Community Service Day 6 - Boosting Morale
The sixth day of our service was spent on resting due the previous laborious days. We decided not to have any meeting nor going outside nor taking any invitation. We were focusing on rejuvenating ourselves and gathering more energy for the upcoming week. The day off was necessary since some students were already feeling low, discouraged, dejected and homesick. It was a necessary pre-caution before all of us burning out and we wouldn't get any optimal result from our activities and projects.
My team and I realized, time is the only valuable currency that we have. It's limited and scarce. Still with our limitation, we seem to manage it poorly. For instance, we don't have fixed schedule for our projects nor our daily activities. Even so it is suffice to say, we wake up at around 5-6 a.m daily. Then, whoever is responsible for going to the market, washing dishes or cleaning the house will do their chores until 9.00 a.m. I, as the head cook in this unit usually wake up at around 6 a.m almost daily. I am responsible for cooking daily since I choose this activity. I like cooking so I don't think it is really a chore to do it. Hence, I and another student in this unit visit the nearby traditional market every morning at around 7.00 a.m.
The traditional market that I usually visit is located nearby our housing. It's only 10 minutes ride through rice fields with coconut trees at sight. In the morning, the way to the market is often still hazy. There's an atmosphere of gloomy and somber. Regardless, I still enjoy my morning ride to the market.
The traditional market in this place is small. The sellers don't often come daily but it only gets crowded during a certain day according to a javanese calendar.However, I have yet to learn the history or folktales surrounding that phenomenon.
So, the goods which are sold here are varied. We can find vegetables, spices, meat, dairy and even snacks. It's fairly diverse for a small sized traditional market. I decided to go here daily because it's one of the nearest traditional market since I only have an hour to shop and another hour to cook.
I am rather surprised of the pricing in this market. For instance, a piece of this rye-looking-pancake, is only 2000 idr/ 4 pieces. Then, the ball looking cake with sesame seeds cost only 1000/piece. The cheapest snacks I found was costing 500idr/piece. Even so, the taste is quite decent so I wonder how can they make such delicious snacks and sell it very cheap.
As the sky gets brighter, we leave the market with our shopping bag filled with vegetables and sometimes meat. I like to cook once but in bulk. So students get to eat twice a day or even three times if they wish. Then we will continue our activity until the dawn.
Our service keeps getting more challenging and demanding. We need to keep our mental and physical health in check before dealing with different kind of individual in this village. I, myself craved my privacy. I wish my service would be over soon yet when I look at the calendar, it's only been six days. On a personal note, I find it intriguing when people say I am an extrovert while I don't identify as one. Perhaps, I am just good at blending in and I understand the art of camouflaging.
I applaud you for the community service that you were taking part in. I know that it's hard to focus when you are feeling low and discouraged and especially homesick, but try to remember that this is something wonderful that you are doing and perhaps you will not have an opportunity to come back this way again.
I wasn't sure on the price of things but I will do the conversion so I can figure out whether it was a good deal or a bad deal for me. It sounds like you are enjoying your time as a cook and it sounds like the market has much to offer you. I'm going to have to read the Backstreet on where you are actually from and how you came to do your community service. I find it interesting the market and I hope that you will send us another Market soon as it really is a wonderful way to discover your culture. Thank you so much and I appreciate you taking the time and energy to post.
#MARKETFRIDAY LOVES YOU!!
Upped and steemed
!tip
Hey @dswigle, Thank you for the tip and your words of encouragement. I apologize that I just got the time to reply your comment, it's been a hectic week. I really appreciate you are taking the time to read this poorly written post. I will make sure, next time and if I have more spare time, I will write a proper one. As of the pricing, it was a very good deal. I live in Indonesia where the currency denominations are high. It starts from 1,000 to 100,000. So, imagine getting a snack for only 1,000 or 2,000 that's definitely a good deal.
No problem! I had no trouble with the post, as a matter of fact, I quite enjoyed it. I agree that is an amazing price!
You are welcome to join #MarketFriday any week!
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