Our Friends and Neighbors over for Dinner~

Pak Jono & his wife bu Kasum and their daughter Intans came over for dinner last weekend!  

We had a really nice time - with Intans there for a while - she speaks English and then when she went home to study for her exams - well a whole lot of hand signals, "words" kita in broken sentences..kalimat...and we do our best and have a lot of laughter too!  I always wish we could speak much better - we try and they understand a little English too...!

Jono & Kasum decided to use one dish for the fruit cocktail I had made and then we all laughed...they fed one another the fruit!  So cute!  They are wonderful neighbors- tetangga and wonderful friends- teman!

People speak to one another with respect saying miss or mrs, mister or mas - so you will never hear then say your name directly "Ellen" - no it will be either bu Ellen or Oma Ellen (like some call us - the younger crowd-grandma that is!) Nick is Mr Nick or Opa Nick or Pak Nick.  (Ba)Pak means Mr or father, Ibu is Mrs or mother or Mbak, Mas means brother and and if there was an older person and a younger person the older might be call Pak Nico and the younger one Mas Nico.  Very respectful we think!  

It is very uncomfortable for people to call you here by your first name...it just doesn't happen.  I know for us this is very uncommon and it takes a lot of getting use to to call someone Pak or Bu before their personal name.  

We are learning!  

Another thing which is nice to share: people will always ask to enter before coming into your house...Silakan saya boleh Masuk...please may I come in...Silakan duduk...please sit.  Also they will ask permission to leave...permisie? This is polite...you just don't get up and start for the door.  First you ask...then the person in the house says yes..and then they stand up and shake hands before leaving...always correct and always with a very cordial entrance and exit. 

Most people when they come will have something to give...either a little dish of something or a snack...but always a kindness or something is brought.  I think personally this is left from the Dutch era...because even now in Holland we still come over someone house with flowers or a goodie...it is a thoughtful gesture of kindness and it is so cute to see that here in Indonesia!

Oh something else...I very much like...always eye contact...when someone speaks to you - they turn to you and give you full contact and complete attention!  Oh boy this is such a courtesy...oh we can certainly learn from our friends here.  What a nice attribute - don't you think?  

Every country has special things we can share from one another!  We are a melting pot of God's creation!  And He has done a good work!