Noodles or Rice?

Noodles or rice. Rice or noodles, that has been the first question my host family asks me every time we are about to go eat lunch or dinner. And that really answers what type of food you will end up eating- well sort of…most of the time. It has now become a joke of sorts, isn't that awesome? Anyways as of today I have tried- Malay, Indian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese food! And all of them have been incredibly satisfying, new and well delicious!

I think I have surprised my host family as to how much I love spicy food and how easily I can eat it. I keep telling them it is because I’m Mexican and I love cilli’s and spicy stuff,and they said I was making it easier for them to take me out and try new foods since they didn't really have to worry about the spiciness. I LOVE spicy food so I think I have landed in a very accommodating place.

I have also learned how to properly eat using both a spoon and fork and my right hand. Although I can’t use chopsticks yet, it takes so much coordination and I’m sad to say I get hand cramps! But I will make it a goal to learn how to eat with them by maybe the end of next month…hopefully.

My host family finally discovered when I really don’t like something I have tried, I usually say rather bluntly when I love something or it is good but when I don’t I say “It’s different" or “It has a different taste." Now they have associated me saying it’s different to me not liking something- although I still clarify when I mean different in a good way or not.

So my two favorite dishes so far?

Char kway teow and Nasi lemak (although I had this at an organic shoppe and they tell me it isn't as good as normal one)

They also laugh because every time we order something the first thing that comes out of my mouth is "What is that? What is it called?" and the sad thing is I never remember!

Char kway teow

Nasi lemak 

5 Days

Im finally in Malaysia! After a long day of travel we (8 other participants from the US) arrived in Kuala Lumpuron Thursday the 18th. The climate, the smells, and the sights were and continue to be so surprising and overwhelming. Yet they are part of this new country and I hope that it wont be long until I am used to it all. Since we were one of the few groups that arrived early we were given the chance to rest for an hour and shower and go out to the city center for a few hours until everyone else arrived. Walking down the street was a feat on its own, the humidity makes you feel really sticky and gross, they dont lie when they say you will want to shower often! Surprisingly the humidity is very easy to get used to.

Anyways, I feel like I am rambling on...these past four days have been full of orientations. I feel like we have covered almost every corner there is. From our National PDO to conference calls to the gateway to our arrival orientation. At our arrival orientation we met students from all over- Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Iceland, Greenland, Costa Rica, Argentina, BiH, Czech Republic, France, Italy, etc. it was really good to get to know the people we will be sharing this experience with.

Sunday was our last day of orientation and we met our chapter leaders and well the other people going to the same chapter. Then we had the handing over ceremony where we met our host families for the first time. I met my host father and host sister and then we drove to my new home were I met my host mother and host grandfather. It is very hard to explain all the emotions and feelings but I know that anyone who has gone through an exchange or similar experience understands. I know this is not a very helpful post but I just wanted to say I am finally here and well.

P.S I dont have many pictures yet because I always forgot to take some. But I will post them soon! Hopefully.

Goodbye Chicago!

Well the time has finally come! I will be departing for my gateway orientation in Los Angeles tomorrow morning and then after two days I will be on my way to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! I am excited and terrified and that is okay. Those are normal feelings and it seems they have been balancing each other because right now I am in a relaxed mind set. I cannot begin to list all the things I will miss but my family and my friends are always going to be at the top of that list.

Well, this is a goodbye to Chicago-I'll see you in 10 months!

P.S- I will try to update before my departure Tuesday but I am not promising anything. Also, I hope to have access to WiFi once I am in Malaysia but that is not a guarantee so I have to see how that plays out.

3 Days

Where did my time go? I still haven't fully processed the fact that this was my last week in Chicago. I still feel like it is April and I barely found out about my finalist standing. I apologize for not writing about the PDO which was pretty fun and interesting. I kind of flew back to Chicago and was in a frenzy to tie some loose ends. Lately I have been spending time with my friends, it took me a while to realize how much I do rely on them for the smallest of things- be it going out to eat with one of them to have one of them walk with me to the corner store.

Anyways, I have three days until I fly out to Los Angeles for my gateway orientation! Then we arrive in Kuala Lumpur July 18th! I think, I tend to mix up dates. I received an email from my temporary host mom Wednesday. I will be living with my host parents, host grandparents, and a host sister who is relatively close in age! I am pretty excited, although a bit bummed out that it is only a welcome family. Either way, I will enjoy my experience. Oh, I will be living in Shah Alam with a few other AFS exchange students (not from the US) and that's about 40 minutes from KL.

I still haven't finalized my packing. I don't know how to pack for four days, now imagine me trying to pack for 10 months? I need to figure that out as soon as possible!

3 days until I am on my way to Malaysia. 3 days until I become part of someone else's family. 3 days till my next adventure begins.