Chapter 3

Words have always intrigued me from the very beginning.  I haven't been doing a very good job updating the going-ons in my life - I know that.  So, instead of giving an excuse that I lacked time and internet connection (which is true by the way), I realised I wrote a good amount of stuff for my English class and no matter how much I tried not to bring too much of my every day life into my writing, it somehow ends up in my writing pieces only because I find it extremely hard to write about something I'm not passionate about.  Below is what I have written throughout the first half of the five months of school and I'm glad to see how my journey is reflected in my pieces.  For all I know, I may be the only one that can see it but I thought it was a unique way to gauge my growth. Who knows, it just might. :) Most of them are true but several of them are just topics that I've felt drawn to.  If I were you, I usually get bored reading long posts *hint* but I applaud anyone who does read it.

Well, for lack of better words, this is, again, my journey. (:

February 17th, Thursday

ROUTE 23

Cuckoo! The far cry of the rooster grows to a crescendo and there I am – a flustered-looking girl searching for directions yet clueless to where I am headed.  They say maps can show you where you want to go but I don’t think that’s the case for me.

I jump at the first person I see, “Excuse me ma’am, could you help me with –”

“Of course, just take the bus on route 23 and you’ll find what you’re looking for,” the female stranger interjects before I could finish.

“But I haven’t said where I wanted to go.”

With her smiling eyes, the dotty lady laughs heartily, “Don’t worry, dear.  You’ll figure it out soon enough.”

I am dumbfounded.  It puzzles me how enigmatic this lady is and before I know it, she disappears as quickly as lightning.  I feel the wind playing with my hair as I replay the peculiar occurrence in my head.

“Woof! Woof!”I snap out of my trail of thought just as a giant mongrel races toward me like a bullet train and licks me in the face.

“Down, boy, down!” the master’s booming voice does the trick and the dog retreats instantly.  My eyes dance at the sight before me.  I see a man in his fifties clad in quintessential horse-riding boots and a cowboy hat on his head.  His wrinkled eyes have that authoritative glare, his belly protrudes slightly, and his poised stature doesn’t give away his age at all.

“Sorry about that.  Jake has a way of greeting newcomers.  I haven’t seen you around here though,” the old man tilts his hat.

“I’m just passing through,” I smile sheepishly.

“Going somewhere?”

“Um…well…have you heard of a route 23?” I blurted.

“Oh, route 23, ay? Nice choice, though you will have to be careful.”

“Why? Do you know where does it lead to?”

“Well, I’ve been on route 23,” he sighs and leans on a lamp post, “You have to keep on thinking before you leap. People are not always as they seem.  A courageous cowboy can’t always count cows.”

“Huh?” my face shows utter confusion, “What does that mean?”

He laughs just like the previous lady, “Dear, what do you think I look like?”

“I guess you look like a cowboy.”

He shakes his head, “Nope, I am a chef.” I start to get what he means by things not being what they seem.

He smiles, “Don’t judge a book by its cover – that’s all I’m saying.  And it all depends whether you think the glass is half-empty or half-full.  Anyway, just take a left on the second block and you’ll find what you’re looking for.” As he left me thinking even more, he subsequently turns back, “Oh, and be wise in choosing your friends too,” and just like that he was gone in a flash.  As I walk on, I shrug off the many odd happenings and try to find route 23.  The more I dwell on it, the more of what the old man said seemed to make sense.  Whatever lay ahead of route 23 sounded pretty daunting.

Just as I am turning at the block, I see a little toddler playing hopscotch in reverse seeming to be as fit as a fiddle.  With a toothy grin, she says, “Hello, how’re you doing?”

“Hi, um… why are you jumping backwards?” I raise my eyebrows.

“Why not?” the cute girl retorts almost indifferently.

“Well, if you haven’t noticed, everyone else actually faces the direction they're walking,” I say haughtily.

“Oh, I know.  But it’s okay not to be like everyone else,” the girl replies.I pause.  She’s got a point, I thought, I guess I never thought of it that way.

 “So, where are you heading?” her pigtails bob like a spring.

“I’m actually looking for the bus on route 23.”

“Then you’ve come to the right place.  The bus is coming in five minutes.  Are you ready?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean do you know what to do when you get there?”

“Well, I brought hiking boots,” I say as innocent as a child.

