Kamu bisa bicara bahasa indonesia?

For all of you who love to learn languages, the title here means "Do you speak Indonesian?" In Indonesia, the national language is Indonesian. The natives refer to their language as "bahasa" which literally translates to "language". But to be more specific, they'll refer to it as "bahasa Indonesia" or literally the "Indonesian language." I sheepishly admit that my Indonesian is a little rusty. I fly out in a matter of days and have only mastered hello and sorry (Halo and Maaf) which will probably be the only two words I'll need. Also by popular demand, I've learned "Di manakah kamar kecil?" since its only practical to know how to ask "where's the toilet?" in many languages.

Other than reviewing my useful Indonesian phrase book, I also need to finish planning and packing everything I need for the trip. I've been under the weather for the past two weeks and haven't been as productive as I would have liked. So today is the day to clean and finalize all of my luggage. Thanks to my Aunt Tracy Simon I have a very spacious carry-on laptop bag so my PC and personals will stay protected (don't worry dad). Once Pretty in Pink gets over on Oxygen, I'll get right on that whole packing thing. Stay tuned for any future developments.

One more thing: My best friend Courtney Hornick turned 20 today! I can't believe how fast they're all growing up. It feels just like yesterday that we were those two lost freshman, holding up campus maps, trying to find out Bio 211 lab so we could start cultivating our bacteria plots. And to think, today she's taking care of and rehabilitating wildlife in Kansas City...That girl is going places, and I'd like to wish her a very happy 20th birthday!

Hello World :)

Hello my trusty followers. This is just the first of many posts about my trip to Indonesia this summer. I’m traveling with the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program at Iowa State. On this 2 week guided educational and cultural tour, we will be able to experience Indonesia first hand. The course will emphasize how international education affects U.S. education and institutions of higher education.

My first duty was to get immunized. I forgot how much I hated needles until I had to get a Flu shot and a Hepatitis A vaccine. For any of you who are thinking about traveling abroad in the near future, make sure to get your vaccinations done early to ensure thorough protection.
In preparation for our trip, we’ve been given a lot of reading about Indonesian politics, culture, education, and religion. Not only are we learning about this foreign nation, but we’re also expected to teach a lesson to our Indonesian friends about American culture. My assignment, thankfully, is to present on American Music. Anyone who knows me can attest to my affinity for music, especially 80′s power ballads. But I think for this assignment, I’ll try to touch on a little bit of everything. From legendary groups like the Rat Pack and Temptations to comtemporary sensations Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber, I’ll give the Indonesian students a taste of some of the most popular and influential artists in America.