June 2006 Newsletter by Adrian Julian

Adrian Julian, graduated from UNC two years ago. He grew up in the Banner Elk Church and is now doing short-term mission work in Indonesia. Representing the Presbyterian Church USA, he is teaching English in a Christian school in Yogyakarta, Java, but has also been asked to have discussions in English with the faculty and staff who want to engage a “native English speaker.” Meanwhile, he is taking lessons in Indonesian, even though his term of service there is for just six months.

Adrian writes that very few Westerners are now in that predominantly Muslim country. He is often told that “many people do not like Americans,” but he has found great personal friendliness from everyone. He is enjoying adjusting to different customs. For instance, “People will ask you if you have showered! This is not being rude, so I can’t be shy about hopping into their showers. Most folks take along a change of clothes and a towel, so they can shower frequently (humid climate). Showering is done with a scoop, which is very effective... It is very rude to prop up your legs or feet... With older people, you should not hold eye contact for very long.. Indonesians are extremely polite and quick to forgive...”

Representing our church is done in natural ways, mainly through normal conversations, Adrian says. He adds that his teaching has improved, and he is learning more than he ever imagined. He also says that he has no idea what he will do after this, but he feels that God wants him to be in Indonesia at this time.

Adrian: After the Earthquake
~ Adrian Julian by email two days after the earthquake

I was jolted awake by an earthquake Saturday morning around 6 a.m. Afterwards, my surrounding environment seemed to be fine, so I brushed the dirt off of my bed and tried to get another 30 minutes of sleep. Having never experienced an earthquake, I didn’t realize the size of the quake or the severity of the problem.

The worry on my friend Waahyu’s face shattered my naïve perception that everything was all right. Still, I thought I needed to be at the office by 8 to teach an English class. A friend of mine was driving me to work when people came running up the street yelling, “Tsunami! Tsunami!” As she began to turn the motorcycle around I mentioned that it would be impossible for any tsunami to reach us so far from the ocean. She replied shortly, “This is Indonesia, you don’t know Indonesia!” I decided it was better to be quiet and go with the flow. So we turned the bike around and headed back to my house. By the time we arrived she realized that a tsunami really couldn’t reach us and apologized for being curt with me. Waahyu informed me that when he arrived home people where fleeing from the south in fear of a tsunami, and from the north in fear of the Volcano. What an experience! I’d never witnessed group hysteria and fear.

I have since visited Bantul, the area of Yogyakarta with the most damage. I’m unable to describe the pain of the people I saw there. I went with some friends by motorcycle and we carried what food supplies we were able. Lucky to be here and to be healthy, I don’t know exactly how I’ll be helping out in the upcoming weeks. Class has been canceled at the university for at least a week.