#Day306 tuesday, June 16, Day 2 of Pre Return Orientation, how to rock the american squad pose with no american squad.

We went to Capitol Hill and US Department of State Office. We talked to the US Dept of State Staff. We also met Kal Penn, one of an actor from How I met Your Mother. It was a good day. I am glad i was an exchange student to USA. US is a very diverse country with a large group of different races and people from different country. The people are nice. A lot of people said that American are individualist. Yeah, that is true but they also really good to work as a team. That’s the reason you have squad pose in ‘Murica ;) Show your squad pose, that is how to strike a pose with your team!

#NyanyianTanahAir #AFS #ciamique #KLYES (at hOMe)

#Day305 June 15, Sunday. literally that was the last day I saw my host family this year. They took me to La Palapa, Mom’s favorite restaurant in Old Elicott City. It was actually my favorite Mexican restaurant. I was thinking it’s gonna be the last Enchiladas i ate in ‘Murica. True that. This family has been there for me everytime. Support me everytime in the states. Thankyou for letting me be part of The McGarvey family. After that, dad and mom took me to Hilton Dulles Airport hotel, the place where i would have a 3 days return orientation before going home. Some exchangestudents that is hosted in the states that is far away from DC have said goodbye to their family at the airport. I lived close to DC, so my host family took me to the orientation place. They also gave me a farewell gift to remember, and Maryland & USA flag. On the way to DC, i did not fell like i was leaving. I had my maryland flag wrapped around my shoulder. I have been to DC so many times that I felt like I was going back to Maryland soon. But i was not.

I haven’t posted anything about my last couple weeks in the states because I wasn’t ready to post or write things like this.

My host family is amazing!

Things I miss so much from my exchange year in USA are : Family, Friends, FOOD

#NyanyianTanahAir #KLYES #ciamique #AFS #WhyHostingMatters (at hOMe)

#Day304 sunday, June 14 was the last full day in Maryland.

Brittany came over to my house in the morning and took me hiking to Savage Park. It was one of the best summer day ever, we picked up Sarah on the way there. That day was super fun, it’s not just a normal “fun”, it was really fun. We were hiking and swimming in the river. Woodcoppin is a beautiful place, we don’t really see a lot of people, it was a nice park. I feel sorry that Sarah broke her finger. But the adventure is out there. So I and Brittany went to the mall to get some Maryland Souvenirs, got some coffee and went to Hoco summer fest, and riding a carousel.

Our adventure started with jumping into the river, playing ukulele, get lost, hoco art fest and ended up riding a carousel.

One day we are going to have another adventure day!

Thankyou for another #ciamique summer day!

I love you!

#NyanyianTanahAir #KLYES #ciamique #AFS (at hOMe)

#Day303 Saturday, June 13.

I went to DC, explored DC a lil bit. I’ve been to different places that I haven’t been before. They have DC Summer Fest with a bunch of food and drinks. I went home and went to Jasleen’s going away party. I always love going away party because i could see some people that i was not going to see anymore for couple years. But it sucks that i have to say goodbye. One of the things that I miss so badly is Cross Country team. OM XC team has been a big part of ny exchange year in the beginning. It’s fun when you have somebody that want to have fun with you, cheer for you, and support you.

shoutout to OM cross country team!

#nyanyiantanahair #KLYES #ciamique #AFS (at hOMe)

#day302 Friday, June 12 we went to Philadelphia, PA. It was a beautiful city. I love the landmark, the museum, the food and the people. We explored the Franklin Institute, crash a graduation ceremony (whoops!), walking around the city hall, and went to the Love Park. Love Park is literally a park with a bunch of loves. A lot of kids were swimming in the water fountain. It was a hot day.

I’d like to thank my awesome American parent for taking me everywhere for a new journey. We always filled by love, one love.

After that I crashed Leon’s going away party with a face mask of his face.

#nyanyiantanahair #KLYES #ciamique #AFS (at hOMe)

#Day301 Thursday, June 11. Another pool day with Sam & Jasleen. It was a hot day that i didn’t think I would go for a hot tub. I was not feeling well that I thought i wasn’t going to swimming pool. But i did. Jasleen got lost on the way to the pool but she made it anyway. We spent most of our day chilling at the hot tub. After a day in a pool. I, mom and Jasleen stopped by at a garden to do geocaching,

We didn’t find anything but we found a beautiful garden. We got some mint leaves for us to make mint tea.

it’s never been wrong to go to a hot tub in the summer.

at Steven Forest pool

 

#NyanyianTanahAir #KLYES #ciamique #AFS (at hOMe)

#Day300 Wednesday, June 11 I had BBQ with some friends, i tried to cook indonesian soto ayam, which sucks because Leon never had a chance to taste that. It was still bright out there. So we decided to walk to Dunkin Donuts and get some ice coffee. We took a walk for a while and it brought us to Atholton Park and an open theatre in the middle of a forest. It’s always fun to do something with them.

