Writing to you live from DC, amidst high winds, thunder, and 1100 lightning strikes within the last 10 minutes. It's crazy and we're all hoping to keep power. Nazrul and I! Malaysia to NY and NY to Malaysia :) Anyways, besides this insane storm, yesterday we went to the Malaysian embassy with the 41 YES inbound kids from Malaysia. We spent a lovely...
Since Tuesday I've been in DC with the other 52 YES Abroaders, program staff and group leaders that are either YES inbound alum or YES Abroad Alum. We are split up by country at different tables for everything besides meals. Each day is comprised of many workshops. The topics range from health and safety to host family communication. We also have endless opportunities...
Well this is it. Bags are packed, clothing is stored, lunches have been had, goodbyes have been said. Goodbyes are one of the hardest things about exchanges. How do you sum up a lifetime's worth of memories and value of someone in a hug? Or if it's someone really special, a letter or a picture, or a prayer? You don't. You can't. It's...
10 days is how long the monarch butterfly is in cocoon during the metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly. This cocoon, prettily referred to as a chrysalis is not something made by the caterpillar, it is rather the last layer of skin the caterpillar sheds before it becomes a butterfly. When in chrysalis, the caterpillar hangs from a branch or twig; it is left...
Yesterday, I received my long anticipated e-mail... I have a host family! I am going to be hosted in a suburb of Ipoh, a main city in Malaysia, in the province of Perak. Pictures: (cue the ooh's & ahhh's) Beautiful, isn't it? When I got the e-mail saying I'd been placed with a host family, the information on my AFS account said if...
As my departure date draws nearer, I have realized two main things. 1)There is a lot I want to do before I get to Malaysia and 2) There is even more I want to get done while I am there I am a very list-y person, I love having pages full of bulleted things to do and I love even more checking those...
