July 1st - June 20th 2013

June 1st 2013

First day of my last month... Other than this nothing was special today. I sat at home and just relaxed, I am really going to have a hard time when I have to work all the time.

June 2nd 2013

This morning I woke up and I felt really sick, some things still haven't changed after all this time. I didn't go to church because I didn't feel well and I spent most of the morning moping around in my room. Later in the afternoon my family all loaded up into the car and drove to a small suburb outside of Bandung. I was told that my sister was dancing and that is why we were going. My sister works at BCA, which is a Bank in Indonesia. I was surprised to find that it was an auto-show that was celebrating the bank's payment plans. There were some cool cars and I looked around with my host mom a little bit. My sister and the employees at her branch told us that they were going to dance at 3. Then, we were told that their dance was postponed until 4:30. They did not actually dance until 5. (That is a lot of waiting at a auto-show). When they did perform they looked really cute. They were doing a modern dance that had elements of many traditional Indonesian dances. The dance was very nice, most of the people were not dancers and were shy and nervous. But, there was one girl who actually dances. She was throwing her hair around and going way over the top with the little dance, she looked like a stripper. On the way home my family talked about how good the dance was and how crazy the one girl was. When they asked me what I thought I wanted to say that I thought the girl looked like a stripper but, I didn't know the Indonesian word for that and the closest word I know to "stripper" is "transvestite", so I settled for just saying she looked a little crazy. My family had Sate for dinner. I love my family.

June 3rd 2013

Nothing much, same old, same old.

June 4th 2013

In Indonesia fabric and tailors are very cheap. I have been told many times that I can get jeans custom made for almost nothing. Today my family said they would take me to "Pasar Baru" ("New Market" - actually a traditional market with tons of stuff and people everywhere). It took forever to get there and park, the traffic was so bad. Normally the traffic is bad but, near the market it is always crazy. When we finally parked my host parents lead me down a bunch of foul smelling street that reeked of too many people and trash. We got to a store that makes jeans and I picked out my fabric. I had to get new fabric that had not been washed yet because they cut the pre-washed fabric in squares and I am too big to use one of the pre-cut squares. After I picked my fabric I went up-stairs and was measured for the jeans. There were at least a dozen workers in the boiling hot room and several sewing machines that did not look at all safe to use. I was measured and talked to the man about what I wanted and then I went down stairs again. I put a down-payment on the jeans, final cost:11 dollars and then we left. My mom wanted to get jeans but she wanted a specific color and type so we went to several more stored that also sold jeans. When she finally found what she was looking for we went home. It took almost 2 hours to get home. I will not miss traffic when I get back to America. I hate sitting in the car for so long just because the roads are so bad and there is so many people on the road. I spent the rest of the day satisfied that I did something cool by getting jeans made. So today, I had two things one that I love about Indonesia, the markets and all the cheap stuff inside them and one that I hate, traffic.

June 5th 2013

I had to wake up super early and get dressed in my school uniform. I went to school for the first time in forever and for the last time. I got to school and I talked to my two favorite classes, who just happened to be taking tests in the same room. It had been so long since I had seen them and I am glad that I was able to say goodbye before I left. My classmates were taking their final tests for the year and I just sat in the back of the class and waited for the breaks when we could talk. I had the great idea to bring my white uniform shirt and a sharpie and I asked everyone to sign it. My shirt is amazing, it has all of my friends' signatures and last messages to me. Aunt Melly was coming to the school to get some final paperwork that I needed and she texted me when she got to the school. I went to the front office to meet her and she had tons of cake for all my classmates. I went back to my class, and interrupted a test to hand out all of the goodies. Then I gave them to the teachers and the workers at the food stands. All the workers thanked me and talked to me a little about how much I will miss their food when I go home. Most people at my school has been so nice to me and have helped me learn so much. I cannot believe that I am the same girl who walked into school on the first day, gave a terrible introduction of myself in front of the school and then was not able to speak any Indonesian. I said goodbye, for the last time and then met Melly in the office. We gave the rest of the treats to the teachers in the office and then we left. The school had already given Melly the paperwork that we needed and everything was good to go. Today, I ended up eating 3 lunches. Lunch number 1: I had Seblak at school and mango juice. Lunch number 2: I went to a restaurant with Ibu Melly and Ibu Rina and I ate dinsom, a type of Chinese food and Es Champor (mixed ice- type of drink made out of shredded ice, fruit,  and some other stuff). Lunch number 3: I had with my host family because they would not believe that I had already eaten. I had soup from Padang (an area of Indonesia), one of my favorites. All the meals were small but this is why exchange students gain weight, 3 lunches. I am like a hobbit but instead of just eating second breakfast I just eat all of the time. I am so glad that everything worked out with my school and that I now have all of the paperwork I need to go home. Ibu Melly and I are on good terms again and we are both glad everything worked out. I met my host family at the hospital, they were visiting a family friend who was sick and then I went home with them. After a hard day of waking up early, going to school, eating and sitting in traffic I took a nap. Later, I had dance practice. I am getting better at each lesson and I cannot wait to show my family what I have learned.

