It's Basketball Time in.....Nommensen!

Our house comes complete with a basketball court in the front yard. Actually it's across the driveway from us, but our front porch gives us a great viewing platform for the neighborhood games. The court is a gathering place almost every day for a group of young people, some of whom live nearby while others arrive on motor bikes and cars. I think the basketball players must have tapped into some stimulus funds, because last week they all pitched in to renovate the facility. They removed part of one backboard in order to replace the boards and reattach the rim.They also spent several days patching uneven places in the court. They used cement.
When it rains here, it pours! With a major storm beginning, everyone scattered to find banana leaves and palm branches to cover the wet cement.
The next step was to paint the backboards....pink! I'll have to ask why pink. I imagine it was the color of paint that was available.
Kids don't try this at home! When your ladder is not tall enough to reach the top of the backboard, you just climb up and hang over. These guys climbed the backboards by putting one foot on each supporting pole and just walking up.
Almost done. I didn't pay attention to the graffiti they covered up. Maybe it says "Bruce Pearl had me over for a bar-b-q!"
Yesterday there were several smaller boys (including Johannes, our next door neighbor) shooting baskets at the opposite end of the court from the really serious game. I decided this was a good opportunity to join them. I was teaching them the old "give and go" play. They liked that, and ran around the court in their bare feet.
Cement dust is every where. The court now has only a thousand rough spots on it, but the areas under the baskets are smooth. Later we were joined by Siska, Fine, Duma and Leonne. Siska has great form in her jump shot. Duma has an awesome "over the head" bomber shot from long distance, and Fine is definitely a tough "in the paint" player. Leonne preferred to stand on the sidelines and give Batak dancing lessons. Even Nancy joined in and showed off some of her Hoosier shooting technique.

Palm Oil Harvesting

Last Friday we were walking home and saw that the palm oil harvest was taking place in the neighborhood. Even though we have driven through many palm oil groves and seen countless trucks carrying the harvested kernels, we never considered that the very tall palm trees in our neighborhood also held kernels in their crowns. Here is the incredibly sharp knife that is attached to a long pole for cutting the kernels.To swing the blade up to the tree top, the harvester first plants the base of the pole by the base of the tree and pushes up the pole.
Then the blade is moved into position. Many times a branch or two must be cut in order to reach the kernel. The branches come crashing down. I'm sure a good harvester is smart enough not to be standing under the branch or kernel when they fall.
There were two harvesters who methodically worked through all the trees in the neighborhood. We are told that they come through once a month.
When the kernels hit the ground it feels like a mini-earthquake.
The kernel is a big bundle of many small fruits, each full of oil or liquid that will be processed into oil.
A helper loads each kernel into a wheelbarrow and takes them to the truck. Notice that he does not try to lift the kernel as it is very heavy.
At the truck the workers weigh the kernel. I think the kernels must have a minimum weight in order to qualify for sale.
The scale consisted of a pole with a balancing weight.
Then the two workers spear the kernel....
...and heave it up into the truck.

Jacob, One Coconut, One Machete, and Many Girls

Disclaimer: this event was not witnessed or approved by either parental unit. This happened several weeks ago.

Jacob was visited by some friends who brought him some rambutan, which is the red spiky fruit. They explained that it could be picked from nearby trees, and off they went.
They disappeared for some time. When Jacob returned he told us a story about cracking open coconuts with a machete. He brought pictures to illustrate his story. Evidently the girls showed him how to strike the coconut with the machete, then let him have a try.
Just like every other event in Indonesia, a group picture was organized. Note: this is not the porch of our house, but a house on the neighboring grounds of the seminary.
Jacob said that he was not successful in peeling off the outer layers but the girls had mastered the technique.
Once the coconut is cracked open then you drain off the milk and scrape out the meat.
They even had a special contraption for this. It looks like a big iron spoon attached to a stool.

A Blast on a Becak

Today we were away from the university and had to return relatively quickly. Bertha and Reina decided that a becak ride was the best bet. Pronounced "bay cha", this transportation form consists of an old motorcycle with a covered side car attached. They say the seat is wide enough for two people but there are some size limitations! It makes an economy class airline seat seem like a royal throne.We had to fold up almost double in order to fit in.
The becak drivers have two mirrors to look out for approaching traffic. They putt putt along and don't go more than 25 mph.
This is looking back to Jacob and Nancy's becak. All you can really see is Jacob's lower leg pressed against the front of their vehicle. I believe Jacob has grown quite a bit in our five weeks here.
Once again, looking back to Nancy and Jacob. Note the driver has his jacket on backwards. This just makes sense, as the wind presses it against his body rather than ripping it off.
I shared my becak with Reina. I believe she enjoyed sharing the experience with me, although this was certainly not her first becak ride. The reading materials, I believe, are for the becak driver while he is awaiting his fare. I can't believe anyone would actually read a book while riding in one of these.
Home again in one piece!
My becak driver said that he gets his picture taken all the time, and made sure I knew that his motorcycle was from England. I didn't have the heart to tell him he needed a Harley to really rule Siantar,

Bread Update: Success!

My bread customers in Knoxville need not worry. I have kept in practice and will return soon! Here's today's output. I've taken to making big rolls or mini-loaves, which are easy to share. I'm starting to win over some folks here in Siantar, but until I put a truckload of sugar in each loaf, the appeal will be limited.

A Visit to the Famous Buddha Guan Yin

After spotting the towering statue while on our way to the Methodist School last week, and then again from the roof of Anton's house, we made it a priority to give it a visit today. We were joined by many of our close friends, students from Nommensen.Nancy and Sun peek around a statue of a Chinese warrior/God? - sorry, there was no brochure for those of us who don't know Mandarin - while standing in front of the water lotus base of the Buddha statue.
Sun impressed us with her ability to interpret the images from the mural.
We walked through several interesting neighborhoods on the way to and from the statue. We found this mural right next to the road, and I believe I heard Jacob saying "my mom and dad look a lot better in their hats!"
It was a hot day and after baking in the sun for awhile we stopped for a cold drink. You'll have to stitch these two pictures together to get the panorama of our table. I was too tired to get up to snap the wide angle shot.
Most of us are drinking Fanta Strawberry, a taste I've taken a liking to. Jacob enjoyed two apple juices and said they were the best ever.

Spider Update: Boris Expands Territory

We returned from our long journey to the southern regions of lake Toba late Saturday night, ready to collapse into bed, when Jacob yelled and he had reason to yell. He found Boris lurking right inside the door of his bedroom, right next to his bed!Don't trouble me with any details, such as, "it doesn't look like Boris from the bath tub!" We want to be optimistic and think there is only one big spider in the house. Jacob snapped these shots but unfortunately when the pressure was on, the spider escaped Jacob's murderous intent. Jacob was so tired that he went to bed anyway. We are getting a bit used to this, and will be happy to rejoin the land of the Terminex man!