Good People Everywhere

Published on 10 September 2023 at 23:03

A tribute to all those who made my travels that much more special.

 

I’ve had this blog waiting on the sidelines for a time when life slowed down, and after all these weeks… this is my opportunity!!! 

 

To all who have shared seemingly big or small acts of kindness, I remember you, and I appreciate you ❤️

 

INDONESIA

 

  • My Teachers at Wisma Bahasa: When my two classmates and I would lose focus, they  would let us take tea breaks and/or have longgggg COMPLETELY irrelevant conversations in Indoglish. 
  • Guard/Greeter: Every single morning, without fail, the guard/greeter (I really have no idea) and I said “Pagi!” (Morning!) to each other.
  • Gojek drivers: they didn’t say anything as I repeatedly bonked the back of their helmet with my helmet… I appreciated it.
  • Lady at the vet: instead of letting me sit awkwardly on one of those waiting room couches for who knows how long, the lady next to me talked to me for a while and allowed her little golden retriever puppy to climb all over me.
  • The vet: he took the time to listen to my situation and come up with the best solution in ENGLISH (MUCH appreciated). My lil kitten lived happily for a little while longer because of him. Unfortunately, my host-family didn’t take care of her after I left. Rest in peace my lil love, Runner.

The program coordinators who listened as I cried about my host-family 

Runner.

 

  • Cashiers: When I got to the cashier of this one mini grocery store, there were two girls who giggled uncontrollably because… well… saya tidak bisa bicara bahasa Indonesia dengan baik (I can’t speak Indonesian well) and I didn’t understand that I had to weigh the fruit. First they laughed at me and THEN they helped me :)
  • Host families: I don’t know what I would have done without the host families who took care of me. I lived with one host family, but there were two others who  “adopted” me. They celebrated my birthday with me, took me out to eat, took me shopping, let me sleep over, etc. Those two families assured me that if I ever return to Yogya, I can stay with them (and I probably will).

My friend's host family taking me out for dinner :)

 

  • The employee at my fav. coffee shop: he remembered my name after only the second time I visited! So sweet!
  • Human with an overflowing bucket of integrity: I ESPECIALLY appreciate the girl who ran to catch up to me on the street because I left my debit card in the ATM (I was stressed, ok!).
  • Women at Sekolah Pengelasan (the environmental school): several exceptionally kind women showed me how to cook with them.
    • Here’s a secret: I pricked my thumb on the coconut shredder. There might have been a drop or two of my blood in that Tiwul. 

The bamboo building that I absolutely adore (a.k.a. where we were cooking).

 

  • The music director: as our group learned to play the angklungs, the director (the guy who did all the hand signals) had the most EXPRESSIVE face—for better or for worse. It made us smile :)
    • Oh yeah, I noticed all those winces ;)
  • A generous homeowner: I was searching for a quiet place during one of our group trips, so I sat on a VERY comfortable chair on an empty porch. It had a beautiful view. The owner of the house walked out the doors (PANIC!) and as I rose out of HIS chair (EEK!), he just chuckled and waved to me to sit back down.

THE porch. The chair I was sitting on is hidden behind the wall.

 

  • A kind fellow: when I was struggling to get on the stilts, they came over and showed me how to push away the stilts as I stepped on to be more stable.
  • Neighbor: when I was being my lil ol awkward self at a neighborhood dance competition (I most definitely did NOT belong there), a college-aged student offered me his seat (‘twas super crowded btw).
  • Shop lady: In the first week, when I REALLY really barely knew anything, a lady at the Batik shop graciously sat down with me to help me practice my Indonesian, answering questions like “what is your name”, “where are you from” and “do you prefer coffee or tea”.
  • A fellow traveler: he let me go in front of him in the line to the bathroom on the Emirates flight (the turbulence sign was on nearly the ENTIRE 13 HOUR FLIGHT even though I couldn’t feel the turbulence—WHAT THE FUDGEEEEE!)
  • The silver jewelry workshop lady: she was SUPER encouraging and gave me so many compliments even as those tiny lil spirals just WOULD. NOT. FIT. (I got it to work eventually—it just took… a while.)

Yeah, making this pendant was one of my favorite activities on the entire trip.