She laughs, “No, silly.  The key is to stay true to yourself.  Just because everyone does something a certain way or judges you for acting differently, it isn’t necessarily wrong.  It’s just different.”

“Something like saying tomato and tomato differently?”

“Exactly,” she ponders at me for a full minute and smiles, “You’re ready.”

Honk! Honk! From afar, a bright yellow headlight shines as a shadow beckons toward me and I raise my hand to stop it.  The bus is here.  I take a deep breath and step on.

*

“Andrea! Wake up!”
A ray of light blinds me slightly as I try to open my eyes.  It takes a few seconds before I come to my senses.  My friend, Ahmad beams back at me, “We’re here! We’re in Montana!”  My eyes widen and they flicker toward the window of the plane.  I am struck with awe at what lies below.  A never-ending row of majestic snow-capped mountains and amazingly spacious green fields remind me of picture perfect postcard images.  As the pilot announces our arrival, I take a deep breath thinking about the dream I just had and smile.  As I hoist my backpack on my shoulders, I catch a glimpse of the person sitting in front of me wearing a cowboy hat and I wonder if it was just a trick of the light.

*

Having the courage to set foot on a foreign land without anyone to turn to is not an easy feat.  Ask any exchange student and they’ll probably know what I’m talking about.  As for me, my journey has just begun and I have realized that learning is one of the most inevitable things throughout this bus ride.  I learnt that being an ambassador of your country is not a bed of roses but then again, learning from mistakes is the spice of life.  They’ll be people who judge you or put you down but what matters, I learnt, is that you remember who you are when the road gets bumpy.  Doing something differently isn’t always wrong.  You’ll never know, I might be able to find what I’m looking for.

March 1st 2011, Tuesday

CINQUAIN

I dream

Of purple stars

Dancing in the blue rain

Why? That is just the way they are

Insane

THREE DAY JOURNAL

14th February 2011, Monday

 The day of love – today was Valentine’s Day and it amazed me to see how big of a celebration it was in America with the flowers, candy and chocolate as compared to my home in Malaysia.  So, I decided to be part of the hype by making teddy bear-shaped cards for my host family and somehow got people to send it to them at school as a surprise.
 I saw most elementary school kids wearing red but realized as they get older, high school kids become less enthusiastic about it.  I was planning on cutting down on sugar this week before the large portions of American food showed in my body size but the sight of sweets being passed around got the better of me.  The day went by quite normally and Choir class made my day with Mrs. Nelson serving us cake! During the last period, I received flowers from my host family that just made me smile.
 At night, I decided to accompany my host mom to a church meeting which turned out better than expected and I would have definitely done it again.  Not knowing what to expect, we brought some pens and a notebook but ended up not using it.  Instead, we managed to see a fire demonstration and learnt how to extinguish a fire!  We ended the day with another free piece of scrumptious cake and all was well!

15th February 2011, Tuesday

 Today I started off not as well as I hoped.  I had set my alarm for 5.30 a.m. to review a bit of Calculus but couldn’t seem to get up so I ended up snoozing till my original wake up time – 6.30 a.m.  Nonetheless, the little moments that happened throughout the day were what turned my day around.  It started out with Calculus class when Mrs. Hertz had heart-shaped frosted cookies!  My eyes lighted up and the thought that I ate WAY more in school here than I did back home made me laugh.  I wasn’t complaining.  The Calculus test results that had me pretty anxious was out and overall, I was glad with how I did in spite of what some of the other students expected of me.
 The Midterm report for my Calculus is probably on top of my list of best things that have happened so far – I managed to get 99%!  Seeing that I enjoy eating when I’m happy or need something to boost my mood when I’m upset, the chocolate cake I had during Speech class was heaven!  We were doing a maid of honor speech and I was pretty excited.  English class seemed packed with homework but at that point, nothing could bring my spirits down.
 Night was rather busy for my family as my siblings had piano lessons and my little brother was starting wrestling so even though I didn’t do much, I was glad to have tagged along.  Being as unaccustomed to snow as I was, I managed to slip on the porch and slide down three steps of stairs but strange as it might sound, it was fun!  Just before bed, I also managed to slip in some time to play the Wii – my host family’s newest addition to the long list of games they already have.

