The Trainees had a few more meetings to take care of Saturday morning before we boarded the buses to join our host families in Kediri. The Peace Corps staff wanted to address any awkward situations resulting from cultural misunderstanding that we could possibly encounter within the first hours we are with our host families. Sometimes, they said, it is hard to even realize there is a cultural misunderstanding during certain interactions. The staff used the following definition: “Culture is the shared set of assumptions, values, and beliefs of a group of people by which they organize their common life.”—Gary Wederpahn They followed that definition with a metaphor of two icebergs. Many of us have heard the saying “just the tip of the iceberg,” and have seen the poster, which shows that the majority of an iceberg is in fact located underneath the water, not on top. The Peace Corps took that analogy to another level. Imagine a poster with two icebergs side by side. The “tip of the icebergs,” or the ice above the water, represent Behavior. The ice below the water’s surface, which is far bigger than the ice mass above water, represents Values. If you pushed those two icebergs together the larger (and wider) portions of the iceberg underneath the water would touch, but the portions of ice above the surface would never be able to. In essence, when the Values of two cultures are the same, the way that the cultures project those morals can be completely different. Cultural projection, or how people of other cultures perceive one another, comes from our core values. Cultural projection originates from a set of core values (the base of the icebergs), but is displayed through a culture’s norms and behaviors (“tip of the icebergs”). The metaphor demonstrates how cultural behaviors vary so significantly even though they are derived from similar values. The staff ran through some scenarios and asked us how we might respond. For example, if locals throughout the village venture to the house where I am staying and ask to take pictures, will I go along with their wishes? The first several times it might be easy to go along with people intruding on my private time, but what happens when people are constantly asking for pictures night after night? After all, they are just really excited to meet the American that just moved to their village. It comes from a place of kindness and curiosity. The current Peace Corps Volunteer who was leading the exercise spoke from experience when he advised, “you will probably want to find a way to draw a line; let them know that your time at home is for you, and you alone.” The PCV told us that the different scenarios in the exercise all came from current Volunteers’ experiences at their sites. I’m sure that similar situations will arise during my service; and when it does, I will let you know how I choose to respond. We also went through simple “dos” and “don’ts”. It is important that I smile to my host family, regardless of how little I understand. Both the host families and I are work hard trying to get along, and a smile goes a long way to reassure one another. It is considered rude to point at something or someone with the index finger. The staff recommends that I use my thumb or an open palm gesture instead. If the host family takes their shoes off before entering the house, then it is important that I replicate those actions. Many families in Indonesia, and of the Muslim faith in general, walk barefoot throughout the house in order to maintain a sense of purity and cleanliness. If my Bapak and Ibu (mom and dad) are sitting on the floor, then I should not be sitting in a chair. I should join so that we are at the same level. It is important that I am aware of the cultural practices among the Indonesian people, but even more imperative that I understand why they do these things. Two thirds of the Peace Corps’ mission revolves around cultural exchange, and I want to share accurate information with people back in the United States. Once you understand why that cultural behavior exists, odds are that it stems from one of the same central values you hold close to your heart. The last meeting before departure unveiled our language groups and host families for the ten-week Pre-Service Training period. I believe that the primary factor that leads to a site placement for PST is language skills. The staff groups me with other trainees who have similar language acquisition skills, and then places us with host families that live relatively close to one another. My PST Bahasa Indonesia classes are with three other Trainees. My technical courses (TEFL, CEP, etc.) will have sixteen trainees, or four separate language clusters. The entire group of 58 trainees will only meet once a week on Fridays, which are the cultural adaptation classes. Once we were all arranged into our new language clusters the Cultural Liaison (CL), who is assigned to each group, gave every Trainee a piece of paper with a picture of our PST host family. Introducing Bapak Miswan, Ibu Ira, and their two children: Safa, who is ten years old; and Aza, who is almost three. A wave of emotions overcame me after finally seeing the family I will be living with for nearly three months. I was excited to see such a beautiful family, but I was also nervous about what they expected of me. Do they speak any English? Are they as nervous about meeting me as I am for them? Do I even want them to know any English? Do they have a western toilet? A million thoughts rushed through my head. The group of Trainees had one last lunch at the hotel. We received our bike helmets and mosquito nets, and then set off to meet our host families. There were Trainees destined for three different villages on my bus. The bus would drop a group off at a central meeting point in the first village, then move on to do the same at the second and third. We didn’t know who would get dropped off first or when. We sat on the bus and talked about our anxieties while Sarah McLaughlin played on the radio. Traffic was horrible, of course, and it took several turns until the bus drove under an arch that read Pakunden—the name of my village. I was a member of the first group to depart from the bus and connect with our host families. Before I disembarked from the bus, I wished my fellow Trainees good luck, and reminded them that our host families are just as nervous as we are. This was it—no more hypothetical talk about when we are with our host families. I was meeting them right now. I waved at the bus as it pulled away, and our CLs Lana and Maya ushered the eight Trainees into a community room. Just like any other slightly (barely) significant occasion, the community leaders were present and people wanted to take a lot of pictures. While posing for the camera, I immediately recognized my host parents walking through the door from the picture I received earlier that day. Indicating that they had seen my photo too, my Bapak and Ibu displayed the biggest smiles when we made eye contact. Visual contact was confirmed, but photographs and community elders kept me from making my introduction. A few more snaps and then I was finally able to meet my new parents. Ibu Ira was carrying little Aza, who was fast asleep. Bapak Miswan grabbed one of my backpacks and we walked outside. His hand signals implied that we would walk to the house because it was close from our current location. Ibu Ira, however, got on her scooter—still holding a sleeping baby—and zoomed off to meet us at the house. I walked with my Ibu for five minutes, waving and smiling at locals before arriving at my new home. Ibu walked me through the house and showed me my room. Bapak dropped off the bag he carried to the house for me and they left me to unpack my things. I spoke maybe twenty words of Bahasa Indonesia with them during the course of our first fifteen minutes together, but here I was unpacking my duffel bags and moving in for three months. Peace Corps requires us to hang a mosquito net over our bed. Dengue Fever and Malaria are common in Indonesia, and several Peace Corps Volunteers have contracted either one or both of those diseases. The net, however, ended up being as big as the bedroom, so my Ibu laid the mesh out on the ground to fold, sew, and safety pin it into a narrower shape. They