 

  • Elderly couple: I was having a rough day (long story), and these two lovely well-wrinkled people noticed. They couldn’t speak English, so they just gave me a cup of water, an empathetic smile, and a thumbs up in support.
  • A random passerby: I was walking to Janji Jiwa, my most frequented coffee shop, (for those who know, Mixue was on the way) and I was going in the same direction as an elderly lady. As I attempted to pass her, she looped her arm into mine, and started asking questions. My first response was to brush her off and walk faster, but… I didn’t. I’m glad I didn’t. She didn’t speak any English, so we shared several moments when we just shrugged and laughed at the language barrier. Even so, we had a decent—if choppy—conversation. I even learned that she has a son studying at a University in Miami. When we hit a crossroads (literally), we just waved goodbye and went about our days. I remember you.
  • A good human: they stooped to scoop up my water bottle before I even realized I dropped it in the airport.
  • A pilot (no worries, he wasn’t flying the plane at the moment): for letting me take his window seat and then proceeding to have a super interesting 3.5 hour-long conversation with me (and sharing his twizzlers).
    • I now know all about air highways, access ways, and types of turbulence 😋
    • Yo, if anyone knows Chris, a pilot from American Airlines, tell him I forgot to share my blog with him.

The flight to MPLS.

CHILE

 

  • Olga: A lady I met on the plane on the way to Chile—we talked for only a bit before she offered me her number in case I needed anything.
  • Mrs. Clarita: This teacher has done (and continues to do) everything she can to help me learn Spanish and feel like I belong here.
  • Fran (host-mom): From day one, she has overwhelmed me with care and affection, welcoming me to the family—and helping to patch some wounds made by my previous host-family.
  • Raul (host-dad): Always looking out for me, challenging me, and providing ample space to spill all my sustainability thoughts. 
  • Sara (host-sister): for showing me around her town, her city, and overall just being there for me. We laugh while stumbling through TikTok dances, go shopping together, complain/show off our dance outfits, and have secret conversations over google translate.
  • Laura (host-sister): I am never bored when she’s around; it seems like she’s always calling my name and tugging me around by the hand. We draw, play piano, dance, feed the sheep and horses, play soccer, blow bubbles, and have little “aventuras” (“adventures”) in the backyard. And sometimes, inexplicably, she just tackles me.
  • Grandparents (of my host-fam): Yeah, I can’t understand a word they say; however, actions speak louder than words. They lent me a dress to dance Cueca (more on that later), poured handfuls of toffees into my hands, and gave me a keyboard piano.
  • Kids at my school: I love how excited they are to meet me and talk to me—it makes me feel soooo special! Some of them have introduced yourselves to me in the halls, speaking in the best English they can; some of them cheer for me during sports and while dancing; and some of them invite me to play games during breaks or eat lunch together.
    • The people at my school could not possibly be any more welcoming.
  • Friends (made in Chile): You know who you are :) Thank you for welcoming me into your world—you all make me feel like I snapped perfectly into this giant puzzle.

 

U.S.A.

 

And of course, I can’t forget about all y’all back home!

 

  • Sue: One sentence in my blog will never be enough to convey how much I appreciate you and your endless support in everything I do. Love you and miss you!
  • Leslie: I notice and treasure all your comments (yours too, Sue!)—thank you! Plus, I “found” a piano :)
  • Tom: Thanks for the honey (I gave it as a gift to my host family in Chile so I could enjoy it too) and all our great conversations!
  • Nitiya: For our miraculously ongoing friendship of 5+ years. I don’t know how I managed to get a friend like you ♥️
  • Cece: For handling my panic about soccer (remember, I knew NOTHING when I started), and checking in with me.
  • My family (biological): for supporting and embracing my craziness. You know I love you :)
  • Kathy: Thank you for visiting me last minute during my Minnesota stopover and giving me the oh-so precious book “Good People Everywhere” which directly inspired the writing of this blog.

 

Reflecting on my travels…

 

  • The world is beautiful.
  • No country is better or worse than another. They are DIFFERENT. Period.
    • Whatever rankings and statistics you may keep in your mind about all the countries in the world, get rid of it. It’s irrelevant until you have PERSONALLY gone and experienced life in each one. You don’t know until you know :)
  • There are good people everywhere.

 

Thank you for reading!!! ❤️❤️❤️

 

 

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Comments

Rachel Beran
a year ago

So beautiful! I truly believe that you find what you are looking for... and the energy behind the gratitude you express for all of these people will continue to draw positivity into your experiences! Me imagino que tu español ya haya transformado tanto!

Sue Eichstadt
a year ago

You know I will always love you and I’m your biggest fan in all your adventures. All these wonderful moments and people you have met on your fabulous journey! But each and everyone, including me, have been blessed to know you! Continue with your amazing adventure because you are an amazing person..but I do miss having you across the street.

Katie Liberatore
a year ago

You are an inspiration, Maia!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Sometimes it is so easy for us to forget that all it takes is a tiny thing to brighten a day.
This post brightened mine & made me take a moment of pause to think of how I might be able to pay it forward tomorrow. Thank you for that! :)