16th February 2011, Wednesday

Learning – I guess people go to school to learn but I’ve realized that if you actually opened your mind to what you can get from each day, it’s amazing how much more you can learn from the people and situations around you.  In U.S. History class, I managed to get five points extra credit for my handwriting which was interesting because I couldn’t imagine my school in Malaysia doing that.  For some strange reason, I was rather hungry for lunch and the classes after that were rather empty because everyone was either at the Math Meet or preparing for the carnival.

The major attraction for the carnival was probably the Pie in the Face game whereby people could just throw pies at people’s faces.  It’s scary to think that people enjoy that idea but they really did. Overall, I had a blast helping out at the carnival for the Bingo game but it really burned me out by 8 p.m. and my stomach kept on grumbling for skipping dinner.  I was delighted to find that there was relatively no homework because I could not imagine myself completing them.  After a quick sandwich and a shower, I decided to call it a night – excited for what was in store the next day.

March 10th 2011, Thursday

HAIKU

It's warm where I am,

Of hope and love around me,

Like spring; flowers bloom

Bright - I see the light,

Before you take me, mom, know

That I love you so

TANKA

Graceful like a swan,

The paintbrush swirls and dances

On the canvas floor,

Unknown, the story begins,

The story of a painter.

March 15th 2011, Tuesday

SEDOKA

Picture you and me,
When I’d be king, you’d be queen,
Laughing at ourselves,
Dancing in the moonlit sky,
Happily ever after,
For we need not say goodbye.

LIMERICK

Sitting on the old brown oak tree,
I think of ice cream and Slurpee,
Then a bird caught my eye
Waiting high in the sky
For spring and daisies – just like me!

BLUES: Always

Why do we have to live apart – why?

What is on your sweet mind, my darling?
Why didn’t I get to say goodbye?

Your smile remains in my memory,
Why did you have to leave, my darling?
The story of us is just like a tragedy

The sun setting – that’s what I see,
Do you know what jolts in me?
A picture of you and me laughing with glee

Hours turn to hours, days into days,
Nothing expresses how I feel – not even a phrase,
But I’ll always wait for you. Always.

Fearless

I sink into the green plush chair beneath me with my grey sweat pants, AFS t-shirt, and huge bunny bedroom slippers.  In front of me, books, a blanket, a Wii, a candle, cds, and remote controls are sprawled on the coffee table with a pillow having Patrick, the infamous starfish on it lying beneath the table - all signs of a house inhabited by kids.  The clicking sounds of my clothes hitting the walls of the dryer as it spins them run in the background.  The television plays in my parents' bedroom and a slight satisfaction creeps beneath me as I see sun rays peeping through the blinds - Yes! Summer is almost here.

*

Five months have passed.

What am I to say?
Have I changed?
Was what I had anticipated five months ago...anticipated?

I'm not sure if this might spoil whatever momentum I was building or climax I was reaching by throwing out those questions because the real truth is...I don't know.

It's almost as if all the feelings, sights, smell, taste, and sounds I might have experienced throughout my stay here have been so...STRONG that I cannot SHOW nor TELL you how it has changed me but IT HAS.  You would think that nothing is simpler than putting my thoughts to paper in black and white.  "Who is this girl who claimed power in words and now fails to express a mere feeling?" you say.  But it is...the truth and for the most of it, I feel I have grown more sincere in my words, thoughts, and actions.

*

So, this is one millionth of what I have done in the past five months.  Then again, sometimes, I feel that I can never do enough justice to how my stay here and the people around me have changed who I am.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

                                                         And sorry I could not travel both

                                                         And be one traveler, long I stood

                                                      And looked down one as far as I could

                                                        To where it bent in the undergrowth

            Exchange students.  What exactly enters your mind when that phrase is brought up?

            Whether you may think that being an exchange student is an exciting adventure or just a waste of time and money, I guess the only way to find out is to become one.  It’s been five months since I left the comforts of my home and half a year since I made a pivotal choice in my life.  As clichéd as it may seem, I couldn’t care less to say that exchange students always stood out among the list of things that intrigued me. But what I couldn’t foresee was that as I sit here penning this down, I am living that dream. So, allow me to share with you…my story.

            I will never forget looking out my airplane window and my friend’s comment ringing in my head, “Andrea, there’s nothing here.”

