Sudah Ingin Pulang

Here's a random picture from back
 when volcano selfies were an option!

Tomorrow is the day. I get to go back home for the first time since I started college. As excited as I am, I can't help wondering when I'll get to go back to my other home, Indonesia. I've been missing it a lot lately, and I can't quite explain why. Maybe it's the fact that I know I'll be going to Japan in a few weeks...just days after my host sister's wedding (that I won't be attending because of school). I know it's not exactly the closest place to Indonesia, but I traveled through Tokyo on the way to and from Jakarta, meaning that it feels close to Indonesia to me. No matter the reason, I can definitely say that I now completely understand what everyone told me before I left: having friends and family living on opposite sides of the world is amazing but can be hard. As much as I love Indonesia, there are certain aspects of the US that I missed while I was there, and now that I'm back in the US, there are so many things that I miss about Indonesia. Nonetheless, it truly is a privilege to have been given the opportunity to spend one of my four years in high school in Indonesia, and I can say with absolute certainty that I would do it again. 

I know this is short, but I really need to get started on my biology exam so that I won't have so much to do over break. I am currently watching Criminal Minds though, so I guess I'll see how much I actually get done tonight...

Until next time,

Victoria 

Welcome Home

I never mentioned this in my previous posts, but since it's happened again, I think it's time to share this story. As you probably know, I returned to the US from Indonesia in early July. I had a couple days of orientation and went to DC to present at the State Department and talk with other members of government about my year. After that, I met up with my parents and my sister. We didn't go straight home because my sister was leaving the next morning from the DC area in order to go on a trip with her school. Because of that, we stayed in a hotel overnight. Well somehow I ended up forgetting my purse in the car (I blame jet lag), and someone broke into the car, took my wallet, and used my debit card, meaning that I lost the remainder of  rupiah and all the American money, cards, and IDs that I had with it.

Nonetheless, I still decided to visit my sister in DC over fall break. It was great to go away for a few days and definitely fun, but I once again got my wallet stolen...this time it had all my college stuff in it. Thankfully, they person who took it only got away with a little bit of cash this time and was only able to use my card at Chipotle (I mean, everyone needs a little Chipotle, right?).

I think it's really ironic that I never had a single thing taken from me until I came back to my home country though...I guess I could be mad about it, but I have replaced just about everything now, so at least it hasn't stopped me from doing what I need to do. I just hope it doesn't happen again!

Anyway, two months from now I'll be in Japan, so look out for those blog posts! I need to go study, so goodbye for now!

Sampai jumpa lagi ya!

Victoria

It's That Time Again!

That one time when I wore flats on the beach...

As crazy as it seems, it's already that time again...the YES Abroad application is out for 2016-2017! If you are at all interested, please take the time to apply. Applying was one of the best decisions I've ever made. My year in Indonesia allowed me to experience so many things and opened my eyes in so many amazing ways. As hard as it can be, exchange really is an amazing opportunity! Even though I'm back in the US, I've been able to make so many connections because of my time in Indonesia and have continued to learn so much much from my experience. With that said, seriously, if you're interested and able, APPLY FOR YES ABROAD! As cheesy as it may sound, it really will change your life. Here's the link for the application: http://www.yes-abroad.org/impact/applications-available-2016-2017-program

Also, on a total side not, but kinda fitting since this blog is called "To Indonesia and Beyond", I found out earlier that I will be going to Japan for a week with the Kakehashi Project! It's a few months away, but it will definitely be great to finally get to go outside the walls Narita International. Since one of the requirements of the program is that we share our experience with others, I will definitely blog about it (and this time around I'll actually have a lot of pictures without my computer crashing...), so keep an eye out for that at either the end of this year or the very beginning of next year.

Semoga kalian senang dan sehat! Sampai ketemu lagi!さようなら

Victoria

Kuliah (One Week Down...Many More to Go)

The first time I went to ITB...was this really a year ago?
Pertama kali aku ke ITB...sudah setahun yg lalu??

Well, it's been quite a week. As hard as it is to believe, this time last week I nervous about starting classes, and now I'm already in the swing of things. I guess it's official...I'm a college student. I'm enjoying it so far, but it's sure to get overwhelming at some point. From all the running (well almost running...) I do through the hospital's campus twice a week in order to get to class on time, to the fact that I went straight from class to the activities fair to a concert yesterday, I think my body is still trying to catch up to the fact that I'm no longer an often bored exchange student.

