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