Day 17: You gotta get up pretty early...

The rhythms of Indonesian life come alive at the break of dawn - literally. Normally, I set my alarm for 6:00 a.m., and I still have the distinct feeling that I am a bit behind. This morning, I got up earlier to fit in a work out before heading to the office, and I felt like I might have finally struck the same beat as my coworkers and the streets of Jakarta. At 5 a.m.

In my youth, my dad attempted to impress upon us that the day was wasted by sleeping in. He always insisted that he was "up with the birds," and often this was the case when I was a kid. Having grown up on a farm, the important chores had to be done in the coolness of the morning and before heading to school or dedicating time to other projects. Summers spent on that farm with my grandparents involved the banging of pots, pans, and doors starting at the break of light. I suspect the Uhler side of my family would be right at home here in Indonesia!

The mosques in my neighborhood resound with reverberations of the call to prayer right around 4:30 a.m. The streets begin to buzz and those who are faithful (and who have long commutes) are up to begin their day before the heat and traffic jams develop. Many here in Jakarta travel 2-3 hours before arriving at work, so an early start is critical. In light of what they face daily to get in and out of this city, I regret any complaints I've ever uttered about commuting a measly hour to work.

Me? I am adapting. Thanks to the hangover of jet lag, I awake early to get a start on my day. The office is in full swing by 7:30 so I, too, am up with the birds and ready for what Indonesia may bring my day. It's refreshing to meet the day at its beginning and to wane not long after darkness settles in. It feels unsettling to have nearly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night in contrast to the changing of seasons in more northern latitudes. However, I kind of like the feeling of building a routine around the daylight. After all, with a cup of coffee, mornings can be the very best thinking and creative hours.So, I am with the Indonesians - early to bed, early to rise...with the birds.