Scratch That! Liz will be home May 9!!!

Liz is Coming Home May 4!

Yes, my ticket is booked and I will arrive in Chicago in the afternoon on May 4!! I hope it won't be snowing!

I am SO excited to come home! I haven't seen my family and friends in 8 months. Sooo much has happened in that time and so much more is going to happen during the month of May!

I hope that I will get a chance to spend time with as many family members and friends as possible!

I'm so excited but there are a few things I am apprehensive about. These are a few things I am thinking about:

• In Indonesia, you drive on the left side of the road. I don't drive here but it has still taken some time to get used to it. I think it will be weird being on the right side of the road when I get home.
• Here, because I don't speak Indonesian, I tune out a lot of conversations going on around me. I have been told that everything will seem SO loud when I get home since I am not used to being able to understand everyone talking. This will be interesting.
• Maybe I won't want to go back to Indonesia. Maybe I won't love Chicago anymore.
  
• Jakarta is so polluted; I am worried about passing out from all the relatively clean air once I arrive in Illinois.
• Maybe I will have nothing interesting to talk about. I have been living overseas for 8 months but am afraid I don't have any interesting stories. Please remember that what you have been doing for the past 8 months is interesting to me and I want to know everything.
• All my pictures are online. I didn't print any out. I will have nothing to show you. :(
• I have a lot more gray hair now compared to when I left. And more wrinkles. I want to blame it on Jakarta but I think it's just age.
  

Maybe this is all a little trivial. However, there is some anxiety setting in; I've been having nightmares...

All this aside, I can't believe I have been gone for so long! I can't WAIT to be updated on your lives!

xoxoliz

Anyer and Krakatau, Indonesia

Fremantle and Perth

I went to Australia in mid-February; it was AWESOME! The air was clean and there were sidewalks. I saw a rugby game (the players are soooooo HOT) and some black swans. I went to the beach and the markets in Fremantle.

Here are some of my favorite pictures.

Since When is Becky's Favorite Season...

WINTER!?!?!

What's yours?

7 Month Mark

So, I guess I am not living up to my NYE resolution of posting on my blog once a week! Ooops! :P

Things are going well; I went house hunting with a friend today! Time to think about moving out of the beige palace and into a real house...but only if there's a maid! heheheee...

Communication is still a problem for me; many of you are aware, I'm sure. Haven't received an email from lizroche78 lately? You aren't the only one! I am sincerely sad about this...even though I am in complete control over it. I am working on it...seriously. It's not because I don't care. It's more that I don't want to dissolve in tears and self-pity as I send out emails to all my friends at home. I have been wrestling with homesickness since December. While it has abated some, I am still struggling. Although counter-intuitive and counter-productive, I tend to steer clear of email when I am wallowing in loneliness.

That being said, I am doing GREAT otherwise! I can't wait to come back to Chicago for a visit. While I am super homesick, I am still really enjoying living and working and traveling overseas! I went to Australia last weekend and it was AWES! I highly recommend it! One thing is for certain: I DO NOT miss Winter.

As for my internal conflicts and journey to finding myself, I am pretty much over it. I'm happy (except for the homesickness). That's it. I am working on my five-year plan (gasp! yes, for real...the princess of short-term thinking is re-evaluating...) I am hoping this five-year plan includes some overseas structured education!

Miss you and love you,
xoxoliz

Six-Month Mark

This week marks the six-month anniversary of my arrival in Indonesia. It is during this week that I was supposed to be packing to return to Chicago. As most of you know, my plans changed and I am now committed to staying in Jakarta for 3 more months. I will return to Chicago in May...

I have been thinking about my time here, how happy I am and sometimes, about how guilty I feel for being so happy that I am here. I remain firm in my belief that living and working in Jakarta has been one of the best decisions I have ever made...let's see where it goes.

Miss you and love you. See you in May.

Remember, if you want an exclusive, sign up now. I reserve the right to give my family first dibs...I'm not sure how long I will be in town. ;) Home is where the heart is and no matter where you run, your head is always there...

Can you believe...

that if I was still under my initial contract, I would be packing to come home for good in 3 1/2 weeks?! Where does the time go??

Crossroads and Conflict

I am back to the decision of whether or not I should stay in Indo for an extra year. I don't know what to do. I don't have much to say about it right now, but since so many peeps are pissed that I post my thoughts on FB instead of through emails and on my blog, I figured I would let you know where my head is via my blog this time (it IS a 2009 resolution of mine, of course, to post more on my blog...the resolution being complete with guidelines and metrics in place to ensure that I make you happy in acheiving my goal)...if you read it, please comment so I know I spent my time wisely. People always comment on my FB status, which is one of the attractions.

I don't know what to do. Of course, I ask those close to me for guidance. There are those who would never leave their hometown for anything and those who would never return to their hometown for anything and those who are slightly in between. It is an interesting array of perspectives. Before you go on saying this is my decision and no one elses, I know. I know that. No one but me will sign that contract. Got it. I just need your help on how to arrive at the decision. What questions do I ask Liz? And before you ask, remember that I like instability...well, in the sense of doing different things all the time and being in different places and making weird decisions to see if I can survive. I like doing what I love to do, which is clearly NOT sitting at a computer...well, unless that computer is home to a 6 hour online chat with an old buddy from college. I like drama. Not quite soap opera drama, but you know, that CAN be a quick fix...hmmmm....

And running away - forget about it. I'm not running away. I would like to tell you that living overseas has been the best decision I have made in years but has probably opened more worm cans than if I had just stayed in Chicago. And don't go saying that returning to Chicago is running away from Indonesia, then. That's just silly and my life will be one crazy circle, around and around and around and...and then I will think you really just don't know what you are talking about.

And please don't throw my age into this. Self-discovery is commendable at any age; it just depends on who it affects. I don't have children, so it affects me. If it affects you negatively, then all I can think to say is thank you for allowing my friendship to impact your life. It is an honor, truly, and I feel fortunate that my friends care about my friendship so much. However, self-discovery just happened to bring me to the other side of Earth at age 30...okay. okay.

And lastly, you may think this entry is directed towards you, but its directed towards me. If you are offended, you shouldn't be. You aren't the only one who is(n't) reading this blog or who doesn't get the whole story or who gets one email a month or who has been asked for advice. The record needs to be set straight on certain things and I needed to brainstorm. Thanks for listening.

oh yeah, and the earthquake was really far away, so I am safe! Thanks to all those who were concerned and told me so.

oh yeah, and my phone number is +62 81 388 290906. Feel free to call.

xoxoliz

Coming Home Party

So, I am already planning my coming home party! The holidays have prompted a bit of homesickness and now I am eager to see all my friends and family from home!!

I posted a poll at the bottom; let me know what date works best for you! In my selfish state, I want to see as many people as possible! Maisie graduates May 16, which knocks out one weekend...

Also, any thoughts on venue would be appreciated...