My "Friends"

Yes, although I am slowly getting to know people here and consider them friends, I enjoy my aqquaintances. Small interactions with them make my whole day brighter.

The guys I call “my guards” work at the apartment complex all the time and live here. It is a different work ethic. Instead of working really hard and having days off, they work a little but are on-call all the time. In my American way, I might prefer the first. I asked one guy if he gets bored, and he said yes and that he never gets to see his wife who lives 5 hours away! Personally I would be complaining, but I am sure I don’t know the whole situation.

Another guy I see every night. He is the strong, silent type. He smokes and watches the neighborhood but I also saw him playing with the dog, jumping over her head doing karate kicks. He is young and athletic.

The third guy is the chubby guy with only one functioning eye. He likes to sing and talk to the other guys outside my window usually starting around 5 or 6 am. This morning, I woke up to someone on my porch singing “pretty woman”…and then something unintellible to my ears. It was a nice way to wake up.

They notice when I need things and install them in my room. In the last few weeks, I have gotten a plug-splitter, a toilet paper roll-holder, dishes, a map and a tourist book of Yogya. They know exactly when I leave and have already cleaned my room by the time I get home, sometimes only an hour or two later!

My other friend is one particular becak driver who wears a safari hat and hangs out in my neighborhood. He always waves and asks me where I’m going (like “how are you?” here) and never asks me if I want a ride. I like it because I have to turn down what seems like hundreds of becak drivers if I walk anywhere.

Another friend is the lady at the corner shop. She does brisk business but always says hello as I walk by. I think she could tell I was sick and hungry when I got here because she asked me to sit a few times and fed me this sweet papaya one time. We always compliment each other on each other’s clothes.