Independence Day...

Saturday was Independence Day for Indonesia. They had a, highly anticipated, celebration at sports hall on the field that started at 7:00 am. Mike had to work and Hannah was at a sleepover so it was just the Lil Masie Dude and me. We walked up to the sports field around 8:30 in hopes to watch the, highly buzzed about, dance competition. Most every department from the company had to participate. The goal was for them to represent a culture and area of the very dynamic Indonesia. There were groups that represented Bali, Lombok etc. Mason and I just missed the flag raising and gun salute when we arrived. There was a transition from the ceremony to the dance competition. Mason and I were standing amongst the majority of the Indonesian employees, security and police when we started to get surrounded by people who wanted to take a picture with us. It turned chaotic very quickly and we were engulfed by picture taking people and a mass of onlookers. It was very overwhelming and quite ridiculous, in my opinion, but that is just what happens here. It seriously felt like the paparazzi and Mas and I were of importance but really we're just freaky looking white people. Thinking about it now, I just laugh. Mason didn't think it was funny. He started to melt down and that's when I decided to move on to another part of the field. On the way I did get some pictures of some of the groups. At that point, Mason had totally had it and it was time to go. We were lucky enough to meet up with a friend who walked us to another friends' apartment that over looks the field. We got Mason set up on the Wii and we got to enjoy the festivities from a distance and with a great view!

 

It was such a neat experience (being mauled and all) and I am so lucky to have gotten the opportunity to see Indonesia's true uniqueness!