So I am in a British and Indian pub named Eastern Promise in Jakarta, Indonesia. They have free Wi-Fi!!! To be true to this experience....I am seizing this moment! So I am in a room (with AC mind you) listening to the Indonesia Study Abroad group sing Al Green song "Let's Stay Together" and all these American songs! I am missing my husband, children, and mom! I did not realize that I have been talking about them so much to the group. Earlier today they teased me about it and darn it, I realized that it would be so great to have them close by (in Indonesia that is....). I am not ready to leave but would love to have my people in this country with me. I miss the hugs from Vijay. The "I love yous" from Victoria! I never thought I would say this but I miss combing her hair! I miss burying my head in Vladimir's chest at night and laughing at all our inside jokes....that is where I feel the safest at night! I also miss terribly watching the OWN network and Oprah with my mom. I am grateful for the support they give me so that I can be here in Indonesia. I can be a hand full at times when I am home but somehow they still LOVE me!
If you are a wife/husband....love and appreciate your husband/wife! Appreciate him/her in the following ways:
1. for being your business partner
2. for being your lover
3. for being your soul mate
4. for parenting our children
5. for being your friend
I learned those five appreciations from the best therapist in the world Dr. Lewis T. Kola in Atlanta, Georgia.
For the children parents give lots of LOVE, hugs, more of YOU and less on the things.
For the mothers/fathers...thank them often for what they deposited in YOU!
Okay those are my words of wisdom.... live from Indonesia!
Just give love to your household and if you see or talk to my peoples give a little love to them from the wife, mother, and daughter....Katrina Harden Williams:)
I just ordered a California grilled chicken sandwich at this pub....talk to you later! Bon Apetit!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
My Indonesian Jr. Colleagues
1. I would like to make a difference in some person’s life especially a child’s life. I would like to give what I have because I realize that perhaps I may have just a little too much (even in my suitcases and my daily snack box). I gave away 6 t-shirts on yesterday and just might leave some clothing with a man standing on the streets of Cikarang (pronounced Chika Rung). I also shared my snack boxes with people rather than putting all the contents (that I did not like) in the trash.
2. I would like to pick up the trash. This may take away a person’s employment opportunity but hey I just do not like litter!
3. I will return to Indonesia. It shall be!
In the words of Billy, my junior colleague attending President University on full tuition scholarship, “I am grateful for what I have”!
Terima Kasih Lord! (Thank You Lord!)
Friday, June 17, 2011
A Smile is Universal but the “look” May Not Be
Once we arrived in Chicago on June 6 we were all moving rapidly through Chicago O’hara International Airport. We were waiting patiently to board the Korean Air. I took pictures of the double decker airplane. The atmosphere shifted as we sat in the terminal. The Asians just smiled. No words just a smile and the “look”. The “look” is a stare. I was raised to not stare…somehow my elders believed that it was simply impolite. But people in the terminal would give you the “look” and hope that you did not notice. If you did it turned into a smile. The “look” was filled with questions. I imagine that they were wondering in their heads the following questions and thoughts about me and the rest of the members of the Indonesia Study Abroad group:
Is that Michelle Obama?
Where are they going? Korea?
What will they do in Asia?
What is that?
Why are they smiling at us?
Are they Africans?
Are they Americans?
I hope they talk to me, but if they don’t I will talk to them.
I knew that I was dressing like Americans!
Look at her outfit.
Look at his outfit.
Look at their outfits.
Perhaps they had pleasant thoughts and just wanted to smile. The smile is universal.:) Have you smiled today at someone?
Facebook and internet limited access....
What have I learned from not being so accessible to Facebook and the internet? I realize that I really talk a lot. I vow to journal everytime a thought comes to my mind instead of sharing it out loud....heck fire it may make a national best seller! I miss my family especially my laughing buddy, my lover, my friend, Vladimir Williams and of course, my children and my mom (& talking to my siblings and dad).
Now, I have learned to be thankful for so many things. Here is a short list.
1. People who love me.
2. People who laugh with me.
3. A hot shower.
4. My pink Camel Bak filled with cold water.
5. Shoes on my feet.
6. Opportunities to be educated.
7. Clean clothes for me on a daily basis.
8. Dental hygiene and quality medical care.
9. A top sheet.
10. Foods that I can name in English.
11. Ice
12. Chilled Bottled Water
13. Kool-Aid (Strawberry please)
14. Hot Apple Cider ( I have just one pack left...why did I not pack 22 packs!)
15. This Indonesian experience
16. My Queen Rice Bed
17. The few Indonesian words that I know
18. The van driver who drives us through the streets of Indonesia daily.
19. LOVE
20. Being responsible for the energy that I bring.
21. Prayer....
Now, I have learned to be thankful for so many things. Here is a short list.
