Happy Thanksgiving!!

Today I am thankful for many, many things, including:

• My Mom and Dad who continue to profess their love for me, even when I make retarded decisions and who inspire me with their commitment and dedication and capacity to love and who have taught me about ducks.
• My Sheep, who I miss SO SO SO much.
• My Favorite Brother, who is super smart and gives me the best advice and tells me like it is and is starting a new life in a new city and who inspires me to be more interesting.
• Favorite Little Sister, who is interviewing for jobs and knows where and what she wants to be and is convicted on her path in life in such a way that I am inspired.
• My friends! Thank you for all the emails, cards, presents, letters, Skype talks, support, advice, beers, updates from home, everything!!
• My job - even though it is hard with holiday hours and a decline in local currency, I have a job...a job that I LOVE.
• Facebook - endless hours of reconnecting with people, saving me from the depths of self-pity and homesickness.
• River and Zia - you make me laugh hysterically, no matter what mood I am in!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

A Day In The Life...

I have been asked about my days here in Jakarta and I thought I would give you a snapshot.

7 a.m. - Wake up! Hurrying to get ready!

Take a bajaj to work (only $1!)

...10 minutes and I'm there!


8 a.m. - Teach Pilates Class! I love my job....it's early though.

9 a.m. Teach Pilates Class! I love my job. It's really hot in the studio right now because the sun is so bright!

10 a.m. - Teach Pilates Class! I still love my job...I need some coffee though.

11 a.m. - Private Pilates client! I love my job the most! One-on-one sessions are so much fun! My clients are a mix of local Indonesians and expats. Everyone is so interesting to me and I enjoy hearing their stories.



12:30 p.m. - Eat lunch - sometimes by myself or sometimes with Susan. Lunch is my main meal and I am starving after four hours of being active.

2-ish p.m. - Go to the gym, work out with Susan, get some reflexology (1 hour for $7!) or a pedicure (2 hours for $12!)

4 p.m. - Pilates client or class!

5 p.m. - Pilates client! Still loving my job...

6 p.m. - Pilates client!




7 p.m. - Time to go home! Or out for a drink!


Cast of Characters
Rani - The FIRST person I met in Jakarta, she is the Pilates studio manager. Rani's boyfriend lives in Detroit and we are crossing our fingers that she can get a visa to go visit the United States for the first time early 2009.

Yunie - Assistant Pilates studio manager. Yunie studied English in college and is originally from central Java.

Susan - my boss. Susan is originally from Singapore. She is great - she looks out for me constantly!

Kika - Indonesian girl who I met through a client. She is my movie-watching friend!

Lisa - Canadian girl who works across the mall from me in a chiropractic clinic. She has three cats that are great. She has lived in Jakarta for almost five years.

Lelsey - Another Canadian girl, I met Lesley through Lisa. Lesley works for an NGO doing micro-finance work. She adopted a dog and lives in home that has a pool and a yard and a maid and security guards and lots and lots of beige furniture.

Julie - Julie is a relatively new friend (yes, another Canadian!) and I met her through Lesley. She works for a PR firm and while I don't understand her job specifically, it sounds interesting and she knows tons about the local political system.

November 12, 2008

This week I am struggling with communication. I am really enjoying my time in Jakarta! Please bear with me and I will post pictures of Jakarta and of my trip to Bangkok, Thailand later this week!

xoxo

In Response To Becky's Post:

Dear Becky and Santa,

All I want for Christmas is Chicago.

Love,
Liz