Thoughts from Life In Indo!

It's almost been a month now here in Madiun, Indonesia. (Eastern Java, I'm guessing many of you have never heard of the city!) I am feeling more at home every day. Some adjustments have been difficult but for the most part I'm loving my time here and learning so much along the way. Friendships have continued to grow and I feel like I have had enough experiences in just one month to last me a lifetime! I hope the things that I will pull away from this adventure will change my life forever. I have actually made that my goal here in Indonesia, to try to never be the same as I was the day before. I have learned that in life our next day is never a guarantee, therefore I want to live out each day as if it were my last. We are all faced with thousands of decisions each day and it is how we act on those decisions that will shape our life. I hope that when I come to the end of the road I will be able to say with all my heart, "I didn't waste a minute."

So far I have spent much of my time learning language, helping teach English in a local High school, traveling and sightseeing with friends, and trying not to get myself lost. A favorite time for Jordan and I has been our friends coming over just about every evening to hang out on our porch. Jordan and some of our friends play their guitars... while I occasionally sing, and realize I have no musical talent whatsoever.

That past few Saturdays we have been woken up to clanging sounds of this marching band. This was taken from our bedroom window and as you can see the little dude up front seems more interested in Jordan and I then waving his flag!

"Tidur Sebintar Siang!" Also known as our afternoon nap time!

This is us after we slammed a delicious Indonesian dinner! Mmm... I love rice!



I got to do a little fishing with some friends and pulled in a 6 inch 5 ounce whopper on my first cast! This has actually been a highlight so far, as one of my favorite passed times is fishing. I guess I'm not too far from home after all!

I think I may have upset the one on the left.

For Thanksgiving Jordan and I got to meet up with a dear friend of ours living in another city. We enjoyed our time together... catching up, eating some good food and wearing dresses together! Just kidding those are actually called "sarungs". Many of the men here in Indonesia wear these in the evenings before they go to bed. They are actually quite comfortable, and our friends all get a kick out of us wearing them!

My new home!

Well, I arrived in Indonesia almost one week ago and I'm now settled in to my new home! Adjustments have been difficult and I definitely miss those that are close to me back home. Everything has gone smooth so far, except a minor flood that left an inch of water in about half of our house! I've really enjoyed my time here so far and its been a joy to reconnect with old friends from my time spent here two summers ago. I am amazed at the quality of relationships here in Indonesia, as so many here still remember me and have expressed how much they have missed me! So many treat me like a best friend, a brother, or even a son. Its really quite an honor to be treated in this way and definitely keeps me humble and feeling blessed! Some of the pics below are of my new house. I'm living with my friend Jordan and two Indonesian high school aged guys. We should have some good times together over the next year! I'll keep you posted!

Our sweet crib!

These will get replaced with king size water beds sometime soon!

No, that is not a bath tub! My first experience with one of these I actually got in! (the one on the left to clarify)

This is from the flood. The picture was taken from our front porch!

Goodbyes!

I leave for Indonesia just one week from tonight. I've said a lot of goodbyes lately, and have a lot more to come. I'm starting to realize how hard it is to leave the ones I love the most behind. I feel like I have realized how blessed I am in the relationships that I have...maybe because the time I have left with them is running out. Goodbyes give the perfect opportunity to share the depths of our affections for one another. There are those here that I will certainly miss, but I hope to make the kind of relationships in Indonesia that I have here... the ones that will make it hard to leave there and return home. In the adventure of life goodbyes are a necessity but with goodbyes come hellos.... and I can't wait to say hello to old friends and new future friends in Indonesia. Sampai Jumpa Nanti Indonesia! See you soon Indonesia!

Friends in Colorado!



Being attacked in the woods!

Plane Tickets

Its official... there is no turning back now! I just got my plane tickets ordered a few days ago and it's looking like Jordan and I will be flying out the evening of October 29th. Almost 3 weeks! It's been over a year now since I have desired to return to Indonesia... and the day is almost here! I must say I caught myself in a moment of hesitation right before I verified the purchase. Sometimes things don't quite become a reality until steps are actually taken in that direction. It's hard to imagine that in three weeks I'll be leaving American soil... not to return for a year. Im anxiously awaiting the adventure of a lifetime. I hope the cultural experiences the challenges and the trials and i'll encounter will change my life forever!

Motorcycle Exam

Last Friday I took my motorcycle examination which included a written part and a drivin part. After several hours of practice on a few different bikes I thought I was ready for the big test. And... well, lets just say I passed by the skin of my teeth. In spite failing the written test once, the drivin test once, and crashing the bike, the state seems to believe that I'm "qualified" to ride motorcycles. No injuries on the crash... just a broken windshield and some minor scratches on the bike. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone that reads this that it might be wise stay clear if you ever see me cruisin on a motorcycle. You'll want to give me plenty of space, im still a bit out of control!!

Motorcycle Man!!!

On my way to sturgis.... Just kidding. Me and Jordan practiced riding some motorcycles a few weeks ago. In Indonesia this will be our main transportation but we need to get our liscense here in the states, so I need to figure out how to use this thing! No major accidents, except Jordan going into a ditch and me killing it like 50 times. Im pretty sure I need some leather plants to complete the biker outfit!


Top speed..... 4 mph. I was a little scared. It looks like im going faster than that though, doesn't it????

Me and Jordan In Colorado

here are a few pics from my trip to Colorado with Jordan. Jordan and I graduated together this last spring and he is coming with me to Indonesia. We leave in just a few short months. We are both getting pretty anxious and excited to leave... but still have a lot of preperation to do in the mean time. We will be living in the same city and doing most of the same things together. Im definitely pumped to get to know him better and grow our friendship! Lately Ive come to realize that friendships are gifts and can easily be taken for granted. I believe alot of times we don't realize how special someone is to us until our time with them is running out!