Staying in a village can really put you in the moment–for a multitude of reasons–and that’s exactly what happened when I spent 3 weeks living/teaching in Tiakar Guguak, part of Payakumbuh, Western Sumatra, in Indonesia, recently. It was quite an experience, one that was full of mostly pleasant surprises.
For one thing, the contrast between life there in the village and mine back home in N.J. was striking. I had just finished a busy semester of teaching, working on this blog, editing my book and a bunch of other things. It had been a super hectic couple of months.
Then, suddenly I was in a devout Muslim village with a family….with a view of rice paddies, palm trees and mountains. With roosters in most yards and water buffalo nearby and mini motorcycles–aka, scooters–everywhere. It’s a place where the culture itself and life’s rhythm are significantly different than what I’m used to.
Payakumbuh Traditional Market
It was a bit shocking (post on this coming soon), as you can imagine. But I got used to it rather quickly and really enjoyed it.
One of the reasons is that being there led me to live in the moment a lot more than I had for a long time. I tend to experience that when traveling anyway, but in this particular village, it was more pronounced.
8 Ways Indonesian Village Life Led Me to Live in the Moment
1. Unplugging From the Internet
The local Internet cafe was a 15- to 20-minute walk from ‘home’. The connection was a bit slow/spotty. Also, the floor I had to sit on was hard. So often, I just skipped it (except for using it on my phone.) Still, I was not online that much—not like here at home.
At first, it was challenging. Then, I liked it. Why? Because I ended up doing other present-centered things, like…
- sitting and chatting with people on the porch or in the living room
- playing with the local kids
- going for walks
- listening to the sounds of nature
2. Hanging Out With Children
Speaking of the local kids, they were a wonderful way to get into the moment. The reason? They’re already there. They just do what they do and could care less about later or tomorrow—unless they have something fun planned. This was especially the case in this village.
The kids in the photo below (especially the two boys, brothers, on the left) visited me almost every morning. Sometimes, we sat and attempted conversation. Other times, they made fun of me trying to speak their language. Most often, we got silly together and laughed. And all the while, we were enjoying the present.
3. Eating Real Meals–and When Hungry
Being in a village and staying with a family means eating when and what they eat. Sure, I had a few snacks hidden in my room, but I had to be careful because little ants know how to find just about anything. Also, I was eating real meals at a table–no mindless snacking in front of the computer or TV. So I was really present with the food I was eating; this made it even more satisfying.
And sometimes, I wasn’t 100% sure what I was eating. Or I knew and it was something very different than what I normally ate. This also got me to be present as far as what I was doing.
4. Bathing With Buckets of Water
In addition to using a squat toilet (relatively easy to get used to), I had to bathe using small pails of water, which I got from a large basin. To be honest, I didn’t care for this experience at first. But then, I grew to like it. Here’s why…
The cool water felt really good on a hot day–and since it was cooler than I would normally use, it felt different and got my attention. When I felt it on my body, I was automatically in the moment. I had no choice but to be! This type of bath forced me to slow down and take my time. When bathing with pails, there’s no such thing as a ‘quick shower.’ 
5. Being Part of a Community
When you’re a guest of a community, especially a tight-knit one, you live life at a different pace. The pace of the people around you. And that’s very different–slower usually–than the over-scheduled, fast-paced life in the Western world. Also, you are expected to attend social gatherings (eg, weddings, funerals, etc.) and so, you’re constantly reminded of the cycles of life–and death. This also puts you in the current moment.
6. Spending Time in Nature
For me, nature and being in the moment go hand in hand. The village was ideal for this. There were tons of lovely rice paddies, palm trees swaying and lush shades of green everywhere. And dirt roads that were like trails. Because of the nearby mountains, there was plenty of hiking, too. All of this is ideal for slowing down and being in the ‘now.’
7. Becoming a (Temporary) Morning Person
Back home, I’m a night person who really wants to be a morning person. In the village, I became a morning person quite easily (due to the hot climate perhaps)—and loved it.
First of all, it meant that I slept when things were quiet—a good thing. Also, it gave me some time to myself. I’d go to bed a little early and read and then, in the morning, before the kids came to visit, I’d sit on the porch and sip my coffee, slowly (it was very hot) by myself. Many moments to savor.
8. Feeling That I Was in a Movie–One That I Was Also Watching
Because it felt like another reality there, I often felt I was watching a foreign film–one that I also happened to be in. It’s a unique feeling that’s hard to describe, but the best I can is to say that I felt a sense of ‘watchful observation’–not unlike what one might feel during a meditation. It was intense and cool at the same time. And definitely in the moment.
Me in the Moment
Your Thoughts/Reactions/Experiences?
Living in the Now
What are your thoughts re: living in the moment? Is it easy for you to do it–or difficult? Whatever the case, how to do get there? I personally need to play music, go hiking or to travel off the beaten path for it to happen.
Do you find it easier to be in the ‘now’ when traveling? If so, please share what that’s like for you (and feel free to link to a relevant post.)
Village Life
Have you ever spent a few days or longer in a village? If so, where were you and what was it like? Did you live more in the moment there?
If you’ve never visited a village, would you like to? Do you think it would be worth it despite some of the inconveniences? Or are you more of a city person?