If all goes to plan, this will be my first of 2 Christmas’s in Fatuquero. I’ve been in Timor-Leste 3 months, but it feels much much longer.
I am getting used to being here. I have a running route which I do some mornings, have got my first decent mountainous bike ride in and I have made the effort to get to know people around the village. I make it a point to say “hello, how are you” to everyone I meet and wave to every motorbike or car that passes by. It’s actually tiring/exhausting, but it gets me known and I hope projects a “good impression” (I think that’s true). That’s huge in a community where everybody knows you and knows what you do (seemingly on a daily basis).
I’ve been busy preparing to teach English from January 2025 (that was NOT in the plan). It’s something my organizations want and need. So, I decided to take an online TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course over the holiday here so I can try and be ready. I have never taught English in my life, and my school education in English consisted of…. well I cant remember too much…. probably too busy day dreaming or thinking of my next bike ride 🚵♀️. So parts of the TEFL course have been really tough for me. I have actually created a page on my blog so I can post information to my students that they can read on their mobile phones as very few people have access to a computer here. Fingers crossed that all goes well.
I am also helping one of the community members, Mana Adriana, start and run Saturday English/Science club for the local children here. I’m excited about that. I am hoping I can inspire some young Engineers here in Fatuquero 🙂. More on that as we start 👍.
Obtaining teaching materials is tough here, even in Gleno close to us. I luckily managed to make a day trip into the capital Dili with my host Brother, Lemos, to buy a couple of whiteboard so I can teach at FJDE and the Saturday club. I find that getting things “done” here can be much more challenging compared to my life in California. But maybe that’s the point of being here 🤔.
Christmas Day
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were relatively busy here with many family members in and out of the house and kids everywhere 😁. As predicted….. the large karaoke speaker was rolled out and many “kantador sira” were willing to show off their singing skills (including me 😁 with a John Lennon and an Oasis song which seemed to be completely unknown here 🤔). The “Kantador Boot” is my host brother Lemos who loves to sing. I post a few photos of the evenings events below. The table of food photo, you will see what look like packages wrapped in banana leaves. These have cooked rice in them which is slightly spiced with, what tastes like, curry. The name is Katupa. They must take ages to make, only for special occasions.. super tasty😋.
I walked to Church on Christmas Eve. I think, because of the constant threat of power outage (normally a daily occurrence here at the moment), the church has their Christmas Eve mass earlier in the day, at 5PM, so that if the power goes out, it’s not a big deal. It was a nice service with lots of people (good to show my face). Afterwards I walked back with a couple of friends and their children in the dark and I tried to capture in a photo below. I like to follow the Tetun language during the Mass (helps my Tetun improve 👍).
I have enjoyed interacting with the kids and teens in Fatuquero 😁. Yes, the teens are “well” cheeky, buy I can be cheeky too.. (I also was a cheeky teen for many years…) so it works out. I always stop to say hi and ask how they are doing. Some photos below of the “nakar teen” 😂 (translates to “habitual naughty person”).
I finish this post with a photo of my host sister, Cisca, and my host Father (he calls me “Malai” I call him “Senor” 😁). Its a great photo of them both and I know they will not mind me posting. Senor has a good sense of humor, but does not understand a word of my “Malai Tetun” 🤔.
Next post soon. Its New Years Eve here and I think I will celebrate New Year before most of you reading this. I wish you a healthy and happy 2025 🥳🎉.
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