had already placed nails in the walls around my bed, which made the effort to hang it quite marginal. I have a dresser/desk combination that has four drawers and four shelves. I kept a lot of my personal mementos in the duffel bags that I stored underneath my bed. I found a pink Hello Kitty comb in one of the dresser drawers. I wasn’t sure if my parents put that there for me to use, or if Aza left her comb in the dresser. Not knowing how to ask for clarification, I showed the comb to my Bapak and said, “Saya tidak punya rambut,” which means, “I don’t have hair.” We both laughed and he placed the brush on a desk in another room. Once I finished unpacking everything, I joined my parents in the TV room at the back of the house where they were watching a show. Aza was sleeping in her room, and Safa was due home from school any minute. I used my dictionary and language books to help piece together questions that I could ask Bapak and Ibu. We all laughed every time I had to pause and look in my dictionary to answer a question, which was incredibly frequent. That book is going to get a lot of use over the course of the next 27 months! When Safa got home, I was pleasantly surprised that he was so eager to talk to me. He invited me to come outside to play soccer, and I happily obliged. What originally started as me playing soccer with three kids gradually increased to five, ten, fifteen, and eventually more than twenty. The white American had arrived and everyone wanted to catch his or her first glimpse. I played with the kids for close to an hour while the parents watched with intrigue from afar. I knew playtime was up when the sweat soaked through my pant legs. I just endured my first soccer match with the neighborhood kids, but I wasn’t going to live to tell about it if I didn’t get some water. I explained to the kids in (very) broken Bahasa Indonesia that we could play again tomorrow, but I needed to drink some water and rest. My new brother Safa quelled any objections from his friends and led me back home. What a guy! I drank water and watched what seemed like Indonesian soap operas with my new family. Safa asked me questions while Aza gradually started to warm up to me. It appeared that my family was completely enamored with the TV show so I decided to follow suit. I don’t know what the characters’ names are and what history they have together, but I do know that the main character shouldn’t be with his current girlfriend; he’s supposed to be with her best friend instead! Hopefully that unfolds during the next episode. I added very substantive material to the family’s conversation about the show: “He is angry”, “She is happy”, and “That is his father.” I think I will be able to reflect a little deeper in the future. The show ended so I got ready for bed, tuckered out from an eventful day. I crawled under my mosquito net and settled in for a restless night of sleep. The 4am call to prayer keep me from sleeping in. The following day was Sunday and I was ready by 8am. Lana and Maya, my two Community Liaisons (CLs), biked to my house. They had already picked up two other Trainees so I went in tow behind them. We picked up five additional Trainees from their homes before we started our village bike tour. Lana and Maya took us to the locations of our language courses, technical training seminars, and group classes. We biked along busy roads: more motorcycles and scooters than I’ve ever seen in my life, trucks filled with produce, and Angkots (mini buses) filled with passengers. It will take some time getting used to biking on such narrow, congested roads. We ended the bike tour at the Peace Corps office at a local university. From there, we ventured via Angkot to downtown Kediri to buy SIM cards for our cellphones. That proved to take longer than we initially anticipated. We occasionally saw other groups of Trainees following their respective CLs around town. It was nice to hear how the first night went with their new families; everyone seems to be enjoying their hosts. By the time I got home around 5pm, the neighborhood boys were all sitting on the front porch of my house waiting to play soccer. I went to my room to drop off my bag and came back outside to reluctantly put on my shoes for soccer. My Bapak followed me outside and insisted that I rest after a long day. Much to the kids’ dismay, he persisted that I was not able to play soccer because I was tired. Thank you Bapak Miswan for taking the heat, and letting me be the cool foreigner for another day. Monday, March 20, 2017 was the first day of Pre-Service Training since moving in with my host family. I went with seven other Trainees to an Islamic middle school for a tour and to meet with the teachers. We arrived at 6:30 that morning and observed the school’s weekly tradition—the Indonesian flag ceremony. The ceremony consists of student pageantry—chants, coordinated walking, prayers—before three boys raised the Indonesian flag up the flagpole in front of the school. After the ceremony, and before the tour, we spoke with some students and teachers about the school: the facilities, faculty, student body, etc. The school was only two years old, which explained why it was immaculately clean. I was impressed with how much pride the teachers and students had for their new school. I am happy to know that these students do not take their education for granted! This was also my first week of Bahasa Indonesian classes with the new language cluster. We had five hours of class each day Monday through Thursday. Peace Corps staff evaluated our language acquisition skills during our first week of classes, which they used to arrange us into our new Bahasa Indonesia clusters for PST. The majority of time in our language class revolves around learning new vocabulary, mainly because there are no tenses or verb conjugations in Bahasa Indonesia. The flashcards are rapidly piling up on the desk in my bedroom. The safety and security meeting detailed what measures the Peace Corps has in place to keep us safe during our time in Indonesia. For example, various regions of the country are considered unsafe compared to others. We learned what areas of the country we are not allowed to visit under any circumstances, which areas require staff approval, and where we can travel to without hesitation. Due to the country’s distinctive archipelago, there are various islands where separatist movements are fairly prominent. That is why the Peace Corps prefers for us to stay away from those areas. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, PCVs are not allowed to drive or ride a motorcycle or scooter. To avoid that is easier said than done in Indonesia. There is an estimated 84 million motorcycles in Indonesia, making up 82 percent of all vehicles.. My host family has two mopeds, which is their primary mode of transportation. Driving in Indonesia, however, is quite chaotic. Even if I was allowed to ride a motorcycle, I don’t think I would want to on these streets. Another workshop provided scenarios that we might have to deal with in our schools. Cheating among students is very common: both in class and while doing homework away from school. The Indonesian culture seems to emphasize the importance of quantity over quality regarding schoolwork. PCVs presenting during the workshop added a plagiarism scenario for us to problem solve. While discussing the issue among fellow Trainees and our PC staff Community Leaders, it was clear that Indonesians perceive plagiarism differently than we do in the United States. One of the CLs didn’t understand why it would be an issue if a student copied an entire Wikipedia entry for a homework assignment. That scenario, and conversation with the staff member, highlighted the profound differences between our two education systems. The staff also warned us about the possibility to witness the use of corporal punishment on students for misbehaving. Although it is not common, various PCVs have witnessed disciplinary actions that fall under that category. The Peace Corps just wants us to be prepared if a teacher chooses to cut off a chunk of student’s hair for arriving to class late, or forces a student to kneel on the cement floor for an extended period of time. We discussed coping mechanisms and how we might be able to influence an