1. People who love me.
2. People who laugh with me.
3. A hot shower.
4. My pink Camel Bak filled with cold water.
5. Shoes on my feet.
6. Opportunities to be educated.
7. Clean clothes for me on a daily basis.
8. Dental hygiene and quality medical care.
9. A top sheet.
10. Foods that I can name in English.
11. Ice
12. Chilled Bottled Water
13. Kool-Aid (Strawberry please)
14. Hot Apple Cider ( I have just one pack left...why did I not pack 22 packs!)
15. This Indonesian experience
16. My Queen Rice Bed
17. The few Indonesian words that I know
18. The van driver who drives us through the streets of Indonesia daily.
19. LOVE
20. Being responsible for the energy that I bring.
21. Prayer....
Mango Tree planted June 17, 2011
I shall not I shall not be moved.....just like a tree that is planted by the water. I shall not be moved! Sing with me....God bless Mrs. King from Zion Hill Baptist Church Sweet Home, Arkansas for teaching me this song years ago...almost 35 years ago! May the mango tree that I just planted touch many souls and provide nourishment to all in Indonesia!
Per Wikipedia....
The mango is the most consumed fruit in the world. Mango is used to make juices, smoothies, ice cream, fruit bars, raspados, aguas frescas, pies and sweet chili sauce, or mixed with chamoy, a sweet and spicy chili paste. It is popular on a stick dipped in hot chili powder and salt or also as a main ingredient in fresh fruit combinations. Mangoes account for approximately half of all tropical fruits produced worldwide. Indonesia is one of the top producers of mangoes....just like Iowa is the top producer of maize/corn! Knowledge is power!
Cikarang! (Pronounced Chika Rung is where I am staying most of the 17 days)
Terima Kasih (Thank you in Indonesian):)
I am loving it all! Vladimir, mom, Vijay, and Victoria we are going to an Indonesian restaurant when I return to the USA! Stephanie Harden-Kendrick....little sister I will cook Indonesian food for you!:)
Per Wikipedia....
The mango is the most consumed fruit in the world. Mango is used to make juices, smoothies, ice cream, fruit bars, raspados, aguas frescas, pies and sweet chili sauce, or mixed with chamoy, a sweet and spicy chili paste. It is popular on a stick dipped in hot chili powder and salt or also as a main ingredient in fresh fruit combinations. Mangoes account for approximately half of all tropical fruits produced worldwide. Indonesia is one of the top producers of mangoes....just like Iowa is the top producer of maize/corn! Knowledge is power!
Cikarang! (Pronounced Chika Rung is where I am staying most of the 17 days)
Terima Kasih (Thank you in Indonesian):)
I am loving it all! Vladimir, mom, Vijay, and Victoria we are going to an Indonesian restaurant when I return to the USA! Stephanie Harden-Kendrick....little sister I will cook Indonesian food for you!:)
| Country | Production in millions of tons | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 India | ||||
 People's Republic of China | ||||
 Thailand | ||||
 Indonesia | ||||
 Mexico | ||||
 Pakistan | ||||
 Brazil | ||||
| World total | ||||
| Key ~ 2008 data Source Food And Agricultural Organization of United Nations: Economic And Social Department: The Statistical Division | ||||
Spelman College now shared with Indonesia
Greetings fellow family, friends, and colleagues,
Today, I presented at Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) in Indonesia....yes, I created a very unique powerpoint that shared my journey through Spelman College and the linkage to Iowa State University. Spelman College, I hope that I made you proud! I gave away book marks, t-shirts, folders, and other good items that were in my personal collection! It is simply my hope that someone will proudly say what they learned about Spelman College on the streets of Indonesia (shhhh....I gave a t-shirt to a male college student....yes it was blue! Hopefully, he will represent well!) My ISU colleagues said I did well but really the energy in the room caused me to present as if Christ was sitting before me!:) I seized the moment! I maximized the moment! I enjoyed the moment! For students of Spelman College, thanks for making my experiences at Spelman College simply the best. To the Mathematics Department and Provost of Spelman College, many thanks for believing in me and pushing me to return to graduate school. I realize now that I am in Indonesia that you simply saw many things in me that I did not see in myself at the time. This study abroad experience has been very beneficial to me on many professional and personal levels.
