BUT! I am going to Indonesia in a week for four and a half weeks. Basically March will come in like a lion and out like a lamb and meanwhile, I'll be on a volcano in the rainforest, and miss the annual taming of the shrew and coming and going of 2016's vernal equinox. Oh! That reminds me: I should attempt to balance an egg on its end in Indonesia on the equinox because I'll be so much closer to the equator. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about: look no further. They say the science is mixed and I say, is it, though? Because I did it once when I was seven with no witness, soooo . . . science.
Anyway. I'm going for a month to learn the language. Also because it occurred to me as I hemmed and hawed over whether or not to go that perhaps before I commit my life to working and living abroad, I should try it--even if for a brief period.
Perhaps you're thinking, wow, Indonesia: so random! Yes. Yes, I see why you might think that. And you're not wrong. This whole idea evolved into a subsequent plan fairly quickly and was inspired largely by some internet research based on my English speaking's statistical ability to learn something comprehensively in a relatively short period of time, being told after getting bad news to "take a risk, this is what you do, don't sit around and wait for life to happen," and my prevailing sense of YOLO.
So by way of a very supportive boss paired with an even more supportive wife, here we are: I have a school program, a homestay, plane tickets, and a travel book. What else is there? Pretty sure that covers all of the things.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit nervous. And recognize that this is plan is at least a little bit insane. To that extent, here is a list of things that I will miss not being in my favorite country:
- Lauren's 15th birthday;
- Live coverage of the primaries in the following states (obligatory "I'm with HER" in chant form BECAUSE I AM):
- Kansas,
- Lousiana,
- Nebraska,
- Maine,
- Michigan,
- Mississippi,
- Florida,
- Illinois,
- Missouri,
- North Carolina,
- Ohio,
- Arizona,
- Idaho,
- Utah,
- Alaska,
- Hawaii,
- Washington, and
- Colorado;
- Easter Brunch at Hollow Head (insert catface tear eyes--the saddest of all emojis);
- "Winter" hiking--ugh, Rosa, I'm sorry/this winter is the worst;
- Two paydays (thank you, Betsy, ahead of time for being my/Sarah's messenger);
- St. Patrick's Day, which in fairness, I do not care about but do like green and beer, so it's not all bad I guess? Hm; and
- And these two:
That's basically it--feel free to read or not read (follow your heart) and I'll try to convey the things that are funny, interesting, or noteworthy. And then, in April I'll be back. Just in time to vote for my girl in the New York primaries.
