
In Indonesian culture, you have your own farewell party - or separation from one neighborhood to another. Two Sundays ago, I hosted just that for our neighborhood ladies.
I had 47 ladies attend with about 7 children. Six ladies were not able to come, but food boxes were set aside and their names written on them. Other ladies were assigned the job of delivering them.
The order of the even was just like any other neighborhood ladies meeting - individual prayer time, standing to sing the meeting song, reading of the 10 goes for neighborhood ladies and then another reading... You give your money for different things and the neighborhood lady leader goes through the announcements for items of discussion passed down to her from the larger neighborhood area. Before this ended, I gave my speach to the ladies, thanking them for their friendship and help as we learned language along with the times that we were asked to take more of an active part. I had to appoligize for any thing that we did or said that offended any of them and invited them all to come and visit us at our new house. :) The neighborhood lady leader then responded to me and then I helped pass out my food boxes. :)
It was a good time and a good closing for me and the ladies. I will miss them, but plan to visit. :)