Change

So I've been in Indonesia for almost a week now and during that time I've gotten a chance to meet with family and visit places that I haven't seen in  15 years. While some things have changed drastically, some things (amazingly) stayed the same. For example  the house I'm currently staying in, a house that's been with the family since 1960, is more or less untouched save for three walls that has been knocked down to make more room.  A good number of the furniture and their placement stayed the same. 

As for changes, the most apparent would have to be Jakarta itself. Roads are much more narrow and more packed with vehicles and street merchants. The highways are often stuck in traffic. It took almost three hours to drive from the airport to the house, with the distance only being 50 km (~31 miles). I'm contemplating of getting a motorcycle or a scooter, so I can slip in-between cars instead of getting a sedan.

Now for some tidbits on my family. I was able to meet with most of my relatives from my mom's side of the family. Most of my uncles and aunts stayed the same with a couple being a bit heavier (or a lot lighter). As for cousins, I wasn't able to recognize seven of them at first glance (I met eight of the nine cousins). The same also holds true for them. Most of the older relatives were not able to recognize me and were surprised when they learned who I was.

Even if my lifestyle is drastically different here than it was in the US. I'm glad that I was able to meet with my relatives and have the chance to start a new chapter in my life.

I think I'll stop here for today. I need to sort my thoughts a bit more so I can write more effectively. For closing, take a look at this terrible picture of a very awesome statue near the Sukarno-Hatta International Airport. 

 

(Sukarno-Hatta Memorial Statue)