educator to change his or her disciplinary methods. The final workshop I had discussed the development of Indonesia’s educational system in the context of Gotong Royong, which means “Communal Society”. The country has a rich tradition of community-based development that originated centuries ago. There are many different levels of government that promote the Indonesian citizens to continue with this style of development: federal, provincial, municipal, village, neighborhood, combined blocks, and individual blocks. There are elected officials at each one of those administrative levels who encourage their constituents—in some cases, neighbors and family members—to host frequent gatherings to address community matters. When someone has a child getting married, they rely on other people living on their block, in their neighborhood or village to help prepare the food and facilities for the wedding. When a family plans on building a new house, they rely on the fathers, brothers and sons of the community to help with construction, and the wives, mothers, and daughters to help cook food for everyone. Peace Corps staff hopes that we keep the idea of a “Communal Society” in mind when we think about how to best assist our schools with the development of their educational practices. We won’t be able to make effective change if only a select number of people are interested. It’s important to seek out the support of many people throughout the entire community. The presentation ended with a quote by Ki Hajar Dewantara, the 1st Minister of National Education of the Republic of Indonesia: “Those in front should set an example, those in the middle should raise the spirit, those in the back should provide encouragement.” I like to apply this to the idea that a classroom is similar to a community—there will be students who participate more than others, but every single of them possesses an important quality that contributes to their educational development. I found all of the workshops to be very informative. I hand-washed my clothes for the first time on Tuesday this week. I told my Ibu that I wanted to learn for myself, despite her unremitting persistence of doing it for me. I’m glad I didn’t let her touch my dirty laundry, because the unrelenting odor from my sweaty, dirty clothes was almost too much for me to handle. The detergent/water mix quickly dissolved the musk of B.O., but the exertion needed to properly hand wash my clothes, combined with the squat position I had to assume, led to considerable amounts of perspiration, and the stinky smell returned. Once I had washed my clothes in three separate buckets, and hung everything up outside to dry, I felt as though I had accomplished some magnificent feat. But in the lives of millions of Indonesians, and likely billions of more people throughout the world, this is an every day task—something most people in the United States certainly take for granted. My three-year-old host sister Aza watched me from afar while she held her stuffed teddy bear. I convinced her to give me a high five once I finished hanging up my clean laundry. Score! I am currently siting in the Peace Corps office in Kediri. It is the only time this week that I am connected to WiFi or that I am spending more than ten minutes in air conditioning. All of these new experiences, though very enticing, ensure that I am tired every evening. The constant heat also makes me sleepy throughout the day. Despite living with my host family for one week, the amount of new information I am absorbing on a daily basis leaves me exasperated at times. It is nice to talk about that with fellow Trainees when we meet at class. We are all going through the exact same thing, which is why it is important to build a support network as soon as possible. When I voice a frustration to another Trainee, it is comforting to hear that he or she feels the same way or understands where I am coming from. This blog helps in a similar way, too. I get to tell my friends and family back home what I find easy, and not so easy, about integrating into a culture so completely different from what I already know. I constantly remind myself about how special it is to have these variances among cultures. I may not yet understand why certain cultural norms exist, but I am happy to be curious enough to learn. Shout-Outs:
SO to my fellow PCTs who contributed some of the pictures and videos to the post. I know that my entries wouldn’t be as exciting without them! SO to my pillowcase. Seriously, my pillowcase. I’m not ashamed to admit that I tend to drool when I sleep. But jeez, my pillowcase has taken a beating this week. SO to my friends and family who have downloaded WhatsApp to keep in touch with me. If you download the app you can contact me with my U.S. number! HSO to my sister for finalizing her graduation plans for this coming spring. An additional SO goes out to her prospective plans for what comes next!
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The plane descended on Surabaya around 9am local time on Sunday March 12, 2017. After nearly 30 hours of traveling from Los Angeles, every one in the group was anxious to arrive in country. The houses and palm trees grew more distinct as our plane lowered. The heights of the many minarets were pronounced relative to everything else, except for the skyscrapers further out in the distance. The plane touched down and all of the Peace Corps Trainees applauded; we had arrived at our new home country. Disembarking from the plane, finding our luggage, and going through customs was as discombobulating as one might except for a group of sixty people. Luckily, Peace Corps staff greeted us at the gate and led us to baggage claim. I immediately noticed certain things unique to Indonesia, and thus had never seen before: signs read “Musholla,” which is the Indonesian word for “prayer room”, and a large banner of the country’s president, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), hung along a long hallway. There had to have been twenty-four members from Peace Corps staff, including some current Peace Corps Volunteers, at the airport to guide us from baggage claim, through customs, and out to our busses. With my two backpacks and duffel bags in hand, I stepped out of the airport and into the Indonesian outdoors for the first time. As expected, the humidity hit me and stuck. I know that my sincere attempts to prepare for the heat will be tested in the near future. I loaded my bags into a truck and boarded my assigned bus. I must have look exasperated when I climbed the bus stairs, because a Peace Corps employee asked me what I thought of the weather. “Enjoy the weather while you can,” he said, “because it will get really hot when rainy season is over.” Oh boy. I found my seat in the back row of the bus and positioned myself so that the air condition vents pushed cool air straight down the back of my shirt. I helped myself to the bottles of water Peace Corps staff had waiting for us too. Panting, I reminded myself to make a concerted effort to enjoy the air conditioning, because that will become a rarity very soon. Nina, the Peace Corps Country Director, accompanied us on the 45-minute bus ride to our hotel. The bus drove past the terminal and through the gates that read “Selamat Datang,” which is Indonesian for “Welcome”. Nina pointed out certain buildings while we drove through the city. Billboards, shopping malls, and mosques lined the busy city streets. I enjoyed the music playing on our bus: Katy Perry’s “Roar”, Kesha, and Bruno Mars’ original hits. Indonesia’s delay in American music means that I can look forward to hearing some of my guilty pleasures more often. The streets were filled with motorcycles, with many of them carrying three, four, or even five people. Peace Corps reiterates on a daily basis that Peace Corps Volunteers are not allowed to ride a motorcycle under any circumstances, and the rule applies to all Peace Corps programs around the world. The three buses arrived at our hotel no later than an hour after leaving the airport. We had only one meeting that day, which took place between lunch and dinner. I went on a quick tour of the Peace Corps country headquarters with current Peace Corps Volunteers and was sound asleep by 7pm on my first night in