Giving up my solitary confinement

Wow, an unexpected turn. Let me explain my home situation. I live with Kenny and his Indonesian wife Epit. Robin crossed paths with me for a few days before heading home to NZ. Sarah was supposed to be here teaching as well, but she quit six weeks before I arrived to work on a tour boat to the Mentawai Islands. Now, Robin advised me that Epi is very jealous of other women around Kenny- she was nice to Robin because Robin was 67 (!), but was super edgy around Sarah. But it turns out I have nothing to worry about there- Epi has decided to look after me, bringing me Indonesian cooking and fruits etc. And tomorrow she has decided we should go to Bungus Beach together, because she worries I spend too much time alone. :) Something like a friend. I think the fact that I have a long term boyfriend at home makes her feel I am not a threat...

I have started to read "He's just not that into you"... not because I think Nick's not into me (although... nah!). More because I am running out of books. I brought 5 books (one almost finished, two just begun), plus Lonely Planet SE Asia. I have read three already! And while there are a few books people have donated to the house, there aren't many. So by the end of my time here, I expect to have read a lot of trashy Mills and Boons, to know all about SE Asia and to have begun trawling my way through Agatha Christy novels- almost the only English novels in Gramedia, the big book store here. I posted myself a few novels and reference texts, but who knows if they'll make it through the Indonesian mail. Here's hoping.

I am hoping to get my hands on Harry Potter in Indo if it's not too expensive and translate it back to English to improve my language skills. I had wanted to get a tutor, but really don't know how to go about it and for only two months... I am currently learning Indo the way so many kids learn English- sitting in front of the tv with my dictionary! And I'm improving through day to day conversations, and through asking my students translations.

So far I am free of Bali Belly. I don't drink the local water, but I do eat the local food (even food I know the travel advisories tell me I shouldn't, like at a warung, or that's been washed in local water, or tea which may or may not include local water). Realistically, you have to do this, or live like Robin did, alternating from coleslaw to boiled veges. She saved a lot of money and she never got sick, but BORING. Today was the first day I got very adventurous though, mostly I have eaten the evening meals the school provides or nasi goreng (nothing like nasi goreng in Aus, SO much spicier, and comes with either a fried or a scrambled egg). Today I ate random chicken with rice and random green vege thing. And I am drinking random weird Asian milk drink. I have no idea what these sweet fruity milk drinks are, and I shouldn't drink local milk as it might not be pasteurised. But I came for a different experience, damn it. Plus it's fun drinking out of a plastic bag...