June 6th 2013

Nothing much

June 7th 2013

My jeans were ready so my family and I went back to the market. When I tried my jeans on I found that they did not fit. The people said that is because I have to soak the fabric for 12 hours and then wash it. They had to make it a little big because the fabric will shrink and then the jeans will not fit. I paid for the jeans and then we went into the main building of the market. It was crowded and I was feeling sick because there were so many people. I bought another thing that I wanted to get before I left and I helped my host mom buy a jacket for her son. Then we went up to the top floor of the building to eat lunch. The ventilation in the building is very bad. There was tons of smoke from the food stands and there was grim everywhere. I ate noodles and soup with avocado juice. When my mom, my dad and I were done eating we took the elevator down. There were too many people in the elevator and I took forever to finally get to the bottom floor. When we got out of the elevator we had to twist and turn threw the chaos. I was feeling dizzy, the combination of poor air quality and too many people was getting to me. When we reached the front and exited the building I felt like someone who had nearly drowned and reached the surface just in time.

June 8th 2013

I had my last dance lesson tonight. I am nowhere near perfect but, I am good and I feel amazing now that I have something to perform and show the culture of Indonesia. I could not have done it without my private dance teacher who patiently watched me fail a thousand times and corrected me until I could do it right. I love my dance!

June 9th 2013

I went to church today. The best part was that there was a baby in one of the classes and the mom was happy to let me steal it for a while. I got to play with the super cute baby until someone else took her from me. I love babies and I can't wait to play with more little kids at home. I understood more than I ever have in church, which is not saying much. I have finally learned some church words. After the service the missionaries walked me to the right Angkot and I went home by myself. My mom picked me up at the college in front of our neighborhood (can't take an Angkot directly to my house). I was resting in my room when my mom came upstairs to ask me if I hear a scratching noise in the ceiling. I have known that there was a rat above my room for the last two weeks, I do not know why my mom just started hearing it. I just laughed and said that it wasn't a problem. As long as it is not in my room, I really do not care. My mom made apple pie and I ate some of that. It really is amazing that my host mom can make anything she can think of. She does American, Italian, Indonesian, Indian and so much more. I have gained so much weight eating all of her delicious food.

June 10th 2013- June 11th 2013

Just at home, nothing too exciting.

June 12th 2013

Today I went to immigration. When I got to the office building Melly was already there. All I had to do was give my Passport, Kitas and "Book for foreign people" to the immigration workers. They gave me a ticket and told me that I could pick up all my stuff and my exit permit two days before I go home. It only took 5 minutes. Everything was worked out and I will now officially go home. I do not know why there was such a fuss over the paperwork, it all worked out. Then Melly and I went to Ibu Rina's house and talked for a little bit. Ibu Rina said that she was still missing the Angklungs that we had borrowed for the orientation at the beginning of the year. I wasn't sure if I had them or of Leti had them. I did know that if I had them they were still at my second house. Luckily my second house was very close by and we stopped by for a minute. I did not have the Angklungs. I was able to talk to my 2nd host mom for a minute. I miss my old families. Then I went grocery shopping with Melly. The farewell party for everyone in Bandung/Cirebon is tomorrow and everyone was getting ready. I helped Melly get everything and then I went home. I took a math test online for my college today. I have forgotten so much math, it is really scary. I am so nervous for my performance tomorrow. I will be dancing for everyone at the party tomorrow. I am not sure in my dancing abilities and I wish I had more lessons and more time to learn the dance.

