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| Celia Cusick ('20) abroad |
In my last blog, I proclaimed that
this year would be inspired by the women in my life and as such would be more
genuine, fearless, and unapologetic. I had no idea at the time that this would
mean crossing two oceans. However, as luck would have it I visited Bali,
Indonesia and Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia over this past summer. My good friend is
finishing his english teaching Fulbright there currently. So with a little
apprehension, one wrong plane ticket, and lots of bug spray; I went on my way
with my goal of the year in mind.
Aside from the friendly face that was waiting
to pick me up from the airport, I was surrounded by a world of differences. It
became clear that Kentucky and the comforts it gave me were far away. When you
take away the comfort and conveniences of your home, it is easy to learn
lessons about exactly what you can and cannot handle. While on the trip, I slowly began to get out
of my comfort zone. Luckily, I had a friend who was always willing to give me
that push when I needed it and forced me to soak up all the trip had to offer.
The result: I learned I am much more capable than what I thought. Slowly, I
began to trust my abilities and instincts and consequently I enjoyed myself
much more. Who knew I could learn to surf or to navigate myself through a
foreign city with no internet access and no language skills. Embracing
opportunities that at first seemed impassable changed my experience
drastically. Trusting your gut and your abilities makes traveling more genuine
(and more fun). In one instance, I
remember a helmet being strapped on my head and then jumping on a motor
bike to ride to a temple on a cliff none of which I would have originally
signed up for, but thankfully I did. It was exhilarating and so freeing. In
this instance I had to trust that my friend all but forcing me to get on the
bike was doing so with my best interest at heart and that I could handle any
situation that could potentially come up. Bali was always buzzing with life and
excitement; it taught me that when life gives you the opportunity to grow: jump
at the chance and trust yourself to make the landing. Life is too short to sit
on the sidelines the whole time.
My
travels in Malaysia encouraged me to spend some truly alone time. When in
Malaysia, I was doing most of my traveling by myself. I set my own schedule for
the day, navigated the city by myself, and had the freedom to do as I please. I
had never seen anything like Kuala Lumpar it’s a massive, diverse city. I was there during Ramadan,
so during the days many shops and restaurants were closed for observance of the
religious holiday, but after sunset the city completely transformed. There were
massive street festivals and markets where you could find any food your heart
desired. For me this meant, I was knee deep in Schwarma and lots of .99 MRY ice
cream cones. While alone, I was aware of
my surroundings as any traveller should be, but I never felt threatened or
unwanted. In fact, it was often the opposite being met with warm welcomes and
questions about why I was so far from home. I have felt traveling- at least
this far- people are willing to open their homes and their hearts as long as
you are willing to engage with and respect their culture. Malaysia was a place
I could have never anticipated enjoying so much, there was never a shortage of
things to do, see, and experience. While there I had a few missteps like the
time I was convinced I knew how to walk back to the center of the city only to
find myself winding up on an impromptu bus tour of the city via the free public
transportation in Kuala Lumpar. These misadventures taught me a valuable
lesson: you can do it alone. Traveling alone reminded me to take a deep breath,
look around, and soak it in. With no one else to keep you company its easy to
find yourself completely immersed in a different world. It forces you to
reflect on what is happening around you which is a lesson that often gets swept
away in the fast pace of our daily lives. I was reminded of the value of being
alone and the importance of reflection during my time in Malaysia.
In
hindsight, it is easy to tell that this trip and the lessons I learned from it
helped me accomplish exactly what my original goal had in mind. My travels and
my reflection upon them encourages me to continue to finish the year as it
started; boldly and unapologetically.
Celia Cusick, of Elizabethtown, Ky., is a member of the McConnell Scholar Class of 2020. She studies political science and psychology at the University of Louisville.