Normally, I’d be grumbling about
how fast another month sneaks up on me. But for once, this month actually felt
exactly like 30 days. Not too fast, not too slow. Just… right.
As I was writing this post, a memory from my childhood popped into my head. See, I was born and raised in Indonesia, a tropical country with only two seasons: dry and wet season. And September was always my favorite because that’s when the wet season would start, which means every day is a rainy day. Normally, it's gonna be pouring through the rest of the “-ber” months, and sometimes all the way until January or even March.
There’s a word for that weird transition between dry and rainy seasons. We call it pancaroba. It’s the time when a lot of people, especially kids, get sick because the weather can’t seem to make up its mind.
Growing up, I remember how moms
would go into full defense mode, making sure everyone ate properly, stayed warm,
and stayed indoors as much as possible until the skies figured themselves out.
I remember how my mom used to only let us out when it was absolutely necessary—like for school. And every time we came home, she’d be standing by the door, holding this giant glass of some orange-looking drink that looked exactly like something a witch would brew in Scooby-Doo, but with an extra sprinkle of “immune booster” mantra.
Turns out, that weird orange drink was jamu. And as a kid, I hated it. I'd fake coughs, bargain, even hide just to avoid drinking it. Funny how things change. Now I actually miss it, especially since my mom hasn’t made it in a long time.
Speaking of jamu, IShowSpeed actually tried it recently during one of his IRL streams in Yogyakarta. It was hilarious watching him react, pretty much the same dramatic energy I had as a kid😂
