#acicis

So to catch up… oh wow… since Australia Day! Well I have been doing things outside of study and working but it isn’t all that exciting. Also the reason I haven’t posted. Well in this time I managed to master the Jakarta traffic and figure out the best way to get to the office. It is definitely not the direct road but seems a long way around. If you’ve never been, or haven’t figured out from my Facebook posts, the way Jakarta works is with its terrible macet (traffic jams) and one way streets, or at least where you can’t turn right and have to go past and do a U-turn. So often to get around you have to either deal with this, or find a better way. For me at the office this is to go around. And it has been working, I get to the office much quicker.

In my spare time I have been trying to get work done though I did do a few more exciting things.

On Monday last week I went out for dinner with my Indonesian class, minus one who was away on their internship. It was a delayed dinner as we had planned to take our teacher out on the day of the Jakarta bombings so that was out of the question then. It was great to catch up and hear about how everyone’s placements were going.

Another more exciting event was on Thursday we had the ACICIS farewell reception at the Ambassador’s residence. Again it was nice to catch up with participants that I haven’t seen in a little while and hear about their placements. I was also able to talk to some of the mentors and had a long talk with a consultant from Metro TV. It was all very interesting to hear about the industry and his background. A great night was had with a few glasses of wine which was lovely after a while without one.

ACICIS students at their Farewell Reception at the Australian Ambassador’s residence. Photo: Australian Embassy

Yesterday, as I was free of my essay I was able to go and do some exercise. This was in the afternoon after a lovely Skype session with Mum and Dad and Madison. She is a funny one and managed to turn off the computer twice. My exercising consisted of a brisk walk on the treadmill followed by laps of the pool. I can’t say how far I swam as I don’t know the length of the pool but it was pretty good for someone who hasn’t done actual swimming in a very long time. And my timing was perfect. Almost as soon as I got out of the water and headed in to change but the skies opened up and a big storm ensued. It was so loud and raining so hard. Typical Jakarta style but still always a sight to see.

Looking red and tomato like after a brisk walk on the treadmill. Photo: Olivia Skillern

Refreshed after a post walk swim. Photo: Olivia Skillern

Refreshed after a swim. Check out the goggle marks. Photo: Olivia Skillern

The lovely and scenic pool I am lucky enough to be able to use. Photo: Olivia Skillern

After my swim it absolutely poured! Photo: Olivia Skillern

So now it’s my last week of interning at the Australian Embassy Jakarta and we are in the new Embassy. It’s so brand new and very impressive. There is still the security aspect of being in the embassy but it’s also fresh and new. The embassy has been designed in a modern and environmentally friendly way which is very nice. It’s also very big. So refreshing for a new building to be built to exceed current size and ensure it doesn’t become too small, too soon. So I am now working in the biggest Australian Embassy compound in the world. For a week anyway.

Today is a public holiday for Chinese New Year but we were at work so there wasn’t much traffic getting to the office. Tomorrow will be a different story and I need to find a good route to work.

Oh and here is a fun tid bit made by one of the guys from work.

THE FESTIVAL SINEMA AUSTRALIA INDONESIA PRESS CONFERENCE

Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia.

Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia press conference sign in. Photo: Olivia Skillern

Australian ambassador to Indonesia Paul Grigson speaking at the press conference for the Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia. Photo: Olivia Skillern

Joko Anwar speaking at the press conference for the Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia. Photo: Olivia Skillern

Kamila Andini speaking at the press conference for the Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia. Photo: Olivia Skillern

Joko Anwar, Kamila Andini, Paul Grigson, Anin in the Q&A session of the Press Conference for the Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia. Photo: Olivia Skillern

Joko Anwar speaking at the press conference for the Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia. Photo: Olivia Skillern

Kamila Andini speaking at the press conference for the Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia. Photo: Olivia Skillern

Australian Embassy staff, Festival organisers and guest alumni directors at the press conference for the Festival Sinema Australia Indonesia. Photo: Olivia Skillern

On the weekend we, the Taufik family and I, went to visit Nis and family. For those who don’t know this is more of the family I, and my family, visit while in Indonesia. Eggy has just had a baby and he is so cute. He was sleeping but such a cherub. So nice to visit the family and see them again.

Otherwise it has been work and sleep mainly. I feel tired a lot. It’s likely just the weather. I did go down to Blok M which was nice. I was able to pick up some groceries I was after, even getting some Devondale milk from Leongatha.

JAKARTA STREETS

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I know this is a very short overview but I am trying to get some other work done as well so just touching base. More later on.

Well today I started my internship at the Australian Embassy here in Jakarta. I am pretty excited to have my placement here as it can combine some of my interests. Already it seems like a great place to work. Most of the day was spent meeting the team and getting set up with security and IT. I learned a whole lot more about what the Embassy is wishing to achieve and I look forward to assisting…

So it’s been a busy week of study and I’m now just relaxing in my room. I did head out for a look around and bought some much needed fruit. There’s a nice little shop that sells fruit, and other things, just around the corner and it was a delight to look around. As I headed back I thought about what I would like for dinner. Nothing was jumping into my head so I ended up going for the sate ayam (chicken sate) from a warring along the road. It was really lovely and the people selling it were lovely. I think they love that a ‘bule’ was buying their food.

Sate Ayam being cooked by the road at one of many warung. Photo: Olivia Skillern

Sate Ayam being cooked by the road at one of many warung. Photo: Olivia Skillern

Sate Ayam being cooked by the road at one of many warung. Photo: Olivia Skillern

So the week workweek is finishing up and I am feeling quite tired. Unlike the numerous students having a very boistorous and loud time outside drinking beers preparing to head out I am a bit like a grandma not wanting to do anything but rest up and have a good sleep. For me I don’t really associate Jakarta with drinking and going out partying. I guess it’s because generally I am here spending time with local friends who don’t drink. I kind of like it that way, though I do feel a little bit antisocial. I’m sure I will have plenty of time to go out with people from the group during my time here. For now I think it is time to rest up and not do much ready to enjoy not having to get up and go to school in the morning.