One year ago I arrived in SE Asia. Brian and I walked off a plane, walked through immigration, met our sponsor, got our bags, and loaded into an Embassy car. We drove 50 minutes into the 4th largest city in the world, Jakarta. We drove through a gate, unloaded our luggage, walked through our apartment door, and read through our welcome packet. Our sponsor said her goodbyes and the door shut. And that is when everything faded to dark and I started to cry. At that moment I couldn't tell you why I started to cry...was I sad? Overwhemed? Anxious? What do we do now? How do you start a new life half way around the world? Where can we walk to? How do we get a cab? How do we call home? Where do we buy a bar of soap?
It was everything. It was the unknown.
One year later. I walk to work, say good morning to our guards (most who know us by name), say hi to friends, stop by the cafeteria where they have an ice tea ready for me, walk into my office, say hi to my co-workers, walk home, go to dinner with friends, buy anything I need from our grocery store (including that bar of soap), and spend time with my family. The darkness that surronded my life the first week we arrived is gone....
One year later. We have been everywhere. Started to play new sports. Met new, wonderful people that we consider family. We traveled to 6 new foreign countries. Experienced 12 new foreign cities. We have done all we wanted and then some..and one year to go.
Today Brian and I drove to the airport, waited at immigration, got her luggage, and loaded up the Embassy car. I drove into the 4th largest city one year later as a sponsor. We drove through our gates, unloaded her luggage, issued her a welcome packet, and said our goodbyes. I stood on the other side of the door realizing that I accomplished something so amazing that I'm not sure another journey around this world could top it. Because now I know the unknown.
So hold on tight newcomers, the start of this adventure can be a bit bumpy. But it will launch you to the best experience of your life. And that is my advice...one year later.