry, body and soul"... but it doesn't take long, and so then they all want to go out and have fun.
Therefore, during this last week of Ramadan, traffic is horrible here. None is at work (the whole week is a national holiday) and one of the most crowded places to live on earth is clogged with traffic. The half hour drive into town, we have been told, could take 4 hours. Interstates and toll roads are reduced to parking lots. One story we heard was of a situation so bad, people got out and played cards on their hoods... then, every so often, they'd move their far a foot or two play another hand. For indonesians, the social interaction of being in this ' together' is wonderful. The hours and hours in traffic are part of the experience. For westerners, it's enough to make us lose our sanity.
Some of our western friends have told us 'stay home'. Others have said 'oh, don't stay home... just don't travel into any cities, or take the toll road, or anything...' We are working on ways to make the most of this situation... but it affects so much of life.
Case in point (or should I say CASES)
1) I lost my glasses in Bali. (big wave knocked them off and they were gone) I am 'blind as a bat' without them. (I do have some temporary contacts... -10 each eye) I ordered them with 10 days to go until Idul Fitri, but on my pick up day I was called... "so sorry, Pak (Mr), but they won't be ready until maybe July 13. This is like a full three weeks after I had my exam. And it is all because everything stops during Idul Fitri WEEK, but things slow down the week before and after. There was no going to another optician, though... because they ALL are doing this exact same thing.
Case in Point 2) I have a nightguard for TMJ that I am having remade in Indonesia. (eek!) It came in 10 days before Idul Fitri, but needed adjusting at the lab. The doctor said "So sorry, but there is no way this is coming back before Idul Fitri. Things stop the week of, and are slow before and after.
And thus is our experience - We wonder from our western mindset - how do these places survive running business like this (it's because everyone else is doing the same and expects this) It has been going on a lot longer than we have lived here - and will continue long after we leave.
So I'm wearing an *almost* right contact prescription that leaves everything slightly blurry and using the two broken pieces of my old night guard until the new one comes in. Hopefully all this will be resolved soon, and the devices I need for life will come in.
Blessings
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