Change is good, right?

Well, I like change once in a while although I can be pretty resistant...

But I had this one thought in my mind for a while and I don't think i shared it with many people....I like extremes too! A friend of mine, IAS, shaved her head not too long ago before going to Thailand or while in Thailand...I am pretty excited to see her! To tell you the truth, I had the same thoughts! BUT, considering that I have convocation when I come home, I'll definitely wait before doing that!!!!

So, if I didn't shave my head, what did I do?
Well, I got extensions...Yup, my hair is fully braided and my new 'hair' is down to my bra, a.k.a boobs! I have to say that I feel like a mermaid!!!!Hehehe...

What do you guys think? People seem to like it here because people always try to grab my attention...pretty funny! Anyways, I enjoy my new hair, which will be back to normal when I come home! So enjoy the picture!!!! :D

Bali

Have you ever heard the song Fields of Gold from Sting? Bali seems to be the exotic place and bla, bla, bla...

Well, I have to say that it is REALLY beautiful! Since I stepped on the island together with the 30 other foreigners up until I arrived to the terminal in Kuta (where the bomb exploded in 2002), I saw sooooooo many statues, Hindu offerings and temples, unbelievable! I really liked the island since the first time I stepped on it...

So i hunted for a hotel and I got one that wasn't too expensive considering I am alone...(For those who arecurious, about $8CAD for one night!) I met up with some friends and we shared our plans for the next couple of days! Since I had a bit of an accident (don't worry, nothing serious...It was REALLY scary, but I am safe and sound!), I restrained myself from doing things in Lombok...Wanted to snorkel, but considering 'que je suis blanche comme un drap', I would burn like there is no tomorrow!!!!

So, considering I am in the heaven of surf here in Kuta, SURFING was definitely on the agenda! I hunted for the best schools and chose one, Pro Surf School! My first lesson was with a sexy surfer called Brazil...and guess what? I stood after my second wave!!! I was so happy! I even did some tricks on the surfboard and I naturally drank more than my fair share of salt water! :S I took 2 more classes and I am able to turn...VERY happy! :P The owner of the school said I was better than average...and I thank snowboarding for that! I REALLY suggest all of you boarders to try it out...It's awesome!!! :D (The proof? I think I'll go back for 2-3 days to do a bit more surfing...hehehe!!!) I looked like this girl in the pic but maybe the wave was just a bit smaller! :)

The beaches are nice but not as nice as in Lombok...And what is annoying here in Bali is that they try to sell you EVERYTHING...A guy even tried to sell me a bow & arrows...Imagine what the customs would say if I try to bring that in to Canada...hahaha!!! But the sunsets are awesome and you can meet people from all over the world... :)

And I met awesome people there too...We went out and I am proud to say that I went to bed at 5:30am twice! It is really a nice place to go party...But beware of the sharks in the club cuz there are tons! Damn!

So when its all said and done, I saw enough of equalaterals, isoceles, pecs, abs and boobs for a little while...All the guys go topless and its just GREAT candy for the eyes!!!! Girls, you know where you are heading for your next vacation...hehehe! :P

Lombok

Hello All!

So, I REALLY suck at keeping this up to date...I admit it, it's a fact...But I have tons of updates! :) I have been travelling quite a lot lately...And I have tons of great pics and stories! I'll go to my trip of 10 days where I flew to Lombok...

So Lombok, to give you a better idea, is an island situated east of Bali, and I think it is even more beautiful ( but then again, I didn't see much of Bali!). So I arrived at the airport and some people picked me up and showed me around. The next day, I went to the Gili islands (there are 3, but Gili Trawangan is the 'party' island and the most popular!) which are AWESOME! No motor is allowed on the islands and no dogs either...It is very peaceful and quiet! This picture here really reflects the essence of the island and it is NOT fake!!! :D I really took it when I was taking a tour of the island...1 hour to do the tour of the island....hehehe!!! I REALLY suggest these islands if you go on a honeymoon or if you love diving...Met lotsa people who snorkelled and dove and it was beautiful! In the past, fishermen used bombs to fish, which destroyed all the corals, but the wildlife is still very beautiful...Or so I've heard!!!! :)

So I lazed away on this island and I soaked up the sun...Took a bit of color and did some work, because unfortunately, I am still not finished with my project...Still have to do the evaluation! (Am currently woring on it :) and I hope to be finished ASAP!)

So on the Monday, Apri 17th, I headed to Bali, Kuta more specifically. The bus and boat ride were pretty interesting and I got a chance to meet very nice people! And I met them in Bali too!

