Friday, March 1, 2019

Walking to School

I am walking to Jakarta Intercultural School. It’s early in the morning. The sun hides behind hazy clouds. Humidity remains high.

Motorcycles swarm up the street. Engine noise—the rumble, growl and whine of mufflers—sets the cadence.


 I take big steps across uneven modular sidewalk stones. Stepping on a sidewalk cracks here is unavoidable.  It’s tough to walk and take pictures at the same time. I’m afraid if I pause too long over an open portal to the underworld, some sort of clawed reptilian hand may reach out and grab me.


“Hari, hati, hati...”—be careful my heart, one student says to another in Bahasa.

My heart, my son, sends his good morning text message. He’s up early and heading to school too: band rehearsal, an ultimate frisbee tournament. My husband pings in. He’s running evening errands in Florida: a grocery store, a thrift stop and drop.

I am walking up a gentle hill past flower vendors and Gojak cycles, past barber shops and fruit stalls. Tall stalks of white lillies and green leaves send fragile scents that don’t quite mask bus exhaust and watery air.



Today is the final day of Cultural Convention. Singapore American School’s  speak and debate teams have contestants in every round. Wish us luck!

Today is the first day of the annual Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted by Two Writing Teachers. Join us in writing and commenting and sharing each day during the month of March! 

5 comments:

  1. Your description of the reptilian capture-er from the underworld sounded like something I would imagine as well. There is something extra creepy about large cracks underfoot! Good luck at the convention!

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  2. I love this description: “I’m afraid if I pause too long over an open portal to the underworld, some sort of clawed reptilian hand may reach out and grab me.” There’s such a sense of wonder here. It reminds me of an imaginative childhood and the fantasies I conjured in my dreams.

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  3. What wonderful descriptions and pictures. So exciting to see teaching and writing from across the world. I will definitely be coming back for updates. Reading about Jakarta, and its warm and humid weather, is a respite from the cold and snow in my Virginia.

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  5. Thanks for talking us along your walk this day.

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