ibu kos

I would like to introduce to you my Ibu kos, the house mother. She didn't really want me taking her picture, so I had to sneak one.

This woman is so funny. She's afraid of gas, so our stove burners are kerosene. And we don't have doorknobs on any of the doors either - something about she's afraid if there's an earthquake, we won't be able to get out, I'm not sure. But despite her... oddities, she is incredible, and she makes sure I'm taken care of. 

One day, when I was first learning to drive, I was getting my motorcycle out, and she came out and followed me to the road:

"Be careful! Go slowly! People are crazy, they drive really fast, but you, you make sure to go slowly. Don't (demonstrates revving the gas while trying to grab the brake). Make sure to wear your helmet! Be careful! Slowly!" 

"I will, Ibu. Yes, Ibu. Of course, Ibu. I will be safe. Thank you, Ibu. I will, Ibu."

On another occasion:

Ibu: (in bahasa while demonstrating closing my door) "Make sure you close your door and window in the evening because nyamuk."
Me: (confused look) What's nyamuk?
Ibu: Nyamuk! Bzzzzz (slaps her arm)
Me: Ohhh! Mosquitoes!
Ibu: Ya! Nyamuk! Bzzzz (slaps her arm again)

Today, as I was getting out my bike, she came and taught me how to use my turn signal. "Now, when you go out, you push this this direction. Ahhh, see? Like that. And then you push this, ahhh, it stops. If you want to go that way, you push it like, ahhh. Like that." Thank you, Ibu, for teaching me what a turn signal is. Sweet lady.

Her sister lives next door, and she has three kids. They are the most precious little ones, but they are also very fast-moving, so snapping pictures of them is a little difficult. But here are a couple I managed to get.

 

Digging in the dirt with a shard of pottery

This poor little guy fell off this ledge thing... you can even see the dirt in his tears. Poor thing.

They only played for a little bit, but I managed to snap a picture before they knocked it over.

Beautiful girl

"Bless the L-rd, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." - Ps 103:2-5