10 February 2006 @ 2:05pm.
“Disiplin dimulai dari diri sendiri.” / “Discipline begins from within oneself.”
(Sign seen in my neighborhood)
It takes discipline to start and maintain one’s own research project. Things seem to be easier when you’re in classes and a professor is there to dictate to you what you need to do and when it is due. It also takes discipline to wear heels all day. I have to alternate days of heels and flats because I just can’t do heels everyday! Finally, one needs discipline when it comes to dealing with bureaucracies. I have finished reporting to the most local levels of authority, but still have to return to the Governor’s Office and Police Department in the coming weeks.
I finally made it to LSI’s office yesterday. LSI stands for Lembaga Survei Indonesia or the Indonesia Survey Institute. I am usually based at the Freedom Institute, but LSI and I will be working closely together on surveys. The office itself has a more business-like environment; Freedom Institute is a renovated old house.
I am now trying to flesh out more of my research proposal, but hit some blocks, so I have had to turn to looking up books that are more Indonesia-oriented. I found several that may be quite useful. I’m waiting for copies to be made of certain chapters and then I’ll start reading.
I also ordered business cards and look forward to getting them next week.
Things are “biasa” (usual/ordinary); no major adventures to report. I did have some fantastic Sundanese food two days ago. 
One interesting note has been the peculiar experience of speaking with some people and completely understanding everything they say in Indonesian, but then speaking with someone else and not following one word at all. In some cases, it’s almost like I don’t know any Indonesian! It can be very confusing, and I wonder how much of the problem is me and how much it is the other person…