Indonesia. Despite my sheer exhaustion, the jet lag woke me up around 2am—just in time to watch the Badgers play in the B1G Basketball Championship. The game’s result made it slightly difficult for me to be positive that day. We spent two nights and two days in Surabaya. The majority of meetings during that timespan consisted of safety and security information, medical preparation, and reviewing logistical plans for the rest of the week. We discussed living basics: how to assemble mosquito nets over our beds, practicing culturally appropriate greetings, and learning how to best manage the imminent bouts of explosive diarrhea. Peace Corps staff threw out some facts about diarrhea in Indonesia, which underlined the severity of the illness in the country. Children under three years old suffer from roughly 50% more episodes of diarrhea on a yearly basis compared to infants in the United States. This common digestive misfortune is most likely a result of the country’s poor water quality. The two regions where Peace Corps Volunteers serve in country also happen to have some of the highest reported numbers of diarrhea incidents throughout Indonesia. Basically, there is no way that I can escape the wrath of uncontrollable bowel movements as an Indonesian Peace Corps Volunteer. I’ll make sure to utilize any related experiences for an intriguing blog post! During one of our group meetings, we reviewed the Peace Corps Mission. The mission has three simple goals:
That being stated, only one third of the Peace Corps mission is to train and equip locals with the proper knowledge in order for them to maximize their professional potential (goal #1). Two thirds of the Peace Corps mission, however, is to promote cultural exchange (goals #2 and #3). The cultural exchange is the top reason why the Indonesian government invited Peace Corps into the country. They want us to teach their citizens about our culture, and hope that we can bring a better understanding of the Indonesian culture back to the United States. We departed from our hotel in Surabaya on the morning of Tuesday, March 14th for our next stop, Kediri. We spent four nights at a hotel in Kediri before we move in with our Pre-Service Training host families for ten weeks. We took a pit stop along the three-hour drive at a current Peace Corps Volunteer’s site. With approximately eleven thousand students, he teaches at an abnormally large school in Indonesia. The buses parked and the entire group walked to a courtyard located in the school compound about ten minutes away. Along the walk, many students stood alongside of the road greeting us, waving and smiling. When I responded with “hello” or “how are you”, the students usually giggled and whispered to one another. Once we arrived at the courtyard, each trainee was paired with an individual student who then toured us around the school. My tour guide was WaWa and she was in seventh grade. She nervously led me past the schoolyard, library, and her classroom. She asked me various questions, referring to a list of questions she had written down, while showing me around the school. She asked me if I had any Indonesian friends. I responded that I did not have any Indonesian friends because I was new to the country. “I will be your first Indonesian friend,” she responded. She melted my heart. After she finished taking me around her school, we watched student performances on the stage in the courtyard. We listened to the choir sing the US and Indonesian national anthems, watched a traditional Balinese dance, and admired a rock band of four boys perform “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay and “21 Guns” by Green Day. The pageantry showed how excited the teachers and students were to have us there, and I appreciated their hospitality. WaWa introduced me to many of her friends. Some of them asked to have their picture taken with me, and I obliged. I made sure to get a picture of just me and WaWa, because after all, she will forever be my first Indonesian friend. It was time to leave so I said goodbye to all of the students. I snapped a great picture of a group of students waving goodbye to me as I got back on the bus. I can’t wait to get to my permanent site in ten weeks so that I can start building connections with the students I will see every day for two years! The buses pulled away from the school and we continued our journey to Kediri. The ride provided great views of various villages, mosques, and the Indonesian countryside, but the tumultuous traffic provided the most entertainment. I talked with other trainees on the bus about our reasons for serving with the Peace Corps, finding comfort in others who share so many similar interests and aspirations. I am excited to see what everyone accomplishes during our time in Indonesia. During the five days in Kediri, trainees began their extensive Bahasa Indonesian classes, conducted their medical interviews with Peace Corps doctors, and met with programming staff to discuss our interests. The programming director takes our interests, preferences, and hobbies into consideration before assigning us to a permanent site. Factors that could influence a site placement might include one’s preference to be in an urban or rural environment, far or close from another volunteer, the ability to bike to and from school, and any medical factors that warrant a volunteer to be closer to headquarters in Surabaya. Posts are in two provinces on Java: East and West. Bahasa Indonesia, which translates to “the language of Indonesia,” is the umbrella language throughout the country’s archipelago. Although many dialects and languages are spoken throughout the nation’s eighteen thousand islands, Bahasa Indonesia serves as the unifying language for all its citizens. I have been looking forward to learning the language, and my classes remind me of the foreign language courses I took during high school and college. I think that learning the language is essential for integrating into my community, which is why I am determined to master the language. Every day we had a break between classes and dinner. I generally used that time to review lessons from language classes, but one night I went with a group of trainees to play futsal at the indoor soccer arena that is conveniently located across the street from the hotel. Even though it was a two-minute walk, I still had to weave through motorcycle traffic; I need to get better at that so I’m not so nervous every time I leave my house! I was able to practice my elementary speaking skills with some locals at the soccer arena. My adventure to the soccer arena reminded me of two important things: first, I still know very little Bahasa Indonesian regardless of any strides I make in my language class; and second, it was wise of me to quit soccer after sophomore year of high school. Both my language and soccer skills were pretty rough. My length of service is 27 months, but only twenty-four of those months will be at my permanent site. I will be at a temporary site with a temporary host family in Kediri during my three-month Pre-Service Training (PST). During that time, all 58 trainees will be placed with host families located in the same city. Peace Corps Indonesia uses Community-Based Training, which means that much of the time I will be learning in small groups of Trainees in training villages. The intention of this method is to expose Trainees to settings and experiences that are similar to those that we will face at our permanent site. Peace Corps training is meant to prepare us with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes we’ll need during our first 3-6 months at our permanent sites. Training content includes: TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) technical sessions, Bahasa Indonesia language courses, safety and security classes, and additional medical sessions. Ultimately, PST exists to ensure that all Peace Corps Trainees obtain three core competencies:
