Almost December

Blogging, oh blogging. Its really quite difficult to put into words what i’ve been doing here, in order to do it justice.

Things are really crazy here, but a good kind of crazy. Like just today, I took the trans-jogja (the public bus) home from school. As I was walking from my bus stop to my house, I pulled out my phone to text Darlene (another yes student in jogja) about the plans we made for later, and there she was biking right past me!! It was crazy. We both stopped in aw.. whaaatttt?! I mean, I know we live close to each other, but something like that had never happened before. Just passing by in the streets of Jogja? Crazy. I guess we really do live here now, that might not make any sense but it was just..wahhhh!?

A couple other notable events/happenings..

I went my first wedding! I had never been to a wedding before for anyone, even in the states.. and I had always wanted too. I remember begging my cousin Bobby (hopefully you’re reading this, Bob, looks like you’re off the hook for now) to propose to his girlfriend just so that I can go to the wedding and say I’ve been to at least one. But this one was nothing like an American wedding I imagine would be. Well actually, I didn’t see the wedding. The bride and groom are family friends of my host parents. They wanted me to be one of the people who stands at the entrance of the ballroom and have all the guests write their name down in the guestbook, and then give them the little wedding favor. So, just that I did. Myself and 5 other college aged people stood behind two tables and ushered the guests in, which was pretty cool. After I did that, I went into the ballroom. There was food everywhere, delicious food everywhere, of all kinds. I think thats pretty normal at an Indonesian wedding to have a plethora of traditional foods, which absolutely made my day. Because as you all know, food is really what keeps me going here. ‘So Damn Delicoius’ as some of my friends at school say.  But i think the coolest part of the wedding was that I wore a traditional Javanese Kebaya, Jilbab, fake eyelashes, and about a billion pounds of makeup! 

I went rafting at a beautiful cave, and down a river with my host family.. named Goa Pindul. I’m still in awe of the natural beauty of this country. The landscape, and the sky. Oh the sky, the sky and the rain here.. it’s great. 

Mosquitos love my blood.

Twilight is everywhere. The film breaking dawn is super popular here, I went to the Bioscope (movie theater) for the first time and saw it. They showed it in English with Indonesian subtitles.

I went to a tv studio with my class, and was filmed as an audience member of ‘Kuis Cerdas’, an Economy Competition between SMA’s in jogja.. (SMA is High School).. one of the girls in my class was competing. I guess you could say i’m now an indonesian tv star.. nbd.

FOR ANYONE FROM CHICAGO: guess what..THERE IS ANOTHER EXCHANGE STUDENT FROM CHICAGO IN JOGJA! Elmhurst to be exact.. her name is Daisy and she’s from York high school! She’s here in jogja for the year with the Rotary Exchange program! I haven’t meet up with her yet but we’ve been texting and..wah its crazy. What are the odds?!

Last night, Sabine, Myself, and Darlene.. (the three yes abroad students in Jogja) were invited to dinner with Mr. Don Q. Washington of the US Embassy in Jakarta. He is  the Public Diplomacy Counselor of the Embassy of the US in Jakarta, and he and his wife were in Jogja for two days. It was really cool to talk to him and his wife about everywhere they’ve been, and how they’re enjoying Indonesia. 

I’ve had some crazy dreams here. I remember my dreams almost every night and its really weird, some of them are super crazy. I think I’m going to do another post later about dreams/spirituality/religion/ghosts here.. because that whole idea/theme is everywhere. I have some pretty crazy stories from my friends, so just hold on. That’s for another timeJ

As always, I continue to gain weight every day. Its great, really… just peachy. But actually I don’t care because really the food.. oh the food. I don’t need to say more, you all know.

Like always, I’m probably missing a lot! But this I think is pretty good for now. Just a couple shout outs really quick. The Meyers Family… My aunt, uncle, and cousins.. thank you soo so much for the letters! Whenever I come home to see an envelope on my bed I’m always so delighted, its so nice of you guys really..thank you! I’ll be in touch soon with you guys! Also, I should say helloo to my family.. Carol Peter Lizzie and Benjamin, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nana,  I hope this finds you all in good health.  To all my dear friends… hello and I miss you all! LTHS, Keep doin what you’re doing. PCWS, god bless you all.. I can’t wait to come back and compare the christian religion here with in the US. Hopefully i’ll make a post soon about my experiences religion-wise here.Well obviously I have a lot more to blog about, so i’ll definitely be back soon. 

Anyways I must be off. So, Sampai Jumpa! Terima Kasih semua!

Much love….. xoxoxoxox Julianne