Just a few changes...

So here are a few differences between Beaumont, TX and Batam, Indonesia(map here).

Language
Here the language is Bahasa Indonesia.  You say both words because "bahasa" translates to "language".  Bahasa Indonesia sounds a little like Spanish to my untrained ear.  There doesn't seem to be as much inflection as other Asian languages.  I know I'm a "goo lag (outsider)" and we "macaw (eat)", and when I knock into these people I murmur "permisi".  Mike is rocking the language, me not so much.  I may need to take a page from Cyndi Whitnell and have hire someone to come give me lessons.

Islam
Indonesia is a Muslim country.  On some islands, such as Jakarta, they can be quite strict about the dress and behavior expected of women.  Here there are lots of expats so I can get away with my capris and no head scarf.  We get some looks at the swimming pool when it's busy because I don't swim in a catsuit  and my kids don't wear one piece suites that look like long underwear.  During the week we don't stick out as much.
There are call-to-prayers five times a day and I think they sound beautiful.  This is where loud speakers mounted at the top of mosques broadcast prayers sung in Arabic.  Muslims are expected to stop, kneel on a prayer blanket and pray five times every day.  I like this idea of everyone stopping to pray, meditate, just find some peace each day.  Jack does not share my high opinion.  The first day he asked "why do they keep yelling at us?".  I explained and can hope for sensitivity but let's face it: 11 years old is 11 years old.
There are water sprayers with all the toilets.  Apparently bodily cleanliness in the Muslim world is a big deal.  Here's an article I found in Salon about why.
We are currently in the holy month of Ramadan.  Until August 18th Muslims refrain from eating or drinking dusk to dawn.  I'm not sure if that's why, but nothing opens here until 10am or later--even coffee shops, much to Mike's chagrin.  There are also extra prayers called each day, as Jack has noticed.    All the shops and restaurants stay open later than we are used to as well, so maybe it's just us being westerners.
Although we are not the only Christians in Batam!  There are several expats who attend a church that starts at the incredibly human hour of 4pm on Sundays.  Plus here's a picture of a baptism that took place in our hotel swimming pool on Sunday!

We Might Be Giants
My family are all tall with huge feet here.  At 5' tall and 90 lbs, Jack is the size of most of the women, and I'm as tall as many of the men at 5'6".

$$
Here the currency is Rupiah.  The exchange rate is like one dollar to almost 1000 rupiah.   I'm happy to have Jack with me for cash transactions, he's slick at fast math, and the different bills don't trip him up as much.  Basically that whole "I'm 11 and master of the universe" thing.

No driving
Here's a one minute video from youtube that shows a typical road.  This is what a lot of the roads look like:

We have a driver named Rody (pronounced Roadie).  There's no way I could drive here.  They drive on the wrong side of the road, at intersections people just GO and there are more scooters than cars.  It is not uncommon to see a whole family on a scooter.  Parts of the island are beyond beautiful--lush and tropical, but there is a lot of very recent industrial development, so most buildings are newer, crapier and ugly.

The Suite Life
We are currently living in a hotel and to be honest, it's a little isolating.  I'm anxious to move out to our neighborhood.  Our house is currently under construction until November but we hope to move into a rental in a couple of weeks.  The hotel is fine, we have a large suite and breakfast downstairs in the restaurant each morning.  The breakfast food can be interesting.  No pork at breakfast (Muslim island) so you can expect chicken porridge, chicken sausage, sometimes curry, noodles, and such.  I try to try the local stuff, lots of it is good!  And some is a disaster!
Our hotel is next to a mall, but I bet you've never been to a mall like this.  There is a grocery store usually, but no flagships you would recognize.  Also it's knock-off city, wall-to-wall fake Prada, LV, electronics, and pirated videos.  We could buy the new Spiderman movie for a dollar, right out in the open.  There are always arcades, too.  But I really miss how clean and nice Colorado Canyon is--these places require lots of Purell.  Jack does well at the games, so usually there are little boys following him around.