            My name is Andrea Wong and I am hosted in a small town called Charlo, Montana. Having to wake up to endless rows of snow-capped mountains and amazingly blue skies every day is just a blessing.  The start of the semester was packed with surprises as I discovered the graduating class of the high school I was attending consisted of 32 seniors.  Back home, I am an only child but here, I have three incredibly energetic siblings and one baby brother on the way!

            These six months can be best compared to a roller coaster.  If you even blinked, the ride would already be close to over.  In a small school like Charlo, everyone knew me before I knew them and I was touched by their hospitality and sincerity.  I am taking US History, Calculus, Spanish, Speech, English, Choir, and Art ranging from Sophomore to Senior classes.  Mr. G, my English teacher would be the most extraordinary teacher I’ve ever met serving pizza every week and jokingly mistaking my country for Japan.  My greatest achievement would be acquiring a 99% grade in my Calculus class and continuing to show them what Malaysians are capable of!  Prom proved to be memorable as I was asked by a Brazilian exchange student who went on to win Prom King.

            Joining Track and Field was intense because of how athletic almost all of the kids are but I have learnt so much from it.  I may be tracking behind them but my friends never put me down but helped me up with words of encouragement which when I come to think of it, was probably why I stayed in the sport.  New experiences were inevitable as I sang in Malay for my high school play as well as acted in a Missoula Children’s Theatre play.  Apart from volunteering at church and concession stands, it was such an adventure when my family drove for 10 hours to the Oregon Coast for vacation and going to the Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho twice!

            Above all, I think what all experiences can never beat are the lifelong relationships forged along the way.  Words cannot express how the littlest moments spent with my host family has made me grow and mature even more than any book or class could ever teach me.  After five months of this life-changing experience, I can tell you that I have lost opportunities – days when I miss family and home, scholarship interviews I was unable to attend, and events at home I couldn’t attend.  Nevertheless, in regard to those who might have had doubts in taking my path, for everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else.  Throughout this short time period, I have learnt so much more about myself, I have fallen and have gotten back up, I have found the moments of happiness many of us are just too busy to notice, I learnt how to find the sun on a rainy day, I have gotten a baby brother that is coming in October, and ultimately, I have discovered that people from another part of the world are not so different and a little unity is not as hard to attain after all.

                                                     I shall be telling this with a sigh

                                                  Somewhere ages and ages hence:

                                                Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

                                                    I took the one less traveled by,

                                                And that has made all the difference.

*

One more month and what is left? I do not know.  But what I do know is that there is nothing else to lose when I strive to be

FEARLESS

Oh yeah. (:

Chapter 2

As promised, I shall write about a really huge part of this adventure actually, which is school.  I won't deny it - first day of school was pretty scary and awkward.  Being a new student in the middle of the year is a challenge but what's so fun about life if there weren't any challenges? I attend Charlo High School in Montana which is a rather small high school with 4 exchange students. So I was surprised to find that many of the students already knew me before I came. (O.O)

Let me clear out all misconceptions first. 

CLIQUES

In my opinion, cliques don't really exist. I mean everyone tends to hang out with a group of friends but the jocks, queen bees and nerds are pretty much overrated in the media. Then again, my school is relatively small so perhaps the drama has been scaled down - luckily for that. Just like in Malaysia, the Seniors are presumably higher up in the student body.  The sequence is Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior. I'm a Junior because the Senior class has too many people apparently but my classes vary from Sophomore classes to Senior classes so all's good. ;)

LOCKERS

Yes, it's true! We do have lockers and I was tempted to carry my school bag to class but decided not to. Haha. The idea is to put everything in your locker and just take the textbook for your next class out. It surprised me that most students do not bring their textbooks home unless they have homework. I wonder how they study?

CLASSES

High schoolers pretty much travel from class to class. We have eight periods in a day with lunch in between.  School begins at 8.15am and ends at 3.30pm. You have all your subjects every day and you get 3 minutes between each class period to grab stuff from your locker which in my opinion is NOT ENOUGH. It got me running around looking for classes and shifting through students. My school has two buildings with classes in both so the first two weeks got me arriving at classes just in the nick of time.

