LifeInContrast.com

Here are some tips for people who are trying seriously to learn a new language. These come from my experience teaching English, and learning Bahasa Indonesia.

1. If you are speaking your 2nd language and you can’t remember or don’t know a word, don’t “get stuck behind it”. Use other words that you do know, to try to “explain your way around it”. Try to describe it, and chances are good that the person you’re speaking to will understand, and will tell you the missing word.
   

   “I was walking down the street and I saw uh… uh… what’s the word? uh… uh… (WRONG)

   “I was walking down the street when I saw this… big vehicle with many wheels… and many seats… (RIGHT)

2. When you are speaking your 2nd language and you learn a new word, try to use it in context immediately. Here’s an example of the wrong & right ways to do this:
   

   A: “I was walking down the street when I saw this… big vehicle with many wheels… and many seats…”

   B: “A bus.”

   A: “Oh, right. That. So I got on it and went to the…” (WRONG)
   A: “Oh, right. So I saw a bus, and then I got on the bus and went to the…” (RIGHT)

3. If you use a translation dictionary (book or electronic), realize that they are not perfect, and will not explain everything completely. Every language has subtle nuances, common usage, and exceptions that cannot be fully understood by using a dictionary. Furthermore, many words cannot be translated directly, and have no counterpart in other languages. When they say that “jokes don’t translate”, it is partly because humor is largely based on cultural references, but also because jokes often contain puns, phrasal verbs, or idioms. These parts of speech almost never translate well. For example, if someone is playing loud music and you look in your translation dictionary for the words “turn”, “it”, and “down”, you are likely to get a strange look in return.

Hope this provides food for thought. Let me know any additional ideas.

I’m not in the habit of posting random quotes, but I thought this one was funny:

Life sucks, but death doesn’t put out at all. — Thomas J. Kopp

… and this one was interesting:

Nothing is as simple as it seems at first, or as hopeless as it seems in the middle, or as finished as it seems in the end.   — Unknown

My work/life situation in Bandung is much different compared to other times in my life. I actually work with most of my close friends, five days a week. Then I hang out with them on weekday nights, at the pub, having a beer and some dinner. And then we hang out again on Friday and/or Saturday night. Most of us even live in the same neighborhood, on the same street! So whereas in the past, there’s been a divide between my work- and non-work friends, at this point they are inextricably linked.

It’s like we’re living in some reality show for English teachers. The Real World Bandung. Big Brother West Java. Who will get kicked out of the house next? It’s not that bad yet, but constantly seeing the same people, living and working with them, does create some drama. Sometimes I get tired of it: constant gossiping, talking behind others’ backs, deciding who we like or don’t like, running into people who we can’t stand for various reasons. Add alcohol to the mix, and sometimes situations can flare up uncomfortably. It’s like a tinderbox, a powder keg.

There seem to be a fair amount of “girlfriend” problems lately too. Thankfully I have Denise, but somehow I get caught up in my friends’ drama anyway, giving advice and lending an ear.

That’s not why I came to Indonesia, to hang out with the same people over and over again, and get embroiled in petty displays of drama. I came here to learn more about other cultures, expand my knowledge, and work on my own projects. Lately I’ve been avoiding some of our favorite haunts, trying to refocus, relax, and spend more time on things that are truly important.

The fasting month of Ramadan starts on Monday. Although I’ve been dreading it a bit (difficult to find food during the day, pubs and pool halls closed, restricted fun outlets)… in a way perhaps it came just in time. Like rain falling on burning fields. Whoops, that was overly dramatic.

Sorry, I know I haven’t been posting with any regularity lately.  Part of that is because my desire to blog has been flagging lately.  But part of that is also because there’s not much new to report.  Not much excitement is really happening here.  I haven’t been on any vacations since we’ve been back.  I’m planning a big old trip to the beach with a bunch of friends, but that’s at the end of September.

Indonesia’s Independence Day is August 17th, and our street is already covered with national pride.  Streamers with little flags, handmade ornamental “thresholds” framing the road.  Also, Ramadan (the fasting month) begins in a few weeks.  After that is Idul Fitri, when practically the entire country of 240 million tries to go home and visit their family.  That’s when we’ll take the beach trip.

