Life In A Year

Living in the 'Ring of Fire', passing the world's most active volcano every day on my way to school. Gaining ten pounds pounds while living on the 'Spice Islands', learning to love food so spicy and flavorful your tongue will never get enough..and your lips might swell to twice their normal size. Joining the population living on one of the most densely populated Island in the world. Succeeding in communicating and living life a new language, Bahasa Indonesia... achieving one of my biggest goals in coming here, become bilingual. Sinking deep into Javanese/Islamic culture when times hit the hardest, reaching the surface again with a whole new mindset about this country and dealing with tragic  life events...learning to grow from them rather than let them keep you down. Petting elephants trunks, and holding on to my glasses for dear life as a monkey takes post on top of my head. Swimming in the Indian Ocean. Eating chicken feet, heart, and butt. Gaining new opinons about Islam and the idea of Religion itself...how important and necessary it is for some people and in the development of society. After being wrong, wrong, wrong and wrong again... finally being right is an amazing feeling. Making those closest to me my first priority in times of need, phone calls that last for hours on end. Forgetting English. Midnight walks on the town, feeling incredibly safe in this city. Riding public transportation everywhere, finding that sense of freedom and independence i'd been longing for. Enjoying the natural beauty of these islands. My five senses being taken on one hell of a ride, theres something new to feel touch taste hear and see around literally every corner. Every city having its own way of life, culture, lifestyle, feeling. Making friendships that will hopefully last forever, and realizing that the friends and I have back home are some of the most extraordinary people, and I wouldn't be the same person I am today with out them. Inspiring others to push themselves, it's the most rewarding feeling to know that your decisions have truly made an impact on someone else's life. Documenting my life and feelings in a journal, being able to see just how far i've come in so many aspects over the past 8 months. Making the Imagine Dragons album the official soundtrack to my YES Abroad family's experience here, with Taylor Swift and Two Door Cinema Club finding its way in there from time to time as well. Creating a twitter account ultimately about people who happen to look different than the locals, that do things. Believing in Karma and energy more than ever, Indonesia is such a spiritual country even without religion, Bali might be one of the most magical places i've ever been to. Ghost stories that never end, Indonesians are strong believers in the creatures of the night...I've been wanting to see one but have yet to succeed. Not eating McDonalds for maybe a good year. Getting physically sick the one time I finished a real-ish burger here. Eating rice 3 times a day, with my hands. Full meals for less than a dollar. Getting to know some of the most interesting travelers, you have to be a special type of person to come to Indonesia. Every day, literally every day being called barbie. Having 50 mosquito bites at one time. Asia. Realizing that the world is 100 times bigger, and 100 times smaller than I thought all at the same time. Understanding just how lucky myself and everyone in America is, speaking English fluently...you're already one up over any person from a non-english speaking country, and i'm sure that not everyone realizes this. Coming out of it all more excited for my future than ever, Hoping i'll be able to remember all of my amazing adventures here.

Surviving the most difficult year of my life so far, and coming out with no regrets. Taking life as it comes and enjoying every minute of living.

Love Julianne