June 13th 2013

I woke up early and practiced my dance for an hour. I was so nervous, I had never done my dance in my full costume and I did not know how it would go. I was still doubting myself when I finished practice. I then took a shower and got ready for the day. After eating breakfast I dried and straightened my hair and waited for all the guests to start coming. Poor Bridget left Cirebon at 6am and did not get to Bandung until 1pm. The drive should only take 4 hours it took her 7 this time. The roads are terrible to Cirebon and it was raining, which only makes things worse. Bridget and I talked for a little while before more people started showing up. Soon enough, Melly, Leti and Izzati (my 2nd host sister) were in my room. Melly said she wanted to do my make-up and because I know nothing about make-up I was glad that someone else was going to do it for me. I ended up with so much make-up on. It was for the dance but still, I felt silly with glitter on my eyelids and lipstick on. When she was done with my make-up Melly left and we talked for a little before my friends helped me get dressed. The peacock dress is impossible to put on by myself. I have to have help and my friends were great. It took some time to put on the layers of the costume. I have the skirt, the bodice, the wings, the collar, the scarf that I tie around my waist, the belt that told the scarf on. the arm bands, the peacock hat, the ear covers and another cover for the back of my head. It is no easy feat to get the whole thing on and it is hot, tight and not the most comfortable thing I have ever been in. When I worked up the courage we all went downstairs to greet the guests. Everyone wanted pictures with me. When everyone had gotten their fill of pictures Ibu Melly did an introduction and then I danced. It went as well as it could have gone. The only major flaw was that one of my arm bands became loose and I had to take it off during the dance. Other than that, I remembered all the moves and did pretty well. The people had to remind me to smile but, when I finished they all said that I was really good. I am proud of what I accomplished. The head piece is made out of leather and it is very tight so, I was getting a major headache. I had to wait to take more pictures with my host families and the club president and then I waddled (Long and tight skirt makes it hard to walk normally) up the stairs with my friends trailing me. I stood in the middle of the room, my friends closed the door and then they stripped the clothes off me. Best feeling ever, to be out of that costume. I have great friends. Thanks to them I didn't have to struggle alone I was out in about a minute and then I got dressed into a different outfit. The party went on for a while. We ate, we talked and we enjoyed each other's company. Bridget decided that she was going to stay in Bandung for a while and my host family let her stay at our house. I was so worried about the party but, it turned out fine. Just goes to show that there is no reason to worry about the little, stupid things. Everything will work out. I went to bed happy to be an exchange student in Indonesia.

June 14th 2013

Bridget and I relaxed all morning and just talked about stuff. It is amazing to talk to someone who is going through the same things that I am going thru. It is like we speak the same language and we can truly understand one another. Maybe this is why exchange students normally become such great friends with each other, we are all different but we are all the same. No one goes on exchange because they are normal and they look at the world the same as everyone else. We are the freaks. We went to the movies with Leti and her sister and we saw Man Of Steal. I loved it, it was really good. Although I think that Superman's parents could have at least put him in a dipper for his trip through the universe. On the way out of the movie theater one of my flip-flops broke and I was forced to walk bear foot until I got to PayLess and bought new shoes. Then we had drinks at Starbucks and talked until we had to go home. Bridget and I tried to take a taxi home but there were not any good taxies I was able to stop a bad taxi but the driver did not want to use the meter and wanted to charge us 60,000 Rp to go to my house (6 dollars). I told him that was way too expensive (should be 2 dollars) and we did not get in the taxi. Instead we talked to a security officer and he helped us find the right Angkot to get on. the Angkot to the house cost 4,000 Rp for both of us (40 cents). The only reason I do not normally take Angkots is that they are confusing and without help I never know which one to get on. We got home without any problems. I love how helpful Indonesian people are.

June 15th 2013

Today my host parents took Bridget and I to a cool souvenir shop. Bridget was still looking for presents for everyone at home and I was trying to get the last couple of people on my list. We bought lots of awesome stuff that you can only get in Indonesia and the prices were really great. When we got back home we watched the Hunger Games. Bridget had not seen it yet and she was surprised at the violence in the movie. After a packed morning we both took naps. I really will be in trouble when I have to actually accomplish things. I will be working and going to college and tons of other things and I know it will take me forever to get used to being busy all of the time. Later we went to PVJ and met Leti there. After we met up we went home with Leti and spent the night. We had Pizza Hut for dinner and then watched a movie. The movie was terrible, it was pointless and not very funny. It was nice to spend more time with my best friends in Indonesia.

June 16th 2013

We all slept in. When we finally woke up there was no food in the house so Leti's family said they would take us to lunch near my house and then drop Bridget and me off at my house. This was very generous of them, their house is on the whole other side of the city and they had to take the toll road to get to the restaurant. I had siomay and this cool drink that was a blend of broccoli, orange and something else. The meal was really good. Then they took us home and Bridget and I spent the rest of the day talking and watching movies. Before I went to bed Bridget helped me pack all of my stuff. I completely filled 2 suitcases and my backpack. Everything is packed to the weight limit and it super heavy. I have so much stuff and I do not know what to do with it.