Today, Saturday, March 18th I move in with a host family for my ten-week Pre-Service Training. The adjustments of living in an unfamiliar culture, and with a host family, provide me with a significant opportunity for personal growth. Every day of getting to know Indonesia—the culture, language and people—may include getting to know myself better. Certainly, flexibility will be key. I hope that by using this blog to record what I see, do, and feel, I will be amazed at how much I have learned and grown when I read these entries sometime in the future. I have never moved into a stranger’s house before, even in the United States! I am nervous about the language barrier; I can’t say much more than “my name is Addison,” “how are you,” and “thank you very much.” Whoever this family is, they are gracious enough to welcome a stranger with open arms and share their home with me. It will require patience, positivity, and open-mindedness on both ends to make these next ten weeks enjoyable for all of us. I cautiously await the encounters with my new host family, and I look forward to the interactions that will warrant words in my next post! Shout-Outs:
SO to the current PCVs who came to Surabaya and imparted their wisdom to us. Your insight is very much appreciated. HSO to WaWa for showing me around her school. As a seasoned tour guide myself, I think you are a true natural. I hopped off the plane at LAX with a dream and six sticks of deodorant in my checked luggage. Two flights into my journey, I arrived at 11:35am on Thursday, March 9th, which was right on schedule. Due to the aircraft parking five feet too far from the jet way, along with a suitcase stuck in the baggage carousel (thank goodness it wasn’t mine), I wasn’t able get a cab until after 1pm. The hour-long car ride to the Hilton Hotel in Glendale, CA made it highly unlikely that I would arrive for orientation on time. Confirming that suspicion, I arrived at the hotel, dropped my bags off in my room, and sat down in the orientation ballroom by 2:30. Despite all the obstacles, I was finally sitting in the orientation meeting and was among the Peace Corps trainees with whom I was originally intended to be. The Peace Corps intended for everyone to complete his or her Peace Corps Trainee registration prior to the orientation. However, I arrived late and was not able to complete registration; and due to the fact that I was reassigned to the volunteer group so last minute, I needed to complete paperwork (additional paperwork to what I did my last night in Madison) before I could even begin the registration process. I was far behind everyone else. I found the majority of training to be rather trite and redundant, especially after hearing the Peace Corps presenter informed us that we would receive a more in-depth review of the same information once we reached Indonesia. Despite that notion, I thoroughly enjoyed some of the icebreakers that helped me get to know the other Trainees. One was an activity when everyone formed a circle and said the most unique items they brought with them for service. Oh boy did the answers vary: stuffed animals, different hot sauces, favorite foods, musical instruments, or special pictures. I decided that my most unique item is the Wisconsin state flag, but my poster of the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia cast is a close second. A second icebreaker that I enjoyed also required the group to form a circle and represented a prophetical situation during our future experience as Peace Corps Volunteers. This time all of us in a circle faced outwards with our eyes closed. The Peace Corps orientation staff announced that we might feel occasional taps on our back while we waited in silence. After the staff was done they asked us to open our eyes and organize into groups—without talking—according to what was on our backs. I realized that everyone had different colored dot stickers on their backs. A fellow trainee got my attention and gestured to someone else who donned a blue colored sticker, implying that I had the same on my back. The trainees with blue stickers gradually got in formation; the trainees with green stickers slowly formed a group; the same went for people with red stickers and yellow stickers. There were two people who matched because they had blue and green stickers on their backs. Once the entire group of trainees nonverbally indicated that everyone was affiliated with their appropriate group, the orientation staff asked if there was any trainee who felt they were in the incorrect group. To my surprise, one person raised his hand. I was curious to know why he felt that way because I was so sure that everyone was capable of easily finding his or her own group. The orientation leader asked why he felt out of place. He couldn’t answer the question because he didn’t know what was on his back. He explained that without effective verbal communication he wasn’t able to determine why other trainees couldn’t easily gesture to which group he belonged. It turned out that there were three stickers on his back: blue, green, and yellow. While the majority of trainees effortlessly found their place among the various groups of colored dots, that one person weathered an entirely different situation. This experience, according to the orientation staff member, demonstrates a “three dot moment”. Every person in our group, except for one, was able to associate with someone else. While the majority of us seamlessly corroborated with one another, one person was still lost. There were two sides to this incident: first, the majority of trainees formed their groups and assumed that it would be equally easy for everyone else; second, that one trainee was able to gain a solid amount of insight from others, but the slightest misunderstanding lead him down a path of confusion and isolation. I internalized this activity as a metaphor for countless inevitable moments during my 27 months as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Orientation ended, which meant that I had to work on all of the Peace Corps paperwork and finish registration. Even more frustrating, I had already completed all of these forms, but since they removed me from the training group when my legal clearance originally did not come through, I had to fill all of them out again. I also needed to fill out various student loan forms, which were endorsed by Peace Corps staff and mailed to my loan servicers. I can already tell that my student loans will be a source of frustration throughout the entirety of my service in Indonesia. There was still one more task to complete; the Peace Corps orientation staff gave me a temporary ATM card so I could withdraw funds that would pay for my meals until I arrived in Surabaya. I had to go to activate the card and withdraw the money so that I could buy my meals for the next 48 hours. Frustrated by how long the previous tasks took to complete, I ventured out onto the streets to find an ATM. That task proved more difficult than I had expected. It was late and the majority of ATMs in the neighborhood were located inside businesses that were already closed. Already aggravated by the mountain of paperwork, and how difficult it was to take care of a basic ATM run, I wasn't feeling peachy during my last night in the United States. I should have expected that after all of the complications with Peace Corps throughout the previous week. It was my last night in the United States, and my obvious frustration with how the day unfolded had me in a bad mood when I settled into bed. I decided that—regardless of the stressful circumstances that unfolded prior to my departure to Indonesia—I would end my first day of Peace Corps training on a good note. I watched the newest episode of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. As always, the show left me as content as ever, and I slept like a baby. I woke up the next morning at 8:30, only two hours before we would all board the buses to head for Los Angeles International Airport. I went to Walgreens to pick up a notebook and folder because I omitted bringing those items while packing. I didn’t feel prepared during orientation and I didn’t want that to happen again at Pre-Service Training in Indonesia. I went next door to Trader Joe’s to pick up breakfast, intending to buy yogurt and banana. I left with a block of sharp Wisconsin cheddar instead. Looking back I see how weird that is, but I was feeling extra sentimental and that purchase seemed appropriate given the circumstances! I took an hour bus ride with other volunteers to the airport. I enticed them all with my delectable brick of fine