I remember the sound of the river. The summer breeze in Maryland.

#NyanyianTanahAir #AFS #KLYES #ciamique (at hOMe)

So happy that I could see her. Lidia is my sister. I went to US for a year abroad. It surprised me that the fact I left her for a year abroad in US made her more mature and wise. It has been 4 days since I arrived home. I had a week orientation in DC and Jakarta. It was worth it. I didn’t post anything in 2 weeks. But I promise i will catch up with the last 2 weeks that I did in the States and on my way home. Thank you for the McGarvey (my awesome host family), AFS, Bina Antarbudaya, YES program, Oakland Mills High School (my host school) and all the people that I have met during the year.

I would say so far this year is the most #ciamique year for me! ✈️

#nyanyiantanahair #KLYES #AFS (at home ✈️🏡)

#Day299 Tuesday, June 9.

I went for running & geocaching with Mom. We ended up arriving at a playground. After that we did geocaching again. The app took us to an old family cemetery from 1800. Running always bring us to a cool place.

It was a beautiful day. After that i had a good time with Ivana, Jasleen and Hanna 🌳. #nyanyiantanahair #AFS #ciamique #KLYES

#Day297 June 8 was a national best friend day. I decided to post this picture with my biggest little brother. Never wrote about Kilian, but he deserved one! Kilian is a young energetic boy. He is that sarcastic guy that you wouldn’t understand (or it’s just me) and somehow could make you laugh. We are like a troll and a dwarf. The dwarf hates troll because troll is giant and mean. But somehow troll is funny and loveable.

I remembered that day. When @mapinusi was still around us 💕

I was jumping from the giant tree behind us and he catched me gracefully, unexpected. Or i was just too light for a troll. Haha #heisafriend
Shoutout to the my foreign babes @saljamcdyer @mapinusi @97jasleen & Andrea.

#nyanyiantanahair #AFS #ciamique #KLYES (at giant old tree 🌳)

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#Day296 Sunday, June 7. It was my going away party, Ellen’s Happie Goodbye! I gotta say goodbye to some people that I’m not going to see anymore. Living in ‘Murica is an awesome experience. I am not saying you will live happy ever after in US. It’s not like living in the world with rainbows and unicorns. There are ups & downs. There are things I like and things I dislike. But overall the journey itself is worth it and I figured out i am going to have a new place to be called home. I figured out when i go back i will feel homesick about Columbia, MD. I have those people around me that I will keep; Friends.

Christine and Mom helped me before the party started. Thankyou so much!

During the party, I and my friends made henna tattoo. It will stay until i went back home to Indonesia. In the end, we went to Oakland Mills Middle School field to release some goodbye lanterns that carry our wishes. I thought it was too heavy that the first one couldn’t even handle it, the first one flew away without even carrying our wishes. The second one flew with our wishes. I was glad it worked. The wishes were too heavy. Lol.

Then we made a pyramid with me on the top, and all of us were falling down. Leon told me that i didn’t need a lot of people. One is enough. Then he carried me until both of us were falling down. He was not strong enough, or I was too heavy. I guess the other german wanted to show who was stronger. Kilian carried me on the way home. He carried me upside down too. I was feeling like i was kidnapped. The night was ciamique. Thankyou so much for coming and having me in 'Murica!

Hmu cuz i have 5 days left in Columbia.

#nyanyiantanahair #AFS #ciamique #KLYES (at 🌻 VW 🚐)

#Day295 Saturday, June 6. It was Samantha’s Day! And also her mom’s birthday! She is a sweetheart. We went around Maryland with a limousine. First stop was her house. The cookie cake is my favorite cake! And then the limousine took us to Centennial Park, where we took this picture. This brought me a memory of me doing Jingle Ball Run with baenix and Mom! I have never thought that I would come back there. It was a beautiful lake. It looked so different in the winter. Now it’s spring! After that We stopped at Annapolis Waterfront. That brought me in tears. I saw some buildings that I, Jasleen, Mariam, Ivana, Hanna, Bobba went ; Kilwin’s ice cream, The silly hat store, the crab restaurant that Jasleen hates, the boat etc. I also saw the place where I brought my guitar and sang along tried to be a street musician a while ago. That was a beautiful night. I am glad Sam took us there.

