So the one of us who didn’t post that scathing review of our government earlier would like to make a few observations. (We don’t like to use “I” but I think I’ll make a brief exception here)
Today I had my first extensive solo venture in Jakarta and it was interesting. It’s really amazing how much you get heckled and stared at. I certainly don’t feel unsafe, but boy it’s a little disconcerting! For all you females out there, imagine walking by a construction site in a big city when the guys are all sitting on a wall eating their lunches. Then multiply by 10. It will take some getting used to for sure- I’m taking the advice of an experienced friend who is on her third trip here. Look mad and walk fast. It seems to work ok so far!
I also had an interesting time helping two Indonesian students edit their Fulbright applications today. Fulbright does not make it easy at all to apply and receive money to study in the US. They have been accepted for a grant, however they must get into a college through the regular admissions processes there or else they lose the grant. Pretty high stakes.
It’s hard enough for American students to figure out how to write good essays and personal statements (without the help of professional career counselors), imagine doing it in a foreign language. The people were so nice, it was kind of my first interaction with Indonesians our age. It boggles my mind thinking about the difficulties they will face even if admitted to schools in the US though. Coming from a country with such a weak currency it must be next to impossible to get by in an American University community. Makes me even more thankful for my situation……
Author: tompepinsky
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A girl's day out
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Tony, Toni, Tone
One nice thing about our apartment is that we get BBC World on the TV. We mentioned before how much nicer it is to watch real news on TV.
Last night we watched Tony Blair address the Labour Party congress. It makes us sad to think about how backwards our country is. Our president has latched onto the word “freedom” like it’s a life raft, making vague promises about what he will do if he gets elected president. (Note the infuriating subtext here.) Tony Blair talks about seven and a half years of overwhelming progress in British society. Our president claims that the economy is “getting better.” Tony Blair cites seven and a half years of economic growth, a massive drop in crime and unemployment, a doubling in the percentage of poor Londoner students passing through high school, and a 200% increase in the efficiency of Britain’s government-funded public health system. Our president wants to amend the founding document of our society to include a provision that prevents loving same-sex couples from being treated just like everyone else. Tony Blair proudly proclaims that the New Left has forced the Lib Dems and the Tories to accept gay rights and to openly compete with Labour for the gay vote. Our president has nothing to say about minorities except for that he appoints them to cabinet posts. Tony Blair notes the changes in the past decade–racial relations are not “political correctness,” but rather an issue that all Britons must accept as a key issue in British society.
Now let’s be clear. Poor Tony glossed over a bunch of troubling economic problems, including the failure of Britain to join the EU–a massive defeat that will harm Britons in the long term. Poor Tony still refuses to acknowledge the flip side of “I’m Not Going to Apologize for Removing Saddam,” which is “It Is Not the Case that Anything Is Better than Saddam.” But still.
Tom Pepinsky 