Miss/Won't Miss

As things wind down and in hopes of savoring my remaining time, I've been trying to prepare myself for what I will miss after 2+ years here. 

I also found it helpful to document those things I currently believe it will not be sad to leave behind. Time will tell, however, if even those become fond memories down the line.

Miss

Won’t Miss? (or will eventually grow into the things I miss)

PEOPLE!!! Fam, friends, neighbors, kiddies, teachers, students, PC Staff, PCVs Riding my bike to school and having multiple people wave and call out my name Open doors and random little kids visiting Hanging on the porch The nap as a revered part of culture Bakpia Fresh tropical fruits: mango, salak, rambutan, duku, durian, sirsak, mangosteen, starfruit Bananas that taste like something Picking noses out in the open being considered acceptable Random texts about Indonesian life from PCVs Rice paddies Guitar guys on the buses playing John Lennon or Tracy Chapman The ease and mutual understanding of allowing a stranger to fall asleep on me or vice versa on long bus trips Packed lunches Calls to prayer Ledre Meals served in banana leaves Jus alpokat Tempe People asking to “Main ke rumahku”, literally meaning “play at my house”. People saying, “Posisi di mana?” Or “What is your position?” like we are pilots or at war. Texting or speaking in IndoEnglish and being able to pick whichever word is shortest. “See you besok!” The way students and teachers will clap and say “Yay” so sincerely like they are on a family sitcom. People thinking I’m beautiful even at times when I am quite obviously not People thinking I’m hilarious Getting quick laughs just by throwing out a Javanese phrase Hearing my name being called as I run or ride my bike “Mbak Erin!”  Being called "mbak"  Sleeping 5 PCVs to a bed Rp 5,000 McDonalds sundaes My becak guys My guys at the bus terminal   Walking around town like I own the place Having all my meals prepared for me Goats in becaks Babies in jilbabs Not worrying about money Drinking beverages out of plastic bags It being OK for adults to have Tom & Jerry pencil cases or wear Hello Kitty skirts Twinkies! (couple wearing matching attire) No plan or schedule    Being able to bring immediate joy to a small child Bus rides  Onde onde Hearing words like "mughi-mughi" or "lanjutkan" Kids playing in the rain daily Chocolate milk prepared for me twice daily Dads and grandads holding babies while ibus sweep Volcanoes Getting practically anywhere for under $5  Saleems and the pramuka handshake Mango season Sahur wake-up calls Buka puasa Es buah Rp 1,000 soy milk Gandum sari cookies

Not being able to be grumpy, miserable, annoyed whenever I want People planning events around me before even asking if I am free or want to attend Cats That animal skin that sometimes appears in food Rocks, staples, hair that sometimes appear in food Being asked to be in photos w strangers Bus drivers who are allowed to stop the bus mid-route to eat, hang out, or generally roll at a ridiculously slow pace when there is no one to pick up Attempts at cheating Ayu Ting2, dangdut People calling repeatedly and not getting the hint that you won’t answer the phone Loud sneezes Farting openly being acceptable Constant claustrophobia Throwing up being a common activity on buses Same questions over and over Marketing scheme of dumping books, snacks, flashlights etc on your lap on the bus in hope that you buy it Bread always having something in it. I miss plain! People not looking when they pull out in front of me when I'm on my bike Inhaling burning plastic or garbage smells while running Whistling being inappropriate for girls Always being different The following being shouted at me and somehow still getting rousing laughs from boys of varying ages: “Bule!” “Yes, No.” “Mister", "Ching chong." This last one always gets me as it is a racial stab at being Chinese, which I'm not. In these instances, I feel in solidarity in taking one for the Chinese.  Lack of privacy and people always trying to look at what I am doing on my computer Lack of anonymity Low talking People not understanding my accent (“Stretch your ears! I do it for you!”) People grasping onto me when we barely know each other Waiting 15 minutes at the neighborhood Indomaret when there are 6 people working, but only one working register Mysterious illness that I’ve never had before: masuk angin, mual (nauseous) for days, muscle aches, dengue Lack of hugs   Someone videoing me as I am minding my own business, eating an apple and asking me to say something in Javanese Lack of dancing No plan or schedule Being able to bring immediate terror to a small child Bus rides People questioning my rice portions Sule Did I mention cats?   Hearing about my married co-workers' birth control methods People generally treating me just as a photo op and not even bothering to try to talk to me  Constant sweating Laron-laron  Those guys who do their sales pitch in the teacher room. They always target me. Like I need another blender!   Ironing my pajamas  Ironing, in general Mohon maaf-ing  The pervasive teaching of "free sex from the West" warping minds here Car trips which usually involve stopping at least 3 times for praying or eating or picking up other passengers when the car is already full