Sam is a sweetheart. She isn’t 16 yet! But she will be. I am pretty sure God has a beautiful plan for her. Have a great year ahead Sammy!

#NyanyianTanahAir #KLYES #ciamique #AFS (at Centennial Park Maryland)

#Day294 Friday June 5, it was a national donut day. Baenix came over to my house early morning and showed up in my room. I was on my bed. It was early for Ellen’s time! Haha, anyway we got Sarah at the perfect time too! We went for a donut run, geocaching and having an adventure out there. We ended up jamming and crashing Jeremiah’s pool. I went home barefoot and all was wet. My hostmom was kind of surprised and i told her i was having fun. Probably baenix parents also wondering why the seat in her car was wet. In the night i went to Leah’s party.

I didn’t post anything since that day cause It was just a lot of fun things happen that I couldn’t choose which one could be my highlight of the day.

I thankful for all of them!

#NyanyianTanahAir #AFS #ciamique #KLYES (at Jeremiah’s pool)

#Day293 Thursday, i went to OMHS as a visitor. It was worth it, even though i got kicked out from the lunch. But i was still trying to get in anyway. I met a lot of my friends and teachers. A friend asked me if I ready to leave. I said if I am ready, i wouldn’t be at school that day. I went home and cooking an indonesian food for my family and friends, Kari Ayam.

It was a good day. In the night I went to my friends house and had a good time there. I decided to bring a lantern. Because that was the only night all of us were together. It was bittersweet and fun. Lantern has a big meaning for me. We wrote our wishes and things that I want to let it go. The last time I did it was Mariam’s last night in US, and my birthday night. Last night we released the lantern in a rainy night, and we ended up running and “catching fire”, following the lantern until it get lost.

I learned that releasing things is one of part of growing up and moving on. I can not be selfish and keep things forever. There will be a time where you have to decide what you are gonna do with your life. This exchange year taught me a lot of thing. I might lose friends, a year of high school. But i gain more; friends, confidence, a year of high school, memories and a new place to be called home. I’m settled in.

However, I could keep the memories here.

#nyanyiantanahair #afs #ciamique #klyes (at Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron & Wine 🎶)

#Day292 wednesday, we went to six flags. USA bucket list checked! It was a rainy cold day. Fortunately, the line was very quick! Thankyou Beth, Jasleen, Sam and our three little friends for a fun day in Six Flags! That day was F-U-N! I spelled it!

#nyanyiantanahair #afs #ciamique #klyes (at Six Flags America. Maryland.)

Hai!

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#Day291 Cute boy Vs. Hot guy.

This is the last day I met her, Auntie Katherine, a.k.a Ms Kitty. She came here and visited me Yay! I had fun with her and Sasha and Ashley when we were in Florida last spring break. She is the sweetest and coolest auntie that you will ever have. I’m glad after the things that we did together.she decided that she will try to be an AFS liaison next year for the exchange students.

She gave me a lesson about how to keep positive energy in our daily life and be happy. No matter when people leaves you or try to put you down, just be strong and keep the positive energy.

This is one of the lesson from her that made my day when we were at Starbucks drive-thru. She is so funny.

#nyanyiantanahair #afs #ciamique #klyes (at a cute boy vs. a hot guy)

#Day290 It was a rainy day, thunderstorms and lightning were pretty much it. The days are getting shorter. Anyway, I had a good time with the strike squad. We went bowling and checking our summer bucket list. I wasn’t good in bowling. But it was really fun. I’m glad I have them that I could get to know them better before I leave. The kind of friends that would suddenly show up in front of the house and kidnap you. Lol I am just kidding. They are nice friends. And you know what, last night I gotta see some videos of my cute little @itspompom1 ;)

#nyanyiantanahair #afs #ciamique #klyes (at Brunswick Columbia Lanes)

#Day289 thinking about our life. Lol

Yesterday i had a blast with my friends. Seeing them for the last time of this year. And seeing this dude for the last time too. Have fun for your summer West Coast trip.
And happy birthday @mariie.leah! I had fun contra fancing with you last night!

#NyanyianTanahAir #AFS #KLYES #ciamique (at Dancel Family Center Y)