Just another awkward moment....

Sometimes I get myself into situations that make me shake my head and laugh, whether it be a cultural/language blunder, miscommunications, unexpectedly ending up at special events with people, or experiencing random cultural things here. Well, last weekend was another one of those moments.
Neighborhoods in Indonesia are very different than in the U.S. in many ways, one being that community events happen regularly among the neighbors in each area(called an RT here). We've had 2 in the past week! One of the monthly events is called an "arisan." I had been looking forward to the arisan this month, because I haven't been yet and have only met a few neighbors since living here. Last week I got an invitation to the "arisan" on Saturday and I decided to go. Well, I made the mistake of not reading all the details, assuming I knew what it was, and the awkward situation unraveled before my eyes.
I went to the restaurant where it was at, which was about 20 minutes away. That should've been the first tip off...usually arisans are in someone's house in the neighborhood. I walked in and saw no one that I recognized. As I started talking to them and asking where they lived, none of them lived in my neighborhood(tip off #2). They also kept asking who I was there with, assuming I was a friend or family member of whoever was invited. They seemed as confused as I was as far as why I was there.  Tip off #3 was when the chief of police of Surabaya came in with some of the police troops. That's when I asked myself "What in the world am I doing here??" I finally showed someone my invitation and explained I was there for my neighborhood's arisan. It turns out I missed the important detail on the invite, that it was in fact an arisan, but for the veterans society of Surabaya. Whoever lived in the house before me must have been a war veteran and was the one invited, not me!! I ended up at this Independence Day celebration for veteran's and their family!! I'm sure my face turned a pretty shade of red. As soon as I realized that, Itried to excuse myself to go home, but because of how welcoming and hospitable Indonesians are, they insisted that I stay, because I hadn't eaten yet.
I stayed for the entire event and had a great time! I met some very interesting people who had served for Indonesia, connected with some families who live nearby, and the chief of police. Some awkward moments don't turn out so great, but this one was a win! :)

Me with some of my new friends :) The majority of the people there were over 75, but they also brought their children and grandchildren.

Meeting Pak Polisi, who told me if I ever needed anything while living here to let him know...Yay for connections!