FOOD

I like this part :) You can eat food in class and there is a snack machine and soda machine in the hall.  The cafeteria serves really good food.  That's my opinion of course. They have a lunch menu on the school website and on the notice board for each month and they change every day. Haha. It ranges from hamburgers, tacos, tortillas, pizza, spaghetti, salad bar, mashed potatoes, and many more so it really depends on what you like.  You might have some trouble if all you eat is rice and you can't live without chilli. And they serve cartons of milk daily!

And get this! You can go out of the school for lunch as long as you write it on the Registry book at the office and there is a cool grocery store across the road you can go to for an alternative lunch if you don't like the menu. Close friends will take a while to find and really bond but acquaintances or buddies are everywhere.  The teens are pretty friendly in classes and they'll definitely help you if you ask for help but what's important is you make the move.  You have to try and take the initiative to make friends and talk to people even though it feels quite daunting at first. I'm still trying to get the hang of it.  But, really, this just takes time. Oh yeah, and relationships like having a boyfriend or a girlfriend is rather common.  People don't treat it as a big thing but more of a very very very normal thing. Yep. 

These are the subjects I've decided on taking:

US HISTORY

History is either something you like or hate. I so happened to be a fan of history so all's well for me. We just finished a novel on World War 1 and even though I had four days before a test came up, I managed to hang in there and I was pleased with the outcome.

CALCULUS

Haha. Probably the only class that actually has constant homework (Malaysian schools give more homework generally) but Calculus is the class I feel most...inclined to.  There are only four guys and two girls in the class including me. The guys are really great people because it takes certain type of people to even care to put so much effort to take up a subject like Calculus. I found out we're doing a college course so I haven't come across some stuff but the basics are the same.  And being SEVEN, YES I SAID SEVEN chapters behind, I just feel that it really challenges me every day so I decided NOT to drop this subject.

The results of this quiz made my day :)

SPANISH

A whole new language. I really enjoy the classes because it's so new and I wouldn't have had the chance to take this in Malaysia! Do you think I should go for the National Spanish Exam in April? We'll see :) I'm not even gonna talk about struggling because I would be lying if I were to say all the subjects and homework in school was extremely easy.  But that's the whole point. I'M LEARNING.

SPEECH

Another class I look forward to every day! Mr. G, my teacher is just awesome. One of those rarities in the teaching industry - having the knack of slapping his hands together.  He thinks I'm from Japan no matter how many times I tell him I'm not but I'm not taking it personal because he is just a comedian.  He thinks my Indonesian friend (who is also an exchange student) is from Istanbul and he keeps asking when my Georgian friend is going to go back to her country. Haha. Hilarious.  There were two days when we just watched Despicable Me and other days we filmed a movie review we did for our fave movies. Currently, we finished talking about our prospective colleges after high school. FUN.

Mr. G looks like a teddy bear :)

STUDY HALL

I was actually taking Physics before this but because I came in in the middle of the year, it just didn't seem wise to me to burn the midnight oil for both Calculus and Physics trying to catch up with the class.  So, I decided that it was just wise to take Calculus and focus on that during Study Hall so that when I got home from school, I still got to spend time with my family, help out around the house and well... HAVE FUN. Because in my opinion, there's so much more about this program than just purely academics.

ENGLISH 10

Due to the time constraints, I was placed in a Sophomore English class rather than a Junior class but I just think of it as another way for me to meet more people.  Currently, we are doing a book project on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

CHOIR

JOY. The sky is falling - Choir is a subject by itself! And I just love it! We are currently preparing for the Spring Festival where we will be performing two songs - spiritual and folk. Can't wait!

ART

I came in when they were about to complete their clay project but I managed to squeeze in some time to make a teapot!!! Coolio! Now, our next project is a cylindrical compartment with coils on its surface using clay as well.

Apart from school and family, I've also attempted to fry some bananas with my Indonesian friend, Azharra and it turned out better than I expected it to be.

Skiing was a whole new adventure in itself.  I could ski pretty well. The only problem was stopping which if you are heading down a cliff alone, would be a MAJOR problem. I've had probably 3 close shaves and I ended the day in style by ramming into a metal ski rack. Moral of the story: Skiing is a dangerous sport.

Me: Do you think I should ski down the hill?

Friend: Um. I don't know.

Me: Maybe not. It looks pretty steep.

Friend: Well, you'll never know unless you try. Go for it!