Wisconsin cheese, hoping to generate conversation. I was pleased to learn that I am not the only one among the group to enjoy good cheese; the brick was gone by the time we arrived at our terminal. With an eagerness to explore the world like never before, and a stomach full of dairy, I swiftly frolicked through check-in and security. We had three hours before take off, so I indulged in conversation and libations with new friends as we waited for our boarding call. We flew along side the West coast for a little while, passing San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge, before departing straight across the Pacific Ocean. I looked out the window as the last sight of the USA faded from view. I wasn’t sad as my last sights of the USA disappeared. Unlike millions of people around the world, I have the luxury of leaving a country that is stable. There are many people who have no choice but to leave their country to avoid religious prosecution or political oppression. They leave their country wondering if it will carry on in their absence, and not knowing what state their homeland will be in if and when they return. I believe that haunting uncertainty, which the majority of Americans will never know, is far more common throughout the world than any one of us could ever imagine. I find it reassuring knowing that the U.S. will continue to prosper in my absence. The stewardess diverted my attention when she handed me a blanket, pillow, toothbrush (I saved for later), a pair of socks, and the economy class food menu. I scoured through the beverage section; drinks were included! Wine, spirits, liqueurs, beer, it was all there. I started with a classic concoction of dry gin, orange liqueur, and cherry brandy, shaken with lime and pineapple juice. Add a dash of bitters (used in the classic Old Fashioned), and some Grenadine and you have a Singapore Sling. I drank some glasses of wine while going around and talking with different trainees. I eventually ended back at my own seat. The twelve-hour flight from Los Angeles to Seoul, South Korea took place from 6pm to 6am Wisconsin time, which was 5am to 5pm Java time. I wanted to start adapting to the new time zone, which is why I tried to stay up as much of that flight as possible. I talked with new friends, watched movies and listened to music, and took a short nap to pass the time. We had a three-hour layover in Seoul then departed on the next leg of our journey to Singapore. That six-hour redeye flight took place in a similar time zone to Java so I slept for the majority of the time. I woke up in time as the plane hovered over the South China Sea, watching all the different fishing and cargo ships spread along the ocean. We landed around 5am local time and waited three hours during our last layover. The trainees were expected to land in our final destination of Surabaya, Indonesia wearing business casual attire. The majority of Peace Corps Trainees used the time during that layover to change and freshen up for our arrival to Indonesia. Now here I am on the fifth flight of my journey; the sleep deprivation and overall exhaustion prevent me from reflecting too profoundly on the fact I am finally about to land in my host country within the hour. I think the best word to sum up my current mood and feelings is disbelief. I am still in shock that I confirmed my trip to join the training group just over 72 hours ago. Within that timespan I packed for 27 months, stored all of my possessions that I did not take with me, introduced myself to 56 fellow Peace Corps Trainees, and flew halfway around the world. How’s that for productivity? I had one memorable interaction with a stranger that occurred on the flight from Singapore to Surabaya. A woman who sat across the aisle and two rows up from me was eating her fruit salad that came with breakfast. She attempted to stab a grape with her fork, but it popped out of her bowl, fell onto the floor and rolled its way down the aisle next to me. I picked up the grape and got up to walk over to put it back on her tray. She spoke a different language (I assume Indonesian), but laughed hysterically and made a series of gestures demonstrating how the grape ended up by my feet. Despite not understanding a single word she said, I burst out laughing with her, thinking about how I understood what story she was conveying. The woman and I communicated with each other with our body language, facial expressions, and energy. I know I didn't understand 100% of what she said, but I was able to grasp the general idea. I sat back down in my seat as the captain announced that we were beginning our final descent into Surabaya. I have a big smile on my face thinking about how many more "three dot moments" I will have the next 27 months. Shout-Outs:
HSO to the Indonesia Desk Officer. She repeatedly apologized to our group for sending so many emails regarding registration and service preparation, but she had to deal with even more of my incessant phone calls and emails throughout the past seven months too. SO to the Professional Bartending Academy in Arlington, Virginia for teaching me how to make a Singapore Sling. Your lessons will never be forgotten! SO to Charlie, Dee, Dennis, Frank, and Mac for always brightening up my day. If your show was a little more appropriate (which I’m glad it isn’t), I would introduce it to all of my Indonesian students! SO to the fellow Peace Corps Trainees who rode bus #6 with me from the hotel to LAX. Thanks for enjoying that brick of Wisconsin cheddar as much as I did. And SO to the other volunteers who referred to me as the “cheese guy” for the entire duration of our trip. I accept that title with pride. SO to Singapore Airlines for the free booze and endless hot towels. A second SO goes to having seats 45A, 45B and 45C all to myself for the entire twelve-hour flight. For my first blog post, I think it is important to share with you the path that I took as a prospective Peace Corps Volunteer; from the moment I applied to the program, to the moment I arrive in Indonesia. I have been dealing with the application process since May of 2016, and it’s important insight for you to have while reading about any of my future Indonesian endeavors. To continue with a tradition from a UW-Madison student newspaper, I plan on including a Shout-Out section at the end of each blog post, which gives me an opportunity to thank (or not thank) all the people that helped me during the timespan of that particular story. Enjoy the ride everyone! Although I thoroughly enjoyed living in Washington, DC, the excitement of politics and legislative action did not compensate for the overwhelming lack of interest I had for working on Capitol Hill. I decided that if I wasn’t absolute certain I could find a dream job and identify a fulfilling career on the Hill, then it didn’t make sense for me to continue down my current path. I applied for the Peace Corps towards the end of May 2016. I longed for a job where my day-to-day schedule did not involve nine hours in an office. In addition to seeking a new professional experience, I wanted to garner the important life skill of flexibility—learning to go with the flow and roll with the punches. Anyone who has known me for an extended period of time knows that I am not good at doing that. I rely on a daily routine, frequently get flustered at the first sight of spontaneity, and always become disconcerted when my plans don’t happen the way I originally intended. The desire to acquire those professional and life experiences, combined with a strong desire to live and work abroad, lured me towards the Peace Corps. There is a part of the application where I had the opportunity to select my location preferences—what region of the world or specific country where I wanted to serve. I chose to leave all of my preferences open, acknowledging that my primary desire with the Peace Corps is to see and learn about any area of the world. On June 17, 2016 I received an application update email from the Peace Corps: “We have reviewed your Peace Corps application and have placed you under consideration for Indonesia departing March 2017.” I was informed that a Placement Specialist was reviewing my application and I would be contacted in the coming months if I were to be selected for an