an entry somewhere else

I don’t really know where to start on this post. I’ve been in Banda Aceh almost five weeks and my mind is chock-full of things that I’ve wanted to tell people who have asked specific questions, as well as certain happenings that reflect the current mood and what-not of Aceh in the news.

Banda Aceh has been closer to being closed up than any city I’ve been in during Ramadan in Indonesia. Even some of the regular stores ’sleep-in’ and open later in the afternoon. Other shops close during the evening prayer time and feasting, never to open again that evening. The evening walks I take in the neighborhood are free of most traffic of any kind. I’m the only person having a walk around this time.

The recent truce between the Free Aceh Movement and the Indonesian government has opened up the province to more investment recently. With the separatist movement occurring, investment was quite low despite the richness of the area. Now, with a sort of peace, investment is stepping up and things should develop quicker. There has been a recent uproar in the press as the director of reconstruction was quoted, perhaps mistakenly, as saying that Sharia law has stunted the development and/or reconstruction of the province post-tsunami. He has denied stating this, but saying something to the effect that foreign investors are concerned on how Sharia law will affect their investments in the province. I would say that anyone would be concerned on how local laws will impact their business. In order to move the discussion away from the statement, the director also boasted 100,000 homes built in Banda Aceh. According to the director, that is more homes in the same period than any other disaster reconstruction in the past ten years. Yet, I go to the river and look at the string of displaced persons housing for quite a spell.

I’m heading off on vacation on Friday. All of my students will also be heading to their home, or mudik, literally ‘up the river’ according to my dictionary. I’ll be meeting up with colleagues, seeing more of Bali than I have in the past years, and enjoying myself. It’s a vacation after all. I hope to take some pictures and, eventually, upload them for your enjoyment. The ability to do this may be hampered by my internet connection. For the time being, breathe in the October air and enjoy the weather.