4: Checking out, Language class, getting told off, the Ozzies pull through, bargains galore!

Salamat malam! (It's now evening, so I can say that now. There are four different times of greeting, like English really. Fun fact.)

Today's blog has to be quick, as I'm writing off Helena's computer at our NEW kos! Exciting!

Also, big shout out to Asia NZ for giving Helena, Tash, Sarah and I a scholarship to travel to Jakarta in order to study international journalism and try to be better New Zealand journalists. Indonesia is pretty important to NZ in terms of trade, culture and proximity, so it's great to be given this opportunity to learn more about the country. Also big thanks to ACICIS for hosting us here and putting on this fantastic programme!

Today was always going to be a bad day, unfortunately. I woke up at about 3am randomly, and then again around 5am when the mosque next door had morning prayers. We checked out with grainy eyes and much lighter pockets, since we had unwittingly drunk the water placed in our room - it cost us about as much as a taxi ride to Uni. Le Sigh! We then headed to Uni at 8:30 am with all our luggage in tow - we had to find a kos today or go bust. I'm pretty sure all the students thought we were just massively eager nerds, bringing extra large (tramping packs) bags to Uni to fill with books.

Language class was amazingly fun! I was a wee bit of a nerd and asked far too many questions, just like media law (journo shout out!) but I loved learning the language - it's very musical since the rs are rolled and the ps are popped. Brilliant! I tried to learn Sweet As in Bahasa Indonesia, but apparently it just Wouldn't Work. So we learnt cool instead, which is kereng. You're welcome.

After four hours of class, Helena and I headed to the mall to TRY and locate an Indonesian sim card that worked, after days of problem after problem. Due to the mall being about 5 stories tall and conflicting instructions, we spent an HOUR walking around getting more and more pissed off. Consequently we arrived at Uni just in time for the lecture - in the wrong room. A third of the class turned up late also and the director was fuming. He told us off in front of the guest speaker and we shuffled our feet like scolded children. After a brilliant guest speaker we headed to the Australian's kos, which turned out to be pretty awesome - it's also 5 stories tall, with a roof top garden. We have A/C (although mine's broken), fridge, water, balcony, laundry, and technically wifi (although again, mine is not happy...blasted Helena and her blasted good luck! Or even, excellent equipment...)

We then headed BACK to the mall, but were this time MUCH more successful in our missions - I now have an Indonesian sim card, an Indonesian power plug, a house, bed sheets and blanket, and a yummy noodle and chicken dinner - Mie Haji, I think. I also managed to practice my Bahasa on people in the mall, and the taxi driver who took us home, when we were too afraid to walk in the dark with 3 million rupiah and bags of shopping. For the most part, people just looked confused, but we learnt left (kiri) and right (canan) so yarrr!

Back at the kos we unpacked our fruit, veges and clothes, fired up the computers, had a cold shower and I wandered around in a singlet for the FIRST time since I arrived, since no one else is on our floor and I won't scandalise any unwary males with my bare arms. Helena says there's still time but she is always like that.

Until tomorrow, here is how I say 'I am a New Zealander' in Bahasa Indonesia: Saya orang Zealandia baru. (Say-yah orrr-ahng zeh-lahn-dee-ah bah-roo). I think. I'm always good in class, but under pressure, things tend to fly to pieces - thank you is terima kasih (terry-mah-kass-ee) and I keep saying 'Tiramisu!' in panic. Nice.

I've forgotten the phrase for goodbye, so I'll rely on New Zealandese: Catch youse later

LESSONS LEARNT 3:

- DON'T BE LATE

- Don't drink the water in the hotels - nothing's for free

- Pop your ps in Bahasa!

- Give it a go, even if people look confused - eventually you'll stop saying tiramisu

- Taxiing at night with bags of shopping and fistfuls of money is a GREAT idea

- Old school computers are often pretty good for net connections. Old = quality.