RestlessWanderlust

A new day traveling means new people to meet.  I would estimate that on the average day traveling I meet at least 15 people.  Unfortunately, even at home with names that I’m accustomed to, I can shake someone’s hand and hear their name and 2 minutes later I won’t have the slightest idea what their name is.  I know, it’s an absolutely horrible trait to have and I’m working on it!  Even worse though is trying to remember a name that you aren’t really sure that you understood as it was coming out of the person’s mouth.  This is what happens traveling outside of the Americas and Europe.

Bali, however, has been a bit different when it comes to names.  After meeting up in Bali with my fabulous friend who is currently in the Peace Corps here in Indonesia, we made our way to our bungalow near Bali’s highest volcano – more on that later.  Throughout the first day we met a number of the staff members and after meeting the fourth Wayan, we were a bit confused.  Were we imagining things?  I know we met different people and not the same person four times!

It turns out that there are only 4 names you really have to learn in Bali.  Depending on your birth order, childern are named either Wayan, Made, Nyoman, or Ketut.  This is my kind of place!  Not only were the names easy to remember, but right off the bat you know a little about the person by knowing his birth order.  I feel badly for the teachers in school when they are trying to call on students or pick one out to discipline, and I sure wouldn’t want the same name as everyone else on the island, but for me, this makes things a piece of cake!