June 17th 2013

Today I woke up to go to Immigration for the last time. There was traffic and we did not get to immigration until 11:30. I went to get my paperwork and the people told me that I had to wait until 1pm. Apparently it said that on my ticket but it was not clear. So my host parents left and I waited at immigration. It used to be that I would have a hard time sitting and doing nothing with no entertainment for more than an hour. Now it is an everyday activity and I am very good at waiting. Just before one my host mom came back and she waited with me for the last few minutes. When it was time, I turned in my ticket and they gave me my newly stamped passport. I had to make copies of my passport for them and then they told me I was done. I asked if I could take my Kitas back or my "Book for foreign people" they told me that I couldn't which was disappointing but at least everything was in order. I met Melly near the Immigration office and together we went to the Main Police Office. We went into the office for foreign people and Melly talked to the man for a minute. I guess I should have had some little book from the Police that means that the police must help me if I am in trouble (without it, I could be dying on the street and the police could chose not to help me). It is a good thing I never got into trouble because I never had that book. After the Police Melly and I went to lunch. I had more siomay and es candol (an ice drink... yum). Melly wanted to stop at a baking supplies store so we went there and then we went to the grocery store. I bought packets of spices so that I can make Indonesian food at home in America. My family has to eat some of the food I have learned to love. When I finally got home I was very tired. Bridget had been home all day because, I didn't think it was going to take very long. We just relaxed for the rest of the day. Bridget is a vegetarian and it is not common in Indonesia so my host parents were always worried about her. They didn't think she was eating enough and they always made sure she was eating. I am glad I was not the one who had to eat tons this week.

June 18th 2013

Everyone got up early for my last full day in Indonesia. My family said they would take me Tangkuban Parahu, an active volcano that I thought I had not been to yet. When we got there I realized that I had been hiking there with my 3rd family but, I love seeing the natural wonders all over Indonesia so I didn't mind going again. We took lots of pictures. The volcano has caved in and now it is just a pool of boiling sulfuric water. The water has a greenish color and it is beautiful. The wind was blowing so hard and it was actually cold. Just before we were about to leave a group of school kids came up and asked for Bridget's and my picture. We agreed. After two dozen pictures they thanked us and we left. On the way home we stopped at the waterfall that my family went to a few weeks ago. I got to take pictures on my camera and Bridget saw it for the first time. Bridget and I were the only ones who wanted to go down to the bottom, the rest of my family waited for me at the top of the stairs. We took pictures and enjoyed the wonder of Indonesia. Every time I see a perfect waterfall or some other perfect wonder that has escaped the touch of humans I am in awe. My favorite thing in Indonesia is to just sit and look at the beauty all around me. The United Stated has a lot of things and some places are very beautiful but nothing can compare to Indonesia. When we made it back up the stairs my family was waiting with their cameras. My face was red and they teased me a lot, it isn't my fault that white skin is likes to be other colors too. We go home. I showered and then took a short nap. At about 4pm my mom took Bridget and I to the salon. I got my last cream-bath for the year. Another awesome thing that is only in Indonesia and it is super cheap. The only problem was when the lady was massaging my arm and she found a bruise and decided the best way to heal the bruise was to push on it. I told her I would just wait for it to heal and everyone laughed. My mom, dad, sister, brother, Bridget and I all went to dinner. We went to a restaurant that looks over Bandung. It was night and all the lights we lit up an shining. The food was good, I had 5-spice Chicken and rice but, the view was better. I just stared at  my city until we had to leave. I could not have asked for a better host family or a better host city. We bought Martabak on the way home and then Bridget and I watched the Bourne Legacy while I finished packing. I had to keep explaining what was happening to Bridget because she had not seen the other movies. I cannot believe that I am leave tomorrow and that all my bags are packed. It took me forever to fall asleep.

June 19th 2013

I woke up an hour before my alarm went off and I started getting ready to leave the country that has been my home for 10 months. I got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. I could barely eat. The gut wrenching feeling that I associate with swim meets was all I could feel this morning and I could barely swallow my food. I loaded my stuff into the car and we all left to go to the airport. I checked in both of my suitcases and they didn't even weigh them. I was so worried about being overweight and it didn't even matter. My bags were checked to JFK New York. I then had to say goodbye to all my family and friends. I cried. I could not have asked for better people to help me get thru the hardest year of my life and I owe all of my success to them. I hugged everyone and said goodbye, most likely for forever. I got on my plane and headed off. The flight was uneventful except for the fact that there was some turbulence and the decent took forever. I had to go to the bathroom so bad by the time we finally touched ground. Now I am in Singapore waiting for my next flight that leaves just before midnight. At least this is a very nice airport and it is very comfortable.

