WorldCup Fever has struck!

Funny thing, though, in Indonesia... a country which, like my own, doesn't even have a team competing in the tourney!!!

Nonetheless, it has become something of a phenomenon... Maybe in part it is a welcome distraction for many people from their recent misfortune... because when I say it's a fever... it's EVERYWHERE. Even communities that are still seeking shelter under communal tarps have a tv of some description which they're powering by very sketchy-looking patch wiring jobs from the closest pole with electricity.

We have taken to watching the Ecuador games (hey, at least SOMEONE here has a team in the running! A fact Martin is VERY proud of...). There is a Nonton Berang ("Watching Together") spot next door to our homestay, and the neighbours get a real kick out of it when we come and watch the games with them. I'm not sure if they are amused merely by our presence, or more-so because of Martin's rather involved style of ACTIVELY watching HIS team play (or, as was the case with Germany, get pummelled!)... I have observed on occasion that they are not in fact watching the game, but are watching us (read, Martin)! HAHA! It's a lot of fun, that's for sure! The ambiance is really what attracted us in the first place... (aside from the fact that we can't actually SLEEP anyway, since the live games here happen from 8pm until about 4am, and they happen to be RIGHT next door!) The community has put up a 'projection tv' in the churchyard(ie a white sheet stretched between the columns of the church entrance)... and everyone who's anyone in the community, from young to old, are there watching!

Speaking of which... I'm off... the match against England is about to begin, and believe it or not, Ecuador has a pretty great-looking team this year! (I do have another post that's in the works... there'll be more soon)...