Here is a quick photo update of a few things I've done since I last posted to the blog in September. I probably forgot a few things, but I'll get more photos updated to the album soon!

There is a big river in our village, so some of the kids decided to take me hiking to it. We walked through rice fields, past many banana and coconut trees, waded through mud that was knee-deep and finally arrived at this beautiful view overlooking the breathtaking scenery that’s in my backyard. =)

Here is Endri, my host cousin, taking it all in before jumping off the big rock into the river.

Went camping with my students in Palang Merah Remaja (Youth Red Cross) to Lamongan Mountain!

Ayu and I tried to keep up with the kids, but we realized that we need a full night of sleep...

The moon and the mountain… gorgeous.

Watching the sun rise in the morning.

Made jack-o-lanterns, ate tons of candy, and watched Beetle Juice with the English Club for Halloween.

Did I mention that I got to meet the President? =) Here’s a picture of our group waiting around for him to arrive in our private tent next to the speech venue. Still waiting for the actual picture with Mr. Obama to arrive, but here are some other ones until then!

The badges we were given to get into University of Indonesia for the President’s speech.

After meeting the President, we were escorted to our seats—Reserved/”Special” Peace Corps Volunteers—as “Special guests of the First Lady”

Then we watched the President give an amazing speech at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Came back and celebrated Idul-Adha in the village again. Went to the mosque with my host sister =)

On our walk to the mosque…it is so peaceful and beautiful as the sun rises over the village in the morning.

Did Thanksgiving Indonesia-style with Rujak Manis (fresh fruit served with a spicy peanut and sweet soy sauce dip), Es Kelapa Muda (tender coconut water), and Pumpkin Kolak (pumpkin pieces cooked in sweet coconut milk—because we have to have something pumpkin-made for Thanksgiving).

Made “hand turkeys” on Thanksgiving Day in my classes.

Cut one of my students’ hair after he was given a really bad haircut at school…actually I didn’t do much…I probably made it worse. He later went to the barber and got it fixed for real. But it was pretty funny to watch.

Hiked to a waterfall, about an hour away from my house, with some of my students.

It was SO steep….up and down, up and down….it was so slippery. And of course, I fell. Three times. So the little rascals took pictures of me.

After slipping and sliding through mud for about half an hour we finally arrived at this serene and refreshing oasis, Sobyok. Three waterfalls in one…a tiny one, a medium –sized one that felt like you were getting a massage when you stood under it, and a huge one that we couldn’t even get under because it was too strong.

Such a natural beauty, and we had the place all to ourselves!

The group—yeah, camera timer!—Ilham, Yazid, Rimo, Komang, and me!