June 20th (note that I was moving back in time so it was a 36 hour day)

The plane left at about 1 am, it was running late. I was in the middle seat for the entire 14 hour flight. It was miserable, I couldn't sleep, the people near me were rude and cranky. I just wanted to home but I couldn't get the plane to move any faster. Misery, that is what a 14 hour flight in a freezing cold airplane is, especially when you know you have another 8 hour flight before you are back in the States. When we finally arrived in Frankfurt Germany I was overcome with relief. I got off the plane and had to leave security and then get back into security and to the gate. While I was re-checking myself in I was pulled over by a huge German airport security man who made me go with another huge German who escorted me to a separate area where they searched my bags and put me in one of those body scanner things. It only took a few minutes and then they released me to go wait for my flight. All too soon, I had to re-board the plane and sit in the middle seat again for another 8 hours. This leg was a little less miserable. I was able to sleep a little but it was still uncomfortable and this flight was even colder. The whole way the food was mediocre, but not so bad that I wasn't really hungry. By the time I got to New York I had watched an entire season of the Big Bang Theory a few office episodes and a movie. I was exhausted when I got to JFK but I was so excited to be back in the USA!  I went through immigration and then waited for my bags. There was some problem with the bags from Singapore so everyone who had already been on a plane for 23 hours had to wait another hour for their baggage. I got one of those cart things and when my luggage finally came I loaded it up. I got lost for a minute but, I quickly found where I had to be. I checked my one of my bags, after getting in the wrong line and having some confusion and trying to find where I should be checking in. Once I checked my bag (which was 1 pound under the weight limit by the way) I went to get in security. The lady at the front didn't stop me but then after I got into the line another lady told me that I couldn't have a cart in the line and sent me back to the beginning (not my fault the other girl at the beginning of the line should have told me). After  all that was sorted out I got back in line and waited for security. I had my rice patty field hat, my backpack that was stuffed full and my carry on suitcase. It was a mad dash to get my stuff in the line, I had to rip my backpack apart and take out my computer and take off my shoes (no other country I flew through made us take off our shoes). I waited on the other side but my suitcase had been pulled. I totally forgot that I couldn't check that bag for this leg of the trip and that I had chili sauce and ketchup manis (sweet soy sauce) in my suitcase. The poor guy had to go through my bag (which was zip-tied because my host dad made me zip-tie my bags) and find the bottles of sauce. When he was done I apologized and let them confiscate my sauce and then went to my gate. When I found my gate I had one hour before boarding and I was relieved to not have to go though any more security. I just wanted to be home. While I was waiting, there was a kid that looked out the window and shouted "fire, there is a fire over there". Naturally, everyone stands up to go near the window. One of the couples who had been at the gate longer said that the fire had been going on and off for the last 20 minutes and that they must be doing practice drills. This theory made since because the incident was far away from anything and it always looked under control. I was still waiting and a mom was looking for a band-aid. Of course I had a band-aid on the top of my stuff so I gave her one, she thanked me and then we had a lovely conversation. She had just come from Germany, where her family was vacationing and we talked about her trip and I told her about my exchange and then more people joined in and we talked until they boarded us. I got on the plane and had some difficulty shoving my suitcase and my oversized backpack into the overhead compartment. The flight was almost 2 hours but it felt like no time at all, I was almost home. Almost home. The plane landed in JAX and I exited the plane. Then I went to the bathroom and changed into my "Indonesian outfit" I had a Batik shirt, Batik PJ pants, a Batik scarf and my rice patty field hat. I looked super cute. Then I rushed out of the bathroom and to the area where my family would be waiting. My family was there (plus Hunter, one of my brother's friends) and they had signs and balloons. One lady who I think works with the newspaper asked to take our picture. She wanted people to see how creative people get when family comes home. I picked up my bag and we all loaded into the car. We had pulled pork for dinner and it was delicious. After not having pork for a year and not having soft meat that is not super tough it was great. Then I took a much needed shower. I tried to spend the night with my family but I fell asleep at about 8:30 because I was so exhausted from my traveling. My Indonesian year is over and my life is moving on. Thank you for reading my blog and supporting me throughout the last year.