Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day, we are living in Slemen,  close to Jembatan Merah (Red bridge). When we catch a taxi we just ask to be taken to the red bridge and everyone knows the place (so far). We are living in a little group of units, in a smallish 3 bedroom place. There is an awesome little sausage dog called Tom, he is so cute. We have a small porch area that is perfect for chilling out on in the afternoon humidity. We have had a good first week, although Ben has been feeling fluey/lethargic/sick since Thursday and now has a bali-belly type thing going on with a bad fever. So we have been pretty relaxed, not going out too much. The pollution is not as bad as other big cities I have been to but it does take it out of you mixed with the midday heat and afternoon humidity.
Prambanan was lovely to visit. Being a Bule (foreigner) is like being famous- everyone looks at you and lots of children, families & young people ask for photos with you. Walking the street alone is as full on as I expected, and this is when I am pretty well completely covered up. Men still call out. They don't tend to do so  as much when Ben is with me.
I have been pretty apprehensive about going out alone and approaching places to try and volunteer. Need to get over that to make the most of this place but am giving myself at least two weeks of easing into this joint. I also need to continue learning/expanding my indo vocab.
Went into a private catholic hospital here last night called Rumah Sakit Panti Rapih near UGM. They have different wings for different classes- VIP, 1st, 2nd & 3rd class & are very strict about their daily routine, including communion every night. The sisters wore uniform coloured depending on what class they worked for, white being VIP & first class of course. The facilities and rooms looks good, very sterile and cold however and the labour ward was particularly old-school. High flimsy bed, stirrups. The perawat (nurse) was very happy to tell me that they delivered the babies onto mum's chests and so the woman had to be lying down to give birth, especially so that they could easily stitch her up afterwards. Apparently it is the woman's choice for midwife or doctor to birth the baby, they can as many visitors as they like in VIP/First class labour ward but on their husband may be there for the delivery. The sister said that they rarely do forceps assisted births because it is too dangerous however the ventouse is used maybe once or twice a month, with a quarter of all births being Caesarean. I think she said they had 120 births a month. When I told her that the WCH had up to 400 or so she was flabbergasted. Breastfeeding is said to be very common and encouraged by the staff.
Right now I am watching a ladyboy on the tv.
I have to say I am already craving fresh vegetables & fruit that I don't have to think twice about how they have been prepared or how long they have been sitting out for. I would love a big fat rye bread salad sandwich with some alfalfa and jarlsberg cheese! And some bean tacos :)
Acicis folks are nice too, especially the pendampings.
14/2/2011