we're halfway there

"we're (almost) halfway there"

Now those are three words I never expected to say so soon. Roughly two weeks from now marks the halfway point of my year here in Indonesia. Five months have slipped by faster than I imagined they could have, and they have been the five most incredible/crazy/challenging/rewarding five months of my life to say the least.

I have packed years worth of adventures, mistakes, accomplishments, and just all around life into these past few months. Thinking back to my first few days in Jakarta feels like much longer than five months ago. Back when I first learned the strange concept of squatting with your heels flat on the ground and learned the hard way how to (not) lock Indonesian doors, struggling to understand why there are so many ways to say the word you in Indonesian; thinking back to my experiences in the beginning continue to remind me of how far I have come in five months. 

 attempting to indo squat for the first time

first of many times admiring that JKT skyline

I visited the American embassy in Jakarta during month 1

YES Abroad girls before our Embassy visit

I had some of the best nasi goreng (fried rice) of my life on the side of the road for $.90 during month 2

I gave a speech off the top of my head in front of my entire school during month 3

I saw the the ocean from the top of a ferris wheel during month 4

I visited the third largest mosque in the world during month 5

Of course with these adventures have come my fair share of challenges as well. This wouldn't be a true exchange without a fair share of ups and downs. However I am just as thankful for the challenges as I am for the adventures, because I would definitely have not come this far in five months if it weren't for both. Conquering exchange challenges has given me the confidence to face future conflict head on. I feel so much braver now than I ever have because I have pushed myself. I have learned that being brave isn't necessarily being strong, it's pushing yourself and your boundaries to the point that you feel weak. 

Exchange is about celebrating the highs and embracing and learning from the lows because they all place equal value in the overall journey. 

But luckily I can say I have had many more adventures than challenges as I have continued to adjust and adapt over the last few months especially, and I am more than excited to see what the second half of this experience will bring.

Here's to the next 5.5 months and hopefully even more adventures to come!

(also here are some more recent pictures from December/January):

it took four months but I finally got to the beach 

~Sarah Grace

P.S. had to do the "living on a prayer" title reference since Jon Bon Jovi was on my flight to Hong Kong. Probably the best way to start this whole experience.

here's to 2014

2013 has been one of the most memorable and crazy years of my life to say the least. I spent eight months of it in America wrapping up my YES Abroad app, doing normal sophomore year stuff, and eventually preparing for my year in Indonesia. I spent four months in this incredible country known as Indonesia, which have flown by faster than I ever could have imagined. In about a month and a half I reach the halfway point of my exchange, which is both thrilling and terrifying. I never expected to reach this point so quickly but I have. People truly do not lie when they say this is the year of your life where time makes absolutely no sense. My first three weeks passed like three months, but then I suddenly found myself celebrating Thanksgiving, and then Christmas, and then New Years. So in order to welcome 2014, I'd like to spend a little time celebrating the year that created this new and previously unimaginable life I'm living:

January was filled with hurriedly turning in my YES Abroad application and studying for finals (no picture here)

In February I found out I was a semifinalist for YES Abroad and went to one of my favorite musicals West Side Story with my mom.

March was the IPSE in DC where I first met the incredible group of people known as YES Abroad

right after our interviews (L-R: Ghana, South Africa, Indonesia x2, Morocco)

I found out I was accepted to YES Abroad Indonesia in April, 6 days after my birthday.

May was filled with track meets and beginning of Indonesia prep

June marked the end of American high school until senior year and the YES Abroad PDO in DC

Indonesia ladies outside the State Department

In July I went on a spur of the moment trip to New York City with my mom

August was my goodbye party and departure to Jakarta, Indonesia!

September was filled with starting school and adjusting to this new country I now call home.

In October I went to a village to celebrate Eid Al-adha and Bandung to celebrate my 2 month anniversary with fellow YESer Mallory.

In November I celebrated Thanksgiving at the mall on Black Friday eating Japanese food with more YESers, Emily and Ellen.

In December I went on a class trip to Jogja,  visited Malioboro (night market) Borobudur (ancient Hindu temple), and went jungle trekking.

2013 has been an incredible year and first half of my journey here in Indonesia. I am forever thankful to everyone on both sides of the world for supporting me throughout this experience. Here's to making 2014 just as memorable and to my second half of my YES Abroad year. Happy New Years everyone