I honestly can't complain though (although I did just finish reading for a single class for a few hours straight..). Just like this past year in Indonesia, I've been given an amazing opportunity to learn and meet so many different people with different beliefs and experiences. I've probably said it 459483 times so far, but dreams really do come true. If you would have asked me a few years ago, I would have never thought that I would have actually ended up starting a nonprofit, going to Indonesia for a year, or ending up at one of the best universities in the country. I know that I would not have been able to do any of those things on my own and am extremely thankful for every person who has helped me along the way. It's always good to have goals, and trust me, achieving them feels amazing!

Speaking of goals...I should probably get on with my homework.

Thanks for reading. Sampai jumpa!

Victoria

Life Goes On

As far away as it seemed just a few short months ago, my exchange is over, and I've moved on to college. The next batch of YES Abroad Indonesia kids have started their long but exciting journey to one of the most beautiful and amazing places in the world. I wish them all the best and hope that they take this year in stride and accept every incredible opportunity that will be offered to them this year. It won't always be easy, but it will definitely be worth it.

Even though I haven't started classes yet and just moved in yesterday, I can already tell that I'm in the perfect place for me, just like Indonesia was the perfect place for me to spend my senior year. Although it was sometimes hard to see it while it was happening, every experience that I had during my exchange year, good or bad, has changed me for the better. I can now see that I am a much more outgoing and adventurous person than I was just one short year ago. I'm not afraid of getting out there and doing my own thing, and I've now been offered the amazing opportunity to study at one of the best universities in the world. I really couldn't ask for a more beautiful, diverse place to spend the next four years of my life. I know this is only the beginning, but I truly believe that I would have a much harder time thriving here if I had not pushed myself out of my comfort zone to live on the other side of the world for a year.

If anyone is thinking about studying abroad in high school, I just have one thing to say: go for it! Yes, it will be hard at times, but it's a great learning experience that will only continue to help you in life. If you have any questions about studying abroad, please feel free to contact me. I'll happily answer any of your questions to the best of my ability. I should probably get going, but I promise to write again soon.

Sampai jumpa lagi!

Victoria

Hari Terakhir

"Well this is it. Today is my last day in Bandung, and one week from today I will be on my way back to the US. As I write this, I am sitting in the living room with my host mom. I'm waiting for my driver and two other exchange students, and I leave in less than two hours.

I know I haven't posted in over a month, but this past month has been a crazy one. For one, it is currently Ramadan, so I've tried my hand at fasting. It's not nearly as hard as I thought it would be, but sometimes not drinking water all day can be a bit hard in hot Indonesia! I recently went to Tanjung Lesung, a beautiful beach in Banten, which is on the west coast of Java near Krakatau. I've gotten to meet up with old friends and make some new ones, although I didn't have the chance to see everyone again...that just means I really have to come back soon! I visited the stunning islands of Karimun Jawa as a part of this year's AFS national trip to Central Java (I'll definitely have to make..."

That's where I left my last post in Indonesia...I honestly have no idea what I was going to say because I got distracted, and I'm just getting around to posting this now because I finally got a new laptop, although I got quite comfortable with just my phone. I've now been back in the US for three weeks, and in three more weeks I'll be on my way to college (but after a trip to Disney, of course!). That's a story for another time though. I just wanted to finally post the last thing I wrote from Indonesia! This certainly won't be my last post though. I intend on continuing this blog to write about whatever adventures come my way! First stop: Reverse Culture Shock.

Until next time,

Victoria

Change Is a Scary Thing

Well this is it. Tomorrow is my last day of school. Not just my last day of school in Indonesia but also my last day of high school...EVER. Now I've technically been done high school in terms of classes I need in order to graduate for quite some time, but I still haven't graduated yet. I'm glad to technically be graduating with my class, but that means no official graduation ceremony because I'll still be in Indonesia. Obviously I willingly signed up for this setup, but I'm srtill a little sad about it. High school graduation is one of those things you dream about as a kid, and I'll never have the chance to experience it.

As my graduation date approaches, I'm starting to think about just how odd it feels to not have a ceremony. However, at the same time, I also can't imagine wanting to be in the US doing a "normal" senior year instead of  in Indonesia . I probably don't express it nearly enough, but I am so beyond grateful for every person I've met and every experience I've had in the past nine months. I really can't imagine being anywhere else right now.

I really can't believe how fast time has gone by. Just like my high school career, my exchange will soon be coming to a close. I don't know what life will be like as a college student  or when I first get back to the US, but there is one thing I do know. Change is a scary thing.