Photoshoot?

On September 20^th, after church the YALTers and several Indonesian host family members went to a parade in Salatiga.  Little did the YALTers know that we would become apart of the parade. The parade started 2 hours late, but we were not just waiting around in the shade, we were posing for pictures with strangers and talking with undercover cops.  Several ordinary looking men approached our group and started asking questions about us.  An undercover cop took a picture with Valarie and I while making the joke that he has 2 wives.

The parade finally begins and I breathe a sigh of relief because this means that I am done being in pictures.  The military march in wearing camouflage and face paint while playing various instruments. I thought I knew what to expect, but what happens next still bewilders me.  The parade halted and some YALTers walked up to them (in the middle of the street) requesting a picture.  I tried to hide so that they wouldn’t pull me into the picture.  I didn’t want to take a picture with them because I feel uncomfortable smiling and thus approving of whatever it is the military does.  Also, the pictures are not my property.  I don’t know if my image will be used to promote things I don’t approve. After the picture I sat down on the sidewalk, but the photoshoot continued for another 15 minutes.  At one point, an officer eased his way between Valarie and I on the sidewalk to get a picture.  YALTers were in high demand, posing for group photos with the military and with fellow bystanders. Finally, the parade mysteriously begins again and we saw some very intricately designed costumes.

I am still adjusting to being a foreigner.  I often don’t like the attention from strangers.  But I have to realize that sometimes, Indonesians are just excited to see a foreigner because some of them can’t travel as much as I can.