Aauughhhh

First frustration-themed (and extremely whiny) post from Indonesia. Hopefully not first of many.

This post is inspired by my efforts to buy two whole things:

1. a MacBook connector thingy to hook my computer up to a projector, 
2. and a mattress/bedding so that my Fellow friend Jen can crash in my room this weekend. 

It is SO DIFFICULT to get these things! Whereas in the States I wouldn't have strained a muscle accomplishing these two tasks, here they require careful planning (and lots of stressing out, in my case).  And a slightly pulled muscle. 

I really want a projector connector ASAP because I am making endless photocopies for my huge classes, and if I just had a projector hookup, I could save myself a lot of paper and time by projecting worksheets on the wall. However, there are no Apple stores near my house. I have to take a taxi to one of the two malls in Surabaya that has an Apple store, which will require at least a couple hours, which means that I probably won't have time to make the trip during the week, because I have lesson planning to do until 3 or 4pm every day, and it gets dark at 6pm, so it's just riskier in general to take a taxi at that time. Plus I'm tired from working all day. So task #1 has yet to be accomplished. 

As for the mattress, I wanted to borrow my friend Alissa's folding mat, since she doesn't need it and she lives about 20 minutes walk from me. But it's too big to carry! So I need a taxi to pick it up. But I lack the language skills to guide a taxi to her house, wait for me while I pick up the mattress, and then take me back. And no one is free to take me to her house this week. So, I had to walk to the "hypermarket" (read: Wal-Mart-style store) that is about 10 minutes away and buy my own foldable mat. I then had to lug the mat and bedding back to my room. Hence the slightly pulled muscle. 

Throughout all of this, I must also endure countless "Hello Mr!"s,  "What's your name?"s, and  "I love you!"s along the way. I know most of these people mean well, but if only they could realize that they are not the only ones who choose to yell something at me! Usually I am pretty zen about the mild harassment, but when I'm trying to lug stuff home in the dark, it just adds to my stress. 

In conclusion, I've been a little frustrated by my inability to ACCOMPLISH STUFF in Surabaya. But I think I will get over it. Actually, I think I'll have to get over it. It's just a matter of time. And settling in.