Just a few days left before my flight to Indonesia! I still have some items to purchase in regards to my gear and travel necessities, but I have also spent time ensuring I am mentally prepared. This trip marks my first time traveling without family or friends, and is the farthest I will ever have been from home.
Aside from those facts, it is also notably different from my norm in that I had little control over the planning of this trip. Normally when I travel, I spend much time researching the location to take advantage of the greatest features relative to my interests. Of course the entire program intrigues me, and I would never be able to spend time researching orangutans on my own if not for this study abroad program. But there still remains a bit of anxiety not knowing exactly what I’ll be eating or where I’ll be sleeping each night, although I know it has been planned for me.
Maneuvering unknown territory is precisely what this trip will be about for me. Exploring Indonesian jungles, interacting with a culture so different from my own, and expanding my comfort zone, are hopefully only a few of the rewarding experiences I will bring home with me.
