He looked at our group and gave us a smile and a wave, but he had to keep going. We weren't disappointed, as it was just exciting given how unlikely the whole situation was. We were foriegners who just happened to have a mid-year conference this week, and if we hadn't noticed our manager friend looking anxious, we probably would have just gone straight to our rooms.
Eventually we all did snap our picture with the President, who came across as very humble and extremely patient with the hordes of people getting his attention for a picture after hearing that he was in the area. He left just as he came in, with a smile like that of someone's level-headed grandfather wearing modest clothes that spoke of balance and understanding. How exciting!
This week, I read a couple of stories written by Indonesian high school students. They mostly had the recurring theme of home. I also read books of Indonesian folktales and legends. I also read some of last year's student submissions to a nationwide storytelling competition. This year, I will bring the winner of my school's storytelling competition to compete in Jakarta, along with my colleagues' chosen winner as well.
This week, I participated in early morning zumba and other choreographed dances at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium Park. Pretty much everywhere in Indonesia, people love to host public dance activities as a form of weekend exercise. The music and easy-to-follow dance moves encourage the locals to dance in public without hesitation.
