Indonesia 2000, Part 3

SUNDAY 18 JUNE

A bit of faffing around, together with having to wait for a bus (eventually taking a seven
seater), meant that it was nearly 2pm when we 
arrived in Padang. Went straight to the Universitas Negeri Padang. Asked for directions to the
students' union but before we could follow them I heard
calls from two of the three students that we'd met on the Bonjol-Bukitinnggi journey. They took us
to the students' union where we were offered to spend the 
night. We were only too happy to accept. 

It was a Sunday so only met a handful of students. They were very nice, friendly, hospitable and
happy to meet us and I was too even though most of them 
seemed to be studying engineering!

Went out to lunch ( at a mall near the uni.) with one of the students. Afterwards, I caught up on
some writing while Mustafa went for a walk about
town with his fellow engineer. 

Before leaving for lunch we left a message for the other student we met on Thursday that we'd be
back to the union by 9pm. He was there to meet us but
Mustafa and the student got back at 9:15pm and I even later. Unfortunately, Rusman was very busy
and couldn't wait. So we went to his home and woke him up! 

Returned to the union to watch Spain v Slovenia in the Euro 2000. Tried to sleep after but ended
up watching Yugoslavia v Norway too. And Tiger Woods
winning the US Open by 13 shots!
  

MONDAY 19 JUNE

We slept on the floor of the union office so despite sleeping very late we woke up very early - at
about 7:30pm. Missed another appointent with Rusman, this 
time we were all at the same place but Mustafa and I were asleep! And he was too nice to wake us
up!

Spent the morning and early afternoon meeting students, lecturers and the university rectors. We
talked about everything from Indonesia's economic and 
political problems to university life in England. They wanted to know everything about student
life in England, even mundane things like when the libraries
open and how many books one is allowed to loan! I didn't see much of Padang but it was great to
spend the time talking to the students and making new friends.

Our bus for Sunagipenuh was meant to leave at 6pm. Due to Mustafa lacking any sense of time we
nearly missed it, arriving only a minute or so before it was 
due to leave and that after taking a taxi! But, as it turned out, the bus left half and hour late.
Spent the waiting time talking a guy with a seriously exagerated
French accent!