interview. Ultimately, I would be notified by September 1, 2016 with a decision regarding my application. On June 22, 2016 I received a Peace Corps Interview Request email. The Placement Specialist informed me she wanted to interview me for a Secondary Education English Teacher position. We confirmed a Skype interview time for Tuesday, June 28, 2016. The interview lasted for two hours. Since the job opening in question was an English teacher, I spent the majority of time talking about my experiences teaching and tutoring students in China, and my work as a counselor at a foreign language immersion summer camp teaching Spanish. Before the conclusion of the interview, the Placement Specialist reiterated that I would be offered, or denied, the volunteer position no later than September 1, 2016. After the interview, I made a concerted effort to push the Peace Corps, and my impending application, out of my mind because September 1st was so far off from my interview date. The Fourth of July festivities that ensued that coming weekend helped me do just that! However, the idea that I would receive news months down the road proved incorrect. I received an invitation to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer on July 7, 2016, less than two weeks after my interview took place. I learned that—pending medical, dental, and legal clearance—I would meet my fellow Volunteers in Los Angeles on March 9, 2017 and depart for Indonesia the following day. They gave me three calendar days to accept the invitation and begin my work towards becoming eligible to serve. I was caught off guard when I saw that email; I wasn’t expecting it for at least another month! The surprise invitation, along with the stipulation to decide within three calendar days (not business days), made the next twenty-four hours fairly stressful. Fortunately, I was able to discuss my options with former mentors who I had worked with while interning on Capitol Hill. After discussing Peace Corps Service with them, any hesitations I had were thrown out the window, and I was ready to accept my invitation. The three clearances—medical, dental, and legal—were the key to being an eligible Peace Corps Volunteer, and all three are required to be completed prior to March 9, 2017 in order for me to leave for Indonesia. My medical clearance required the most work: reoccurring doctors appointments, frequent rendezvous with phlebotomists, and the occasional vaccination (Polio booster, Typhoid, etc.). I was medically cleared on October 13, 2016. In order to receive the dental clearance, I provided various x-rays and proof of a healthy, cavity free mouth. I also received my dental clearance on October 13, 2016. I submitted fingerprint background paperwork so that the Peace Corps could conduct their thorough clearance process. I will save further information on my legal clearance story for later. In addition to my various clearances, I worked on several different assignments for the Peace Corps staff waiting for my arrival in Indonesia. Some examples included different resumes, a personal bio, a homestay questionnaire, and a lesson plan. The Peace Corps definitely kept me busy. All of this needed to be completed so that the Peace Corps staff in Indonesia could assess my skill sets and interests before setting up my ten-week Pre-Service Training. December 2, 2016 was my last day working for the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. That Friday, after an incredible karaoke party at my house, I left Washington D.C. for a two month travel extravaganza, where I traveled throughout Mexico and the USA visiting friends and family before leaving with the Peace Corps. Feel free to check out the pictures I posted under My Adventures on my website. My legal clearance continued to be processed for months while I wrapped up my job, moved out of my house, and said goodbye to coworkers and friends in Washington, DC. That process continued while I traveled for two additional months. The closer I got to March 9, 2017 without confirmation that my legal clearance passed, the more worried I became. I spoke about my upcoming venture frequently when traveling to visit friends and family, but I always lingered on the possibility that my background check wouldn’t clear in time for me to depart for service. Starting at the beginning of January 2017, I received weekly emails from the Peace Corps reassuring me that my legal clearance was a top priority and they were working to get it cleared as soon as possible. On Thursday, March 2, 2017, exactly seven days before I was supposed to meet my fellow Volunteers for orientation in Los Angeles, I received an email from the Legal Placement team informing me that my clearance would not be processed in time for me to leave for Indonesia. I was told to wait for my clearance to go through, and then Peace Corps would reassess what other programs I could enroll in within the coming months. “You will not be eligible to depart for Indonesia,” the email read. After accepting the position more than six months ago, quitting my job, moving back to Wisconsin, and placing the next 27 months of my life on hold, everything changed. I had been preparing to go to Indonesia since the beginning of July: reading books on the country, following Indonesian news sites, and meeting people who traveled or had lived in country. I even reached out to the University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni chapter that is in Jakarta (yes, there is a Badger alumni group in Indonesia’s capital). Even if Indonesia was completely off the table and I was able to leave for another country sometime in the near future, I would not be anywhere near as understanding of that country’s cultures or as knowledgeable of its current events. I called several Peace Corps employees for help. I had been in frequent communication with various people associated with my program because I was so nervous about the clearance going through. Unfortunately, they were only able to offer their sympathies; there was nothing they could do to change the circumstances. Having interned with offices on Capitol Hill who deal directly with the Peace Corps, I reached out to some contacts to see if they could get to the bottom of this problem. Right before I received that disastrous email, I was enthusiastically preparing for what I thought would be my last weekend in Wisconsin (and the United States) for almost two and a half years. Some of my friends planned on visiting from out of town; my family planned on coming to the house Sunday for a going away shindig. But I wasn’t leaving anymore. I owed it every one of those people to inform them about the changes of circumstances. I called my friends, and to my great fortune, they still all looked forward to visiting Madison for the weekend. Still upset, I decided to cancel the family get together, and told them that we could reschedule for later—after I knew the dates for my new program. Despite that bad news, my weekend in Madison with friends was great. Although I grew tired of explaining the sudden change of plans, I started to think optimistically of what I could do if I had to stay in Madison a little longer. I enjoyed spending time with my friends that weekend so much that I made a spontaneous decision to go to Minneapolis with them when they drove back home. I planned on calling the Peace Corps every day until my clearance was passed and I was physically on a plane leaving the country, but I could do that in Minneapolis, or any other city for that matter. As I had planned, I spoke with Peace Corps employees on Monday and Tuesday (March 6th and 7th). Those contacts dealt specifically with the Indonesia program, which meant that I was no longer assigned to them because I was not going there anymore. This made me worry that without a specific contact, I might fall through the cracks and never find a new assignment. While my frustration with the Peace Corps increased on a daily basis, my friend on Capitol Hill continued sending me updates about his investigation. He gave me hope that even though Indonesia was out of the question, he could still help get my clearance to go through and I would be assigned to a new program in no time at all. I decided to take a noon bus back to Madison on Wednesday, March 8 after spending