Overall I have less classes to teach each week, so that’s nice.  The last couple of days I’ve felt a fair bit of frustration at perceived Indonesian personality traits.  I’m sure I’m generalizing, but I’m just seeing a lot of evidence of certain attitudes that are bugging me right now.  I’m sure I’ll get over it.

I’ll try to post more often in the future.  Our Internet connection is painfully slow at home now, so posting pictures is a challenge.  But I’ll try. 

I saw the new Batman movie over the weekend at Paris Van Java mall.  Man, that theater really knows how to do movies right!  Clean, comfortable stadium seating.  Huge screen.  Movie started right on time with minimal advertising.  BOOMING sound, which is really important to me.

About the movie: It might very well be the best superhero movie I’ve ever seen.  It captures dark and moody in a way that other movies have been unable to.  The soundtrack contains its fair share of orchestral drama, but it also makes good use of unexpected silence, sometimes accompanied with discordant notes in the background, to add to the feeling of disorder.

Unlike most comic book supervillains, who come off as cardboard cut-outs and not really believable or scary at all, Heath Ledger’s Joker is disturbingly convincing.  Your eyes are transfixed and your skin is prickling every time he’s on the screen.

Many movies try to show a city in chaos, but ultimately you don’t really believe it.  Part way through the Dark Knight, the Joker has got Gotham City in a complete panic, and there doesn’t appear to be any way to stop it.  It’s insanely believable, and you find yourself almost in a state of shock.

There are some moral/ethical dilemmas as well, but I don’t want to spoil the movie for you.  Billy gives it 5 stars, three thumbs up, and says “see it on the big screen!”

Denise, Russell, and I also made a hilarious song using my laptop and keyboard.
Pump up the volume! “The Experiment”

In the second half of this week, we’ll take the annual trip to Singapore.  It’s nice, because we get a couple of free days off work.  And we’ll get to have some food that you can’t get in Bandung, like good Indian curries, Middle Eastern kebabs and falafel, great Chinese dishes, etc.  And I believe there’s a massive new water park that just opened there.  Maybe on Sentosa Island.  At any rate, it will be a nice little getaway, except for the fact that we have to leave Bandung at 5 a.m.

Sorry I haven’t posted in so long.  The last few weeks have seemed like a whirlwind, as we get adjusted back into a work schedule and numerous social events.

The first week back at work, I helped with a spelling bee at an elementary school for grades 1-3.  I also started teaching this American Culture & Visa Interviews class at an off-site location.  It’s really challenging, since there is no course-book and only a loose outline of what they want me to cover.

Last weekend, we played charades with a bunch of fellow teachers and friends on Friday night, held a wildly successful BBQ at our house on Saturday, and went to a big theme park in Jakarta on Sunday.

This weekend, I played pool and went dancing on Friday night, checked out the newest incarnation of a popular bar/hangout on Saturday night, and joined fellow teachers for a housewarming brunch on Sunday.

Whew!  Finally, I had my first accident when I misjudged the speed of another motorcycle at night.  My motorcycle was knocked out from under me, and I basically just hopped off the bike on impact.  I walked away with no scratches whatsoever, but a pounding heart and ringing ears (from adrenaline).  The other guy was okay, too.  My bike’s front wheel fender is smashed up pretty good though, and will need replacing.  Although I guess the accident was considered pretty minor compared to others, I’m still feeling grateful not to have been hurt.  I don’t want anyone to be scared, just passing on news.  And yes, I was wearing my helmet, like I always do. 

After about 30 hours of total travel time (including a couple solid hours of turbulence) we’re finally back in our house in Bandung.  Our house is nicer than I remember.  It smells clean and airy.  Our Internet connection appears to faster than usual, too.

It was sad to leave behind family and friends in Seattle, even though I know I’ll see everyone again.

I was also nervous about coming back to Indonesia after being exposed to the efficiency and orderliness of the US.  I was afraid that the frustrating aspects of Indonesia would overwhelm me now that my innocent optimism from the first year is gone.  So far the charming aspects are still winning.  I’m going to take some language lessons this year, as I feel that many of my frustrating moments are often based on miscommunication.

Back into it!  We don’t start work again until Monday though, so that’s a nice cushion.