Bren

Photo Credit: Ben Gaffigan. At the top of the volcano. Photo Credit: One of Tom's Teacher's. On our way up the volcano. Before we get into the details I thought it would be important to explain how I got in this situation. I thought it would be a good idea to spend quality time with my fellow PCVs because I had just gotten back from the US. Since I was really homesick I decided to go hiking for the 4th of July because why not? I climbed up a volcano called, “Gunung Gede" . (Don't worry fam the last time it erupted was in the 50s) When I started climbing this mountain, all I thought was, “shit this is harder than the hikes I did back in the US” and the longer we were hiking the more I questioned myself. It sounded a little like, “Brenda why the f* did you agree to this?” . However, the time spent with the volunteers was totally worth it. We talked about our homes in the US, ou...

The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Indonesian Government. YAAAAAS - ya girl was able to go visit the United States three weeks. Although the time seemed long it went by so fast. Shit, ya girl is sitting in her home in Indonesia listening to the frogs while writing this. However, there are people who aren’t able to visit their family during service, so I tried not to take it for granted.  I was able to be at a family birthday party. The reason why I decided to upload this post was to help other volunteers who are planning on visiting the states. It can be difficult going home and I wanted people to know they're not alone. However, if you’re a family member of a PCV this post can help you understand where they might be in their minds when visiting the US. Before I left I started getting mixed feelings. I cried a little and for some reason, it felt like I was leaving ...

                                             by: Brenda Lee Nieves My eyes open and the first thing I see is the tiny holes in my bug net. I wonder what type of insects are able to get through those holes while I sleep. I lean closer because I am so focused on this one tiny hole. I think there's a bug stuck. Did this little fucker try to invade my fortress while I slept? Smack Smack Smack.  Ibu's sandals hit the floor. I can hear her talking to our neighbors. Her voice is so much better than my phone alarm. Beep Beep Beep. "shit!" it's 6:30 I need to hurry! I get dressed faster than an Indonesian cat jumping away from people. (that's pretty fast) I walk into the dining room and there's Bu staring at me with her kind eyes. her:  Bawa Makan? me:  ya                      ...the only ...

The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Indonesian Government. So I've been living in Indonesia for over 100 days....to be honest with you all, it feels like I just got here. I mean yes I learned the language and know a bit about the culture, but things still feel new to me. I was recently told by a PCV veteran that the feeling will go away (I can't wait) I’ve been living in my permanent site (Tasikmalaya, Karangjaya) for about a month now (I think)...I haven’t been counting. All I know is that I got here just a few days before Christmas. I was not looking forward to the holidays, but they were better than expected. This is in front of what would be called their town hall. It's absolutely beautiful. For Christmas, I went to Tasikmalaya City with a volunteer named Mahogoni. We had a Christmas Eve dinner and hung out in this huge mall. Since this country is predomi...

by: Brenda Lee Nieves Just like the night takes over the sky and the stars dance with the moon. The love I have travels through my body and finds it’s way to you. It tips toes on your soft lips and slides down your tongue. It grabs a hold of your heart and notices it’s half full. Then it jumps out through your hands that touch my thighs. just. right. not too low and not too high. As my legs shake it enters my body through our conversation that needs no words. It grabs a hold of my heart and throws it into my eyes. As you kiss me and open yours, our hearts join into one. The world is less cold. With. Each. Thrust. I feel closer to you. Your arms around me holding me tight. I can hear a rhythm in your breath. A rhythm I want to hear... over and over. It’s not the feeling of your physical body that entices me. It’s the love we have that only you and I can see. Even through this distance, you are the only person who holds my heart.

The content of this website is mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Indonesian Government. Hello again!  So its been two months and I’m finally coming to an end with my training. Let me just say, it has been one interesting experience. I’ve gone through sicknesses, meltdowns, and joyous moments. Looking back at it all, I wouldn’t want to change anything that happened (even my WiFi breaking because of the rain). It literally took me a second to collect myself because I almost flipped shit. Here are some of my highlights that happened in the past month: I went to Pizza Hut with my host family here in Kediri and the ONLY reaction to it was, “WTF why don’t we have this in America” The Pizza Hut here is literally a sit in restaurant. They have rice bowls, pasta, and fancy drinks in these really tall skinny glass cups. I don’t want you reading this to think I’m exaggerating this didn’t feel like no regular ...

by: Brenda Nieves When I compare us to the rest of the universe I realize that we are so tiny, but your actions have made such an impact. This moment spent with you fills me with euphoria. I would be content with reliving this day loving you in every single way. I look at you sleeping and all I want is to be stuck in this moment laying next to you. When you speak time freezes and the only person I can hear clearly is you. Your words dance into my ears and seep into my bloodstream they flow into my heart and fill me with love. You were right time is irrelevant, but I do wish we had an early start. It's hard to leave a place knowing you're leaving behind half of your heart. I look at you talking and all I want is to be stuck in this very moment completely focused on you. When our skin touches I no longer feel afraid. I get lost within you. It's almost like the bed sheets create an unpenetrable force field and remove us from the world and you just driv...