three nights in Minneapolis. The past six days had been extremely exhausting; between the whirlwind of bad news from the Peace Corps, and a solid six days of ‘living it up’ with good friends, I needed the six-hour bus ride to think, nap, and (hopefully) relax. About 90 minutes into the bus ride it became apparent that my weeklong rollercoaster ride was only beginning. At 1:27pm I received an email from the Peace Corps Legal Placement Office that read: “Thank you for your patience as we reviewed your eligibility and suitability for Peace Corps Service. We have completed the review of your background investigation and are pleased to inform you that you are legally cleared for Peace Corps.” What a relief! Despite the fact my clearance did not come through in time for me to depart for Indonesia, I was ecstatic to know that I could be assigned to a new country and program, and finally depart to serve abroad. I openly welcomed the positive news from Peace Corps, especially since I had received so little during the previous weeks. However, at 3:04pm I received a phone call from a Peace Corps employee—who I had never interacted with during the seven months of my preparation—congratulating me on receiving my legal clearance and asking me if I was prepared to depart for Indonesia that following day. He would transfer me to the Peace Corps travel agency to book my flight to Los Angeles, and I could be on my way in less than twenty-four hours. After preparing to leave for Indonesia for the past seven months, and my growing anticipation to live in such a unique country, I responded with “I am 100% prepared to leave for orientation tomorrow.” I was not packed. I was not in Madison. I was on a Megabus in the middle of Wisconsin, still hours from home. Despite how badly I wanted to go to Indonesia, I wasn’t sure if it was possible for me to be ready in time. Nevertheless, I had to try. It turns out that the twenty-four hour prediction the employee gave me was a little too generous; the Peace Corps travel agency booked me for a flight to leave Madison at 6:50am on Thursday, March 9, 2017, which was approximately eighteen hours after receiving my legal clearance, and roughly sixteen hours after learning that serving in Indonesia was still an option. March 9, 2017 is the day that I had been planning on leaving since I accepted the Volunteer position seven months earlier. That means that my last three days before departure were spent in Minnesota. I think many of you would agree with me when I say I find that incredibly ironic. I have to admit; the people are really nice! I got back to my house in Madison around 6:30pm, just about twelve hours before my flight. It was time to get down to business and pack like I’ve never packed before! Those who know me well would understand why it would have been enjoyable to be a fly on my bedroom wall that night. I quickly threw everything I planned on bringing into a room and gradually consolidated my clothes, toiletries, mementos, and gifts. Despite my mindless (and often hurried) laps around the house, those items slowly made their way into my luggage that carries my life necessities for the next 27 months: a hiking pack, school pack back, and two duffel bags. After I finished packing, I set out to complete various paperwork that the Peace Corps requires to be filled out before orientation begins in Los Angeles. While some received their legal clearances—and this paperwork—significantly earlier than me, I still had to finish it all in order for me to be eligible to leave for Indonesia. I had already experienced a rollercoaster ride of a lifetime and packed for 27 months like a savage beast; no paperwork was going to stand in my way of serving in Indonesia! It was seven hours between the time I arrived home and the time I went to bed. In that period of time, I packed for over two years of my life, found storage bins to cram items into from the first twenty-four and a half years of my life, completed a heavy load of Peace Corps paperwork, and lastly, completely shaved my head. What a crazy night! Now here I am on the second flight of my journey, thinking about the deep sense of excitement, confusion, and relief that I am feeling. I can truthfully say that never in my life have I demonstrated such a degree of flexibility, especially throughout the course of a full week. It’s funny that if my legal clearance had gone through months ago, I would still be on this exact same flight. If I had started packing a week before leaving instead of twelve hours, I would still have brought the same luggage, and probably, most of the same items. It all came full circle. Many people know that I am usually not the one to demonstrate flexibility and, more importantly, the willingness and enjoyment of going with the flow. I know that my friends and family can find that frustrating, and others who don’t know me as well may find that infuriating. I promise that it all comes from a place of care, excitement, and love. However, when my aggravation with even the slightest change in plans—or other form of spontaneity—ruins my mood, and thus the mood of others, I know that it’s important for me to improve on that. I hope that the Peace Corps helps me with my life goal: to learn to go with the flow. I always assumed that I would begin to improve the important skill of flexibility upon my arrival in country, but it’s pretty evident that the Peace Corps was on a mission to start that transition even before I left Wisconsin. It’s never too early to make improvements! In a way, this past week makes me even more excited to get to Indonesia to work on my self, and improve the lives of other people. I hope you all enjoy my first blog entry, and the other stories that will soon follow. I do not know when I will get around to a second post, but I will try to do that as soon as possible! Going to the Peace Corps is an amazing opportunity, but it wouldn’t be as important if I didn’t have great friends and family along for the journey to share my experiences. After all, your unique personalities, love, and friendships have instilled me with the determination and wanderlust to pursue such an opportunity. Hopefully when I return, you will all be impressed with my astounding ability to go with the flow. Indonesia, here I come! Shout-Outs:
A tremendous SO goes to my friend and mentor on Capitol Hill. I know I am flying to Los Angeles for orientation today solely because of all of your hard work. Please thank your contacts for helping me get to Indonesia. SO to my group of friends in Washington, DC who helped put on the best Friendsgiving and going away karaoke party I could ever have imagined. Major SO to my friends who allowed me to visit them during my two month Travel Extravaganza. I had no job and very little money, so I wouldn’t have been able to do it without your gracious generosity and hospitality. #ThatsASpicyMeatball #BrokeDaMouth HMFSO to my good friend and neighbor from the dorms who got into graduate school. You will be a Master when I get back! SO to all my friends and family who visited Madison for what was originally supposed to be my last weekend, ended up not being my last weekend, but then eventually became my last weekend anyways. SO to everyone on both sides of the family. I know you will all follow my adventures closely! ASO to me for cancelling the going away party. I really thought there would be more time to make it happen. SO to my high school friends who came up with the idea for me to take an impromptu trip with them to Minneapolis. But ASO for kind of being a big reason why packing for the Peace Corps almost gave me an aneurysm J SO to everyone who was riding the Megabus with me. I really don’t like when people talk on their phones while on a bus, train, or plane; But I promise, this time was my one exception! SO to my two friends who helped me finish one last pitcher of Spotted Cow and an order of cheese curds at the Rathskeller on my last day in Wisconsin. BSO to my dad and his wife for keeping me (somewhat) calm during my last hours in Madison, and for helping me successfully pack everything in order. SO to all of you for consoling me during this stressful time, and for reassuring me that I made the correct decision. |
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