Thank goodness! It took absolutely forever for this page to load, and after twenty-six minutes, I've yet to load any of the THREE options I have for viewing email. ::Sigh:: I guess I got spoiled visiting Semerang where there's a broadband cafe around the corner, or a mall with a decently speedy connection relatively nearby a Dunkin' Doughnuts. Oh well. You know, it's interesting how when I leave Bukittinggi, I really feel like I'm lacking here, I feel like I'm missing out, like my entire situation is just miles and miles away from the standards of others' situations. But then when I get back here, it doesn't seem to be quite that bad. Don't get me wrong, the 6pm curfew still sucks, but despite the mandi and squatty potty, my little place with no television, no radio, and no easy access to warung or restaurants has become very comfortable to me. I've got a decent bed, there's no need for AC (but I have a fan anyway), and pretty much no one bothers me. Sometimes the fact that I could probably die in my room and no one would notice until they could smell it from outside bothers me, but other times, I'm just grateful to be away from everything that makes this place hard to live in. Honestly, this is beginning to sound a bit cowardly, like I like my room because I can hide out there, but that's actually the truth; I like my room because it's my haven. I'm surrounded by the things I own, and I don't have to worry about taking or receiving with my left hand, or any other cultural or religious no-no. Now, when I'm out and about, those are the things that I relish, it's all a part of the experience of living here, and I follow the rules and customs as best I can. But in my home, I'm not taking my cross off the wall because someone else is uncomfortable with it. Because I'm the only one who lives there. And not that many people visit in the first place. And why should I? It's not as if a cross on the wall makes it unacceptable for Muslims to enter. ::Sigh::... I suppose I've subconsciously led into this issue; it must be bothering me more than I thought.
Today, I had a visit from one of the teachers at school. Yesterday, when I woke up, I think I pulled a muscle in my back, or something and so I didn't go to school. But I have one afternoon class today and I was planning on going until this teacher showed up at my house and said that the schedule after Ramadan is different-- not like the Ramadan schedule, but not like before it, either. Apparently, my class started almost an hour earlier than my schedule said, and no one bothered to tell me. So that's two days now without teaching. Oh well, I don't like the teacher I'm supposed to teach with, anyway.
So she shows up and we chat for awhile and then she sees my cross on the wall. I bought it in Jakarta. I wouldn't have brought one with me from the states, because it's not like it's a vital part of my faith. But I liked it in Jakarta, and so I bought it, and to make my home in Bukittinggi more homey and less like I'm living on a mountain surrounded by jungle, I attempted to decorate. And look! I just happened to have bought this cross in Jakarta, and why don't I put it on the wall!? So this teacher starts talking about the last time she visited, when my landlord wandered inside and apparently hid her shock at seeing it on the wall from me but asked the teacher if she knew of a sensitive way to ask me to take it down. And this teacher is nice, she was clearly relaying a message on behalf of my landlord, but still. Why the heck should I? I live there. I'm not going to hide my Bible so it's presence doesn't disturb people who don't even really come into my house in the first place. Why should I take down my cross? If it's really a problem, she should not have volunteered for a Christian to rent from her. Taking down the cross should not have been a big deal to me, but somehow, as it is within my own home, I felt that taking it down would almost be denying my faith. I already don't wear religious jewelry, abstain from attending worship services (not like there are any here), and really basically manage to practice my faith with no one knowing. Taking down a cross I bought in Indonesia anyway off the wall of my home where I live alone is just too far for me, I guess. Such a strange limit.
Anyway, I guess that's all for now. My butt's getting numb from sitting on this stupid plastic stool for so long. I'll write more later.