My new house!

I have moved into a new house! I had been staying at the home of the director of the school but his home was very far both from my school and from the center of town.

The school bought a house and fixed it for me as well as other teachers and any volunteers who may come here after I leave. It's really really nice. It was an old house but they've done extensive renovations. The really nice thing about the school owning it is that they are completely furnishing it and I don't have to worry about paying for anything.

As you will see in the photos below, it's very green, which is kind of fun. I have counted four different shades of green: Lime, Forest, Sea foam, and um...regular. It's common here for houses to be painted very bright colors.

Maybe my favorite thing about the house is that because it is close to campus, I can be social with other teachers MUCH more easily. In Indonesia people usually leave their doors open and guests drop by unannounced whenever they feel like it and wonder in. this is such a warm tradition and great when you are getting to know new people. Teachers are always coming to the house to see how I'm doing and just hang out between classes or after class.When I lived at the family stay I didn't have much opportunity to socialize.

Right now I am living with one other teacher, Miss Enny, who is about my age I think and has pretty good English. There is also a guy who works for the school (i'm not exactly sure what he does, maybe groundskeeper or something? seems to be a general go-to-guy) named Mr Agus who has been spending a lot of time at the house helping to move heavy stuff and hang things and whatnot. They call him the house "Security" as a joke. He also drops by sometimes to see if I want to go to campus. He speaks no English whatsoever so communication with him is limited at best but sometimes his friends (male teachers from the school) come over in the evening and hang out on the porch drinking coffee and smoking. I was surprised by this, having heard that the genders are pretty separate here as far as socializing but since it doesn't seem to bother Miss Enny, it doesn't bother me. It's really nice to have people around to chat with.

I am told that in the future they will be adding internet to the house! This would be pretty amazing. right now I am using a cafe nearby. They are also going to make a guest room for me so my VIA friends from across Indonesia (and any of you american's who want to make the journey:) ) can stay with me easily.

I have a mailing address now, so letters and care packages are welcomed : )

Heather Nicole Phillips
Jl Ukel No 32
Kel. Kertosari Kec. Babadan
Kabupaten Ponorogo
Jawa Timur, Indonesia


First, my keys! Thanks Dad, for the key chain!



The bathroom is awesome. This is the first sit down toilet I've seen in this city.


bedroom - small but nice





Out back is still a work in progess....




stove and kettle


The only sink in the entire house


Nice little fridge


The kitchen!


Rice cooker and various containers


Kitchen stuff


The exit to the side porch


The common room


The side, facing the street


The side


Entrance Hall


The door stop and shoe area


Note the green



The Front door



The side of the house


My Green House


The front "yard"


Fake rocks/trees decorating the front area


Front porch


The front of the house


And this is the tree in the front yard-ish area