Me: Really? Okay!

*tilts skis, goes down gradually fast*

In my head: Okay, Andrea, stop, stop STOP SSTTOOOPPP. Uh. Oh.

*BBAAAMMM*

And the rest is history.

At least I returned in one piece.  Drink, anyone?

I managed to visit my host grandfather's amazing collection of perfumes and a whole cabin full of neat stuff.  I managed to say hello to 6 of the horses my host family owned and actually experience the enthusiastic jeers during a basketball game which my school won in the end!  Chinese New Year was pretty low key here but I dressed in my Cheongsam just for kicks in school and managed to get some people interested in the whole celebration.  Last Friday was Pajama Day which was pretty cool actually. Students could dress up in their PJs and donate a dollar for cancer.  We also recently went for a school field trip to the University of Montana to watch a live play.  The bus dropped us off what felt like kilometers away from the entrance and my ears almost froze to death walking through the biting cold weather. It was I think -32 BELOW FREEZING.

I kind of look like her, don't you think?

Well, I am extremely exhausted after having written so much. Nonetheless, my excitement continues to spark new interest in the coming happenings.  Valentine's Day is a big thing here so I'm looking forward to see how the day will unfold.  Will be attending a Sweetheart Dance tonight with a couple of my friends who are exchange students as well! Looking forward to meeting all the exchange students around Charlo and other places during an upcoming Valentine's Party.  Till then.

Thank you, Lord.

Sincerely,
Constant traveller (:

Chapter 1

Writing about something that hasn't ended yet is pretty hard. The reason being because it might influence your thoughts, how you view things and what you expect the next 5 months of your lives will be. But for the sake of personal growth, tidings and because writing is so enjoyable, I'd love to share! So, if you're interested in how the adventure is so far, keep on reading :)

Let's start from the very beginning.

PREDEPARTURE CAMP

I've used this word many times but it's just amazing how you can take an ordinary teenager, put her among 48 other strangers and return after four days of camp to find that an indescribable bond has been created between these 49 once-strangers. At the camp, I've grown closer to the people I would be going to the US of A with probably because we understand each other. The camp has also opened my eyes to how selfless a person can be. The volunteers who headed the camp just inspired me. I just feel they're a great example of people who devote their time and energy into something they really believe in. Having been through it, I can tell you that saying goodbye is pretty tough and you may not fully understand until you've experienced it yourself.

ARRIVAL ORIENTATION

Riding on a bus to the next terminal in LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT is one thing, but stepping out of the airplane onto American soil is a whole different feeling. I mean, what more can I say? It's the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Before being dispersed into our respective states, we had a 3-day-2-night camp and had the opportunity to stay at the Hilton Hotel! Our first taste of America was a tour around Washington DC and what I personally loved the most was the beautiful architecture of the brick buildings covered in snow. Being from a tropical country, even a short walk across the street FREEZED us to death at first. Our batch was very lucky to meet the Deputy Prime Minster of Malaysia at the Four Seasons Hotel and I'm telling you the free food just made it even better! And to much of everyone's excitement, the 8TV channel would be making their second season of Field Trip USA which is something like a travel documentary surrounding the lives of 13 students under this program airing on national television! The debate on who would be on the show and why only 13 out of 49 students get to be on it is pass me because when it comes down to it, all of us participants should have joined this program not for some publicity stunt but because of the richness this Youth, Exchange and Study (YES) program brings to our lives. But what I do think is that this TV program would be a great way to promote this program even more so PLEASE stay tuned! Yes, I am advertising it. It will premiere probably in September! :D

Who said I can't reach the top?

Satu Malaysia!

MONTANA

As I looked out of the airplane window, I was just literally taken aback by the majestic snow-capped mountains and the vast fields that just take your breath away. Look at the pictures - it looks like it's straight out of a postcard! Where I live has more scenic landscapes and is much more peaceful than a hectic city. It changes your stereotypical view of America. Charlo, Montana is a small community where everybody knows everybody and that's just what makes it all the more homely :) People are so friendly and if your car gets stuck in a ditch, you can count on the next passer-by to stop and lend you a hand. Even though I come from the small city of Kota Kinabalu, I feel that city life is still prominent and sometimes robs us from some things you get living in the countryside.

