Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,
Welcome to the adventure. On or around August 1st, I shall be departing the United States and flying to Jakarta Airport on Java Island in Indonesia. At the moment, I am still in the process of raising money, filling out paperwork, applying for a Visa, getting vaccinations, and so on. However, the time will probably pass faster than I expect, and this next chapter of my life will begin very shortly.
This blog has a purpose other than feeding my own hubris, or bragging about my adventures while honing my writing skills. No, my main reason is that so many people that have given me support, advice, encouragement, and donations to make this endeavor possible. Obviously, you all want to see the product of your gifts, so I will do my best to show you. I'll try to update about once a month, and fill you in on various anecdotes about the children with whom I will be working and the various people I will meet throughout the country. I'll outline my life share what I can about the education I receive concerning both tangible concepts like Indonesian culture, and more abstractions I may realize about life and human nature. Because I imagine I will see and (attempt to) understand many new things. I'll also post any pictures or videos I take along the way.
I'll briefly outline my project. I'll be working through the volunteer organization DeJavato at the Yogasmara Special Needs School. It is toward the eastern side of the island, around Semarang. I will help the teachers in whatever way I can: arts and crafts, or sports, or whatever therapies the children have to go through. At first, I will only be observing and helping out in small ways, since, obviously, I won't know the language. I expect as I grow more accustomed to life there, I'll be more directly involved in the happenings around the school. And then I'll tell you all about it.
I hope you're as excited about the next year as much as I am. I look forward to hearing from you during its course. I also want to thank you all again for your constant support. It means the world to me, but, more importantly it means the world to the children. With you all behind me, I believe that I will definitely be able to make a positive impact throughout my time in Indonesia.
