After spending a very relaxing morning working and learning Obama's life story on CNN, I took a taxi to the country director's house to attend his 3-year old son's birthday. Gathered at his very nice house were an assortment of American, British and Australian ex-pats with their children and nannies in tow. In no way do I judge the ex-pat life but I am not used to one that includes maids, nannies and general house help. In most of these families, both parents work and without the daycares of the western world, the nanny is an indispensable position. And from what I've heard, the nannies are far more reliable here than back home.
It was a pretty good shindig. The kids - mostly boys between the ages of 2 and 5 ran around, there was a water fight, lots of great food, a Pooh ice cream cake, and a Pooh pinata. Yes, pinatas are plentiful in Jakarta. A teacher from one of the international schools said that they are a part of most children's parties. The funny thing about this Pooh pinata was that the kids kept taking turns thwacking the poor bear but Pooh refused to yield. Half way through the beating, one parent muttered "It isn't one of the ones with wire is it?". And as the beast started to come apart, it was held in shape by chicken wire. Fortunately, the kids didn't care and when the host finally shook the candy out of the bear, the usual chaos ensued.
A Saturday afternoon well spent. A very friendly crew who all confirmed that Jakarta is a nice place to live as long as you have everything you need nearby because it takes forever to get anywhere at any time in this huge sprawling city. PS Check out this cool party idea - putting jello inside orange slices which then become little boats. Way cool.
After spending a very relaxing morning working and learning Obama's life story on CNN, I took a taxi to the country director's house to attend his 3-year old son's birthday. Gathered at his very nice house were an assortment of American, British and Australian ex-pats with their children and nannies in tow. In no way do I judge the ex-pat life but I am not used to one that includes maids, nannies and general house help. In most of these families, both parents work and without the daycares of the western world, the nanny is an indispensable position. And from what I've heard, the nannies are far more reliable here than back home. 
It was a pretty good shindig. The kids - mostly boys between the ages of 2 and 5 ran around, there was a water fight, lots of great food, a Pooh ice cream cake, and a Pooh pinata. Yes, pinatas are plentiful in Jakarta. A teacher from one of the international schools said that they are a part of most children's parties. The funny thing about this Pooh pinata was that the kids kept taking turns thwacking the poor bear but Pooh refused to yield. Half way through the beating, one parent muttered "It isn't one of the ones with wire is it?". And as the beast started to come apart, it was held in shape by chicken wire. Fortunately, the kids didn't care and when the host finally shook the candy out of the bear, the usual chaos ensued.
A Saturday afternoon well spent. A very friendly crew who all confirmed that Jakarta is a nice place to live as long as you have everything you need nearby because it takes forever to get anywhere at any time in this huge sprawling city. PS Check out this cool party idea - putting jello inside orange slices which then become little boats. Way cool.
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