Arriving at Missoula Airport

Syifaq and I :D

It's just been one month but my host family has been lovely and having siblings is quite different for me as I was an only child. A good kind of different :D I love my siblings for brightening up my day and bringing so much excitement every day even if there are occasional fights and sibling rivalry. My first meal in Montana was a restaurant called Fuddruckers and I just fell in love with the food but that's probably because I like food. Haha. I do miss Malaysian food but it's nice to try some American food too. They serve WAY big portions here and if you have a sweet tooth, this is the place for you!

Helping my family paint the house!

Home

My room :)

What I've gained the most from this first month has probably got to be family. It surprises me how infinite happiness can be. I'm grateful to be from a close-knit family of three and I'd never change a thing. But I also feel blessed to be placed in a host family with three siblings as it brings a whole different perspective. There is no right or wrong. It's just different :) So far, I've had the benefit of making some brownies which are heaven! I've gone bowling and enjoyed it despite getting the ball in the gutter multiple times. And game nights are just a great time for bonding when playing board games whether it's just assembling Leggo with my little brother or painting the mountains with my sister. My family love love love watching movies and I'm not complaining (:

We are standing on a frozen lake! No, it didn't crack.

Me: Are you sure I'm doing it right?

As for first impressions, the reactions I get from Americans continue to make me laugh. The wackiest one yet is when I got introduced to this lady and the first thing she said was "Waw, you have very white teeth." And I had to fight myself from laughing and my head was just racing trying to figure out how in the world should I reply to that remark. I mean, really, white teeth? Haha. And I'm glad to show as many Americans as I can that Malaysians do speak English well and it continues to surprise many of them actually. It is satisfying to get the message across to them that Malaysians are Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Bahai, Taoist, and many more because misconceptions are bound to appear.  You can't entirely blame them.

Well, all in all, this first part has been pretty daunting at times but a pure joy to learn things you've never thought of. I am still the same person as I was a month ago but probably a bit heavier. Heavier in knowledge, experiences, independence, wisdom, and I haven't weighed myself but I have a feeling I am a tad bit heavier in weight. Teehee. What? I am living a dream and a traveller has got to eat! There are too many new delicacies to try rather than be on the losing end and think about silly stuff like diet-ing in an adventure like this. So, thou shall not worry. Sports season for softball is coming up and I shall whip into shape! As my host mom would say, "You can have anything in moderation." Agreed.

Thank you, Lord for this neverending journey.

Stay tuned for the second chapter which will be up soon. Patience is key.

Six Months

In 6 months, you can learn a new language.
In 6 months, you can learn how to walk.
In 6 months, you can forge a strong relationship.
And in 6 months, A LOT CAN CHANGE.

Whether I'm ready or not, here it is - 2011.

I have friends waiting for SPM results, planning to find a part time job, and friends already starting school next Monday.  Having finished  high school, I still don't feel like it's over.  It's funny how all my friends are going to college and I'm actually repeating 6 months of high school in another country.  But when I come to think about it, I'm glad.  I feel much much braver than a superhero because leaving home for 6 months is just so daunting.

It's so much more than a vacation.  It's not even a vacation.  Being away from one of the most important things in my life - family and friends for half a year and being thrown into a whole new environment especially entering high school in the middle of the year will be something different for me.

I don't think I have any expectations for this program and even though this is hard to say, I shall accept whatever it is God wishes me to face in this new year.  My last few days will be filled with packing 6 months worth of necessities without exceeding 20 kg, cramming as much information as I can about my home country, and stealing as much time as I can to spend with friends and family.  The next time you'll be hearing from me will probably be when I have touched down on American soil.  Boy, I wonder how would that feel?

Honestly, I'm just so grateful and blessed that I have family and friends who are just so supportive and probably as excited as I am to see how this journey of mine might turn out.  American accent? Increase in body weight? Better sense of direction? *ahem* Guys *ahem*? kidding :) Now, can you see why restraining myself from jumping up and down is so hard? :D

I don't think many are reading but if you are: Guys, thanks so much for the support and insightful advice.  You are the ones who motivate me to keep writing and continue to eagerly share my experiences.  This is an official invitation and you are most welcomed to join me in this unpredictable escapade.  So, what about it?  Being a part of my life, this is not just my journey but ours. (:

Till our next adventure!