I had a wonderful Birthday. I think I must have been wished Happy Birthday more than a thousand times. I had greeting from all over the world.

I treated the teachers to lunch. We had yellow rice, chicken green beans, Tahu (fried Tofu marshmallow type things that are a local specialty. They taste like I what imagine marshmallows made out of dry wall would taste like.) Cucumbers, spicy Tofu, very spicy potato strips and super-hot sauce. 

One of the teachers made a sea weed pudding for me. The top had cookies suspended in the clear pudding, then vanilla pudding and then chocolate pudding. I’m not sure where the sea weed was but the pudding was delicious.

The headmistress could not be there but the school sent me a Black Forest cake.

All the teachers sang “Happy Birthday” to me.

Just as I was taking the first serving of lunch,

The school guard brought me a package from my sister, Lila. (It’s over on the right of the above picture.)

She sent me a book and a plaque.

The teachers seemed to have a good time.

August 17, 1945 was the day Indonesia declared its independence from Holland. Japan had been a colonizer too.
This is the 70th anniversary of that independence and big celebration were held everywhere.

Everyone decorated outside their houses with flags. I bought a couple of these to take home to Beaver, PA where I'm sure they will be a big hit.

 
I spent the morning of Independence Day with the teachers of my school at the Alun Alun (town square) in Cimalaka for a formal flag ceremony. 

The official mosque of Cimalaka is just beside the Alun Alun.

In the afternoon I went to Pak Yaya's house.  He is one of the Teachers I work with at SMAC1 Cimalaka. Just across the street from his house was where his section of the village was having their field games.  All kinds of field games with all kinds of people playing them.  GREAT FUN.

The pole was greased. 

I had a good lunch with Pak Yaya, his wife and daughter then returned to watch more games.

August 18 was the parade and carnival here in Cimalaka. Each section of the village was allotted one miles of parade.  route. There are 14 section of the village. It started at  8:00 and ended sometime after I walked out at about 2:30.

From time to time there would be a performance in front of the reviewing stand where I was sitting (I was on TV while watching the parade)

This guy had a long necklace of firecrackers while he set off the the reviewing stand.  He didn't appear hurt.

This guy stuffed snakes up his nose and pulled then out of his mouth. It was slightly disgusting

At about noon I went to the home of another English teacher for lunch.  This was the view from here roof.

After I had sat for as long as I could on the cement bleachers, I walked home following the line up for the parade to pass the reviewing stand.  I stopped along the way to visit another teacher whose house was along the route.  He has some very pretty fish in his pond. He offered to let me put my feet into the water to have the fish eat off the dead skin but I passed.

It was fun just sitting with this teacher watching the parade pass his house.

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I said to myself, "I should put some pictures on my blog."  Here they are in no special order

Class Xi went to Bali in June. 

Hindu offering in Bali

Yes, I went parasailing in Bali.

Bali was different from Java.

Just as we were getting ready to get on the boat back to Java..  Yes, PeaceCorps, I had my life jacket.

The new class X students had three days of orientation then three days of camp at the school.  Fun and games in English.

New students ready for another year.

The granddaughter of my host family ready for a Frozen Ramadan.

The Great Sumedang Fair had lots of things for sale and a band. The piano player is one of my teachers at the special needs school.  He teaches blind students and is himself blind.

After Ramadan the school had a wonderful lunch for the teachers in a beautiful place 1/2 way between Cimalaka and Sumedung. The is one of the English teachers I work with.  His name is Mr. Yaya.

My group of Volunteers had our Mid Service Conference in Bandung in August. We invited our counterparts to join us. Mr. Yaya is on the right.

Mr. Yaya got his papers stamped saying he was at an official Peace Corps conference.

My friend from Pre-Service Training, Shannon from California.

Shannon and I spent a morning at a 8 floor mall in Bandung known for it cloth and clothes.

Bandung hosted the Asia Africa Conference this year.

My buddy, Ryan, took me to the Alun Alun (Town Square) and central mosque of Bandung.

These are the decorations on a building just beside the town square.

Ning' first day of school ever. She is the granddaughter of my host family.

Some needlepoint I have done.

 There!  I take a lot of pictures.  There are a lot of interesting things to see.  Enjoy!
 JAY

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