Anyways, Lombok is the undiscovered jewel of Indonesia. Everyone is amazed by Bali but I think that these islands are DEFINITELY work it. And for my German readers: Es gibt viele deutsche Kneipen und Restaurants auf dieser Insel! Habe Schikennudeln uns Kaiserschmarn gegessen und ich habe mich wie zu Hause gefuehlt fuer gut 2 Stunden! Es loehnt sich :D *s*

What's next?

I know that some of you are probably wondering when I'll travel...Well, it ALL starts this weekend! I leave with the teacher I have been working with over the past 3 months (we are ALWAYS in the same situation and we have TONS of fun together!!!!!), another colleague and a guide...

We will go to Central Java to visit the Dieng (means 'Above the Gods') Plateau, Borobodur (the pic here IS Borobodur!) and Jogyakarta. We are there for 3 days and then I come back just to leave once again!!! :P

I plan to leave on the April 13th and fly to Lombok (only 30 minutes from here!), spend about 4-5 days there, go to Bali for 4 or 5 days and then come back.

I must then do work for 1 week or so and then I leave again for Singapore, Malaysia (although I am not sure I want to spend time there!) and Thailand!!!! A really good friend of mine and ex-roomie, IAS, will be there, which is much more interesting...

Picture this: 2 girls in bathing suits on a Thai beach with a coconut drink in their hands gossiping and enjoying their time...I REALLY can't wait to relax!!!! Man, I feel like I need a break after this!!!! SCOOOOOOORE cuz I get to do it in Thailand!!! :P

Anyways, I am coming back to Canada on May 26th, for those who are curious!

Thank you for checking this page out and I will try to update it more often once I am travelling cuz I won't have anything else to do in the evening... :P Continue e-mailing me and I love you all!!!! Missing you dearly,

Sofie

Volunteering!

Leaving Canada with AIESEC, I have the opportunity to get sponsored up to 80% of my flight ticket and insurance up to an amount of $1800...Well, although AIESEC Canada has been EXTREMELY slow in getting back at me, I have decided to take matters in my own hand!!!!

So I spoke to the Responsible Teacher wih whom I work and we decided that my best option would be to do some volunteering at Bakti Luhur, which is an institution for children with mental and physical disabilities. It REALLY wasn't easy the first time I went there but I met great people that help me a lot...One woman even speaks English...sweeeeeet!!!!

I went on Tuesday and I was able to discuss with the sisters in Bahasa Indonesia...Of course, I have a limited vocabulary, but still....makes me happy!!!!So I decided to take pictures this week and here is the girl that I REAAAAAAALLLLLY love...Her name is Lara, she is 2 and is the cutest thing ever... I spend a lot of time with her...Bring her to physio, feed her, dress her, play with her...It really warms my heart when I see kids that have so many problems laugh when I do stupidities... :P

Seeing Lara and her 5 other friends make me think of my bro a lot...When he was a kid, he got operated and he could have been like one of the kids I spend time with here! I guess we are sometimes not grateful for our health in life! We tend to take it for granted! Think about it next time you complain....God bless you all!!!!!

Update about Projects

Dear readers,

my goddddd I suck with keeping this blog updated...I even got complaints!!! I am VERY sorry...I know I could give million and one excuses, but I'll sick to this one: because I am busy!!!

I was working with my students on 2 projects...One was held on April 2nd, so that week it was SUPER busy and the other project....well, we finished today and are going to schools tomorrow! So here is an update about the projects:

A WALK DAY
So this project involved senior high school students (15-17 years old) and they walked a route and yelled and campaigned about saving the environment...The students chose this concept and I was mainly a supporting person for the past month! It was iteresting to see them work together and stuff like that but hard because they spoke in Bahasa Indonesia, and I obviously didn't understand much!!!! I think the students learned a LOT from this project and the AIESECers as well! We have the evaluation for the next 3 days so it should be interesting to see what will happen!!!!!!

THEATER 2006
This project is also related to the environment. The kids came up with a concept for 7-8 year old kids. It is an animation movie that they have worked on (well, other sudents helped and did the work...you know, the modern way of outsourcing!!! :P) and it shows super heroes trying to fight the 'trash' monster, but they finally, a 'real' boy does his part and the monster is killed!!!!! S

Both teams have raised a lot of money in terms of sponsorship and that only in 1 week and they have organized a pretty good event. The movie team (theater 2006) will have their first presentation tomorrow, so cross your fingers for them!!!!

There were tons of ups and downs but now that it is all said and done, I am pretty happy about the outcome of my students...Let's hope that evaluation will not be too rough!!! :D