I have to go now and plant my tree with my name on it for President University! Now that I am planting it, I simply hope others will nurture it!
To God be the Glory!
Today, I presented at Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) in Indonesia....yes, I created a very unique powerpoint that shared my journey through Spelman College and the linkage to Iowa State University. Spelman College, I hope that I made you proud! I gave away book marks, t-shirts, folders, and other good items that were in my personal collection! It is simply my hope that someone will proudly say what they learned about Spelman College on the streets of Indonesia (shhhh....I gave a t-shirt to a male college student....yes it was blue! Hopefully, he will represent well!) My ISU colleagues said I did well but really the energy in the room caused me to present as if Christ was sitting before me!:) I seized the moment! I maximized the moment! I enjoyed the moment! For students of Spelman College, thanks for making my experiences at Spelman College simply the best. To the Mathematics Department and Provost of Spelman College, many thanks for believing in me and pushing me to return to graduate school. I realize now that I am in Indonesia that you simply saw many things in me that I did not see in myself at the time. This study abroad experience has been very beneficial to me on many professional and personal levels.
I have to go now and plant my tree with my name on it for President University! Now that I am planting it, I simply hope others will nurture it!
To God be the Glory!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Muslim Universities In Indonesia
Greetings my fellow blog followers....Indonesia has several muslim universities. Today we visited Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia (UAI) and Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ). So here are some highlights of the day...At UAI I welcomed the opportunity to collaborate on my dissertation with a physicist who is interested in helping the people of Indonesia with their educational policy concerns! Yes, I publicly accepted his challenge and look forward to future research collaborations that will afford me the opportunity to travel abroad! Meanwhile, I also found myself in an interesting dialogue with the Vice Minister of Human Rights at UNJ and eating a feast of Indonesian food and of course, my cucumbers. So to highlight UNJ, I am going to attempt to upload a video. Keep your fingers crossed! Okay...I tried, I will try again next time!:) So back to the Vice Minister of Law and Human Rights....He said the following, "Obama is the first Indonesian to be President of the United States of America. It is quite possible that we (Americans visiting Indonesia) can now become President of Indonesia". I do not know about you but all things are possible if you just believe! My new found wisdom filled mentor, Indonesian Vice Minister of Law and Human Rights also said that he would like for Americans to know that "Islam was hated by America in the past. President Bush had the wrong understanding." In paraphrase of his response to my question....what would you like for us (Americans visiting Indonesia) to take back as a message to America....move on from the past!
Friends, family, and colleagues he has a point. Our experiences here have afforded me a plethora of opportunities to educate and empower them about the insights of African Americans, Black Americans, African American women, educated women who happen to be African American. I am seizing every moment to stand up for what I know to be TRUTH! Yes, I am (or shall I say we are) defying stereotypes and demystifying myths that people have about African Americans! Yes, I had to come all the way to Indonesia to do (what I do daily in America) but hey....our beloved President, Mr. Barak Obama paved the way. So now the opportunity lies with you today to hold up your end of the bargain and represent us well in all that you do!
P.S. I have limited internet service as stated before, but I need your prayers. The Muslims pray 5 times per day! Please commit to joining me in praying earnestly!
Prayers of the righteous availeth much!
God Bless each of you. Tomorrow is a big day for me....I present again in Indonesia...this time at the Universitas Pelita Harapan!
To God be the Glory!
Friends, family, and colleagues he has a point. Our experiences here have afforded me a plethora of opportunities to educate and empower them about the insights of African Americans, Black Americans, African American women, educated women who happen to be African American. I am seizing every moment to stand up for what I know to be TRUTH! Yes, I am (or shall I say we are) defying stereotypes and demystifying myths that people have about African Americans! Yes, I had to come all the way to Indonesia to do (what I do daily in America) but hey....our beloved President, Mr. Barak Obama paved the way. So now the opportunity lies with you today to hold up your end of the bargain and represent us well in all that you do!
P.S. I have limited internet service as stated before, but I need your prayers. The Muslims pray 5 times per day! Please commit to joining me in praying earnestly!
Prayers of the righteous availeth much!
God Bless each of you. Tomorrow is a big day for me....I present again in Indonesia...this time at the Universitas Pelita Harapan!
To God be the Glory!
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