I was never very good at this consistency thing

So, in my usual fashion, it's been two months since I last wrote. Tada! I'm still in Indo and doing well. Actually, a lot better in some ways than I expected. While at the same time, some realizations about what a year away would feel like are just now beginning to fully blossom. A year will fly by, but some days drag on. The days I miss loved ones are longer than others. The good thing is this place can be highly distracting, which is great for me! Easy to quell the homesickness with a motorbike ride through new parts of the city. Easily one of my favorite rare moments here. I try to limit these pure bliss moments because of the high tendency of them to end badly. Motorbikes are not everyone's friends. Especially bules. If you're wondering what a bule is, look at your skin. Is it white? Okay, it's you.

I can't sleep. For the first time in my life, I have the weirdest thing here where I can't sleep at night. I am very amused by it. My body has never been one to turn down a good nap/hibernation. I get a lot more done here. Relative of course, I read. Define that however you will.

Cool and odd things that I will forget unless I write about them:

1. Indonesians don't use metaphors when calling something a baby shower, that chica got washed in her front yard and I was completely entertained by the ritual. So were the neighbors.
2. Football is the essence of life. Doesn't necessarily need to be on the list, I won't forget it, but it's importance can never be understated.
3. The rest of the world, so far as I am aware, thinks Obama is the GREATEST thing to happen since sliced bread. This amuses me to no ends. Not from a pro or anti point of view. Just pure curiosity and amusement over their fascination.

There are so many things to be said, kept forever in writing for years down the road when I want explicit details that I can no longer remember. Tonight isn't the night for those. I just got out of the hospital and should probably attempt some sleep for tomorrow. Long story. Selamat Malam!

Well isn't this just lovely

Hello there!

So I decided to create this blog in order to record my thoughts, experiences, and photography while teaching English and exploring Malang, Indonesia. I know, another travel blog, real creative right? Well, I'm sorry to have missed the creativity boat, but I'm looking forward to keeping in touch with the fam and uploading hopefully some epic photography from East Java =)

I'm not going to lie, it has truly been a crazy whirlwind of emotions these past several weeks getting ready for the move, and I still swing between being completely thrilled and then contemplating whether I'm a mad woman. I heard an inspiring idea once "great breakdowns lead to great breakthroughs;" even though I foresee some tough days alongside the good days in Indo, knowing that this opportunity has the potential for endless learning makes it worth it.

I said goodbye to everyone a few days ago, I've never been so thrown off balance in my life. One step farther away from home, and then another; culminating in a moment in NYC heading to the airport when I realized I was finally all alone, and that was the way it was going to be for awhile so I might as well just accept it. For some reason it made it easier. After a good solid cry that is.

I'm in Singapore now! It is beautiful here and my mood is way up! This place is an OCD photographer's dream come true LOL. I've taken FAR too many pictures of this chic balmy city. I'm looking forward to jet-setting for Indo on Friday. Eager to get my bearing and get settled in. I'm so incredibly nervous about teaching though it's not even funny. I've read these grammar books front to back now but my overloaded brain doesn't seem to want to retain much lately. This will definitely be a case of learning through teaching!

Tomorrow is my last full day in Singapore, I'm going to head over to City Center again and make my way over to the ship yards if I can. I've never seen so many cargo ships in my life while on the Singapore Flyer yesterday, here's a pic from the top of the beast!


Well, I'm going to sign off for now! It's three am here and apparently I'm supposed to be sleeping :/ I'm failing miserably at adjusting to the time. I'm ready for another day!