In June, I spent a week in Manado to observe the North Sulawesi local elections (on 21 June). We organized a Quick Count with our local partners, PuBliKa Manado. It was very successful and thanks to a cooperation with Manado TV, NDI and PuBliKa had our 15 minutes of fame in North Sulawesi. (You can read about the Quick Count at www.jurdil.org) After an evening interactive interview on Manado TV, PuBliKa director Ismail Dahab and I went for seafood at a well known seaside area. A table of diners next to our table recognized us from the interview and congratulated us.
Manado is also a seaport and is well known for its fresh seafood. We ordered a fanatistic seafood meal but as usual I was bound by the Javanese prohibition on eating crab. There is a Javanese belief that if a prospective father breaks the shell of crab, it will harm the unborn child carried by the mother. The crab in Manado is huge (!) and would have been awesome. In addition, I don't get to Manado often. So I trust my wife, appreciates the sacrifice this entailed.
Jerome, at home
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