Orientation

Photo 1: My uni for this semester
Photo 2: Jl. Kaliurang, the main road near my kos

The last couple of days I’ve had my orientation program for ACICIS. It’s been good to get to know some of the other people from Australia who are studying here. The day that we moved into the ACICIS provided accommodation was really exhausting. In the morning, we went in search of a place that sold phone credit. We wandered unsuccessfully around for about 20 minutes before we finally gave up and headed back to our hotel. On our way back we found a credit place that turned out to be incredibly close to our hotel, just on the other side of the road. At first we walked past the store (that looked like an art workshop) because we weren’t sure if the sign for phone credit was attached to that one or the one next to it. We hovered hesitantly and were about to give up when the owner dragged us in, assuring us he sold credit. He began to fill out all the forms and we were just about to pay, when he decided to tell us about his art philosophies. At first it was really interesting hearing his ideas (and trying to understand them), but 40 minutes later I was utterly exhausted from trying to keep up. So what was supposed to take 3 minutes ended up turning into a mini lecture complete with white gown, song-like chanting and the promise that we would become “princesses” if we became his representatives in Australia!

So running late we had to run back to the hotel to check out. Then we had to lug all our stuff to the ACICIS accommodation because we decided it would be better to walk there seeing it was just up the road. Which it was, but a road that had a broken footpath (when it wasn’t blocked by roadside stalls) and a road that was being scorched by the midday sun. So we trudged there, dodging taxis and motorbikes, walking down the middle of the road, and crossing right on the corner of a multi-lane, incredibly busy roundabout, all the while carrying a backpack, laptop and wheeling a 19kg bag. But we survived and arrived absolutely drenched with sweat!

So far we’ve done through all the immigration procedures (including being fingerprinted and profiled by the police) and we’ve done our placement test. Yesterday we went looking for accommodation with our Indonesian buddies. It was actually harder than I was expecting. We looked at heaps of places, but so many of the nice ones were already full (it’s the start of a new year so all the Indonesian students have been getting accommodation for the last few weeks). Most of the ones we saw were either really small, unfurnished, or shared a bathroom between four people.
After spending several hours looking we gave up and went to the mall (which seems bigger than anything in Australia – HUGE) But as we were sitting there I got a bit worried that I wouldn’t find something, which was stupid considering that we had all day today to look for one. But to make myself feel better I went back to the first place I looked at and put a deposit on it. The more I think about it the more I like it – it has its own bathroom with a western toilet (but I don’t think there’s a shower), a queen bed, bar fridge, fan, desk and wardrobe. The Ibu Kos (owner) seems really friendly, and it’s in a central position in a gang (lane) off the main road (Jl. Kaliurang). The only downside is that another Aussie is staying there. But I don’t think we’re going to be in each other’s pockets, so it shouldn’t be a problem. So my kos isn’t in the neighbourhood that I’d planned to live, and there’s another bule (foreigner) living there, but I think it will work out ok! I’ll write more about my kos after I move in tomorrow! X