When I came back from the United States to Jakarta, I had to attend a launching event for the contraceptive and family planning app, which I had considered my baby since one year ago. I met my partner there, who is a citizen of the US, and asked me, "So Puspita, how was the big sky?"

I answered with basic stuff like, "it was beautiful, Rob. Especially the Glacier." And he was then surprised that I had made it to Glacier National Park. But deep inside, my answer is not as simple as that. There are a thousand stories about The Big Sky for me. Thousand memories. And here are the stories.

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At the end of 2014, I remember that I got an email near Christmas from an amazing woman whom I met on my campus a year before to consult my deer welfare project on my campus. She is an expert in Comparative Psychology from the University of Queensland and has research as well as publications in comparing cognitive ability between Orang Utan and humans. She was the first one who came from a Psychology background and inspired me to do something in Conservation. She originally came from Australia, but then decided to move to Aceh to involve in its environmental protection. She emailed me an opportunity to apply to YSEALI - Young Southeast Asia Leadership Initiative, and she really encouraged me to do so. So I applied.

That was the story of how I could be in the US for five weeks, learning global environmental issues from the basic theories, discussion in the field, volunteerism, ideal conference, and turn it into real implementation. That was the first time that I had been told that there is no 100% conservation. At the end of the day, the economy and industry must be part of it. That was the first time I witnessed how indigenous people can be fully respected and many scientists from different backgrounds can listen to each other respectfully. That was the first time I felt safe hiking by myself or go anywhere alone by biking. And another first-time experience which are special for me.

There were 3 places that I visited during this program, Missoula (Montana), New Orleans (Louisiana), and Washington, DC. And I have to admit (for someone who keeps telling me that Missoula is beautiful), yes - Missoula is my favorite place among those three cities. I like seafood and music in New Orleans, and I fell for museums and humidity in Washington, DC. But Missoula is mysterious, quiet, and calm. The city is lived by a well-educated population, and the residents have a high level of altruism. The first person who impressed me with altruism was Shanti, one of our Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA).

She never stopped smiling and gave positive encouragement to us. Shanti and I share a similarity - name origin. Her name was adapted from India, and mine as well - the Javanese ancient language was much influenced by Hindi. We both are given names from a culture that is different from ours (religion, place). In the Sanskrit language, Shanti means peace or a state of tranquility. Meanwhile, Puspita means flower. She told the history of her name after roping activities on our second day of orientation. According to Name-Letter Effect Theory, we have implicit self-esteem that is reflected by our favoritism toward our name and initial, which is why I always consider names important for each individual. It makes Shanti is interesting in my eyes, and it makes me unconsciously observed how she reacts to others' actions. She is always willing to help others and find the best solutions, and she always smiling. I think my group will agree with me that Shanti made our days in Missoula. She would come early to pick us up or lead us biking, and we never saw her get tired. I am sure she was tired every night from facing 20 energetic people, but at the end of the day, she put a smile on her lips - which I know sometimes it is very hard to do.

Education is the next part. I saw how Missoula has a really good reading culture. The discussion at Community in The Confluence, book festival, and one that was most important for me was a session with John Vaillant, the author of the book The Tiger. It was a story about himself going to Russia, and what is interesting from the book is how he describes the political condition in Russia at that time and links it to tiger conservation. At the end of the event, I came to him and asked for his signature. He greeted me and asked what made his book interesting to me. I told him about my passion for animals and illegal poaching. He said he also heard about Sumatran Tiger and has a friend that involved in the conservation effort. Then he wrote in my book, "Dear Puspita, Thanks for the works." Not just me; I saw how people obsessed with this book and had great discussions after it with him. Mel - our Program Manager, also lent me a book titled Wolves in The Land of Salmon - a good one; I like how Moskowitz describes the circle of the wolves, so it is not just about the wolves but also their prey and habitat. Their prey is described in detail, including their needs and characteristics. It shows how one being lives never separately from another being. So like what Buddha said, may all living beings be well and happy - if we want to be happy, don’t forget about others' happiness. These books feed my brain with happiness.

Deep conversation is also a part of Missoula that I like to the utmost. Back home, I often find good thoughts and conversations when I travel by myself to the far city on Java island and start to talk with strangers. I ever went to Surabaya, which is located about 700 km from Jakarta, by train and I talked with a girl who studied there by herself about city improvement. Or when I went to Belitung - 400 km from Jakarta, spent my last day separated from the group, then had a talk with a stranger about city history and museums improvement. Here in Missoula, I don’t have to go far away to find a high-quality discussion.  My favorite was with Jami, one of the Teaching Assistants, in the middle of the break, waiting for everyone to get pray. We talked about the linearity of study and implementing our expertise in another field. I also love my discussion with Pat - another GTA, about Missoula itself - its population, trend, calmness, and others. I remembered my discussion with Peter as well about religiosity in Deena's house while we had potluck dinner, and it was interesting as well. Talking about atheistic values and conversion, math that I believe is involved in religion, and so on. I enjoyed a conversation with Nick about volcanoes, family planning, and coffee on a bus when we were going back from Butte. And a really good conversation with Deena (but happened in DC) about politics in Indonesia around 1997. I also had two professors as my homestay parents, and it was very amazing. I often talked to Kari, my homestay mother, about equality, especially in domestic work, while I could talk about politics and the education system with Terry - my homestay father. I also could talk about animal behavior with Ming - their lovely daughter, and her education system in school. I had never heard a high school student criticize her own school's educational system from a very mature perspective.

Travel is the last part that I want to share in this writing. Afraid it will be too long, I would say Missoula has a different mysterious ambiance in its trails. After I count it, I have hiked 8 times to 7 different trails in Missoula. I did it by myself - not because I didn’t want to go with someone else but because I wanted to do contemplation. So I packed my things, and I was a little bit afraid because, in Indonesia, I never hike alone - it is prohibited here according to safety rules. I double-checked all my things to ensure I wouldn’t get lost, starve, thirst, and be on time. Then I took my first step - tried to remember what Lao Tzu said: "thousand miles journey begins with a first step." So I went to Hellgate Canyon trail, and it was quiet. No one's there, so my company is just the wind. Nick, one of the GTAs, and Dr. Len, my project supervisor, recommended me to this trail. Several times I stopped for a while, just thinking, and ate chocolate. Seeing some birds in the trees and wondering why they are so silent. Morning to afternoon is the time for birds to forage out of the nest. But never mind, maybe they were welcoming me. At the end of the trail, I met some people and said hi. I sat and gazed at Missoula City from above. Some birds stayed in the trees near me, and it was calming. Missoula inspired me about sustainable agriculture, perspective integrations, discussions, respect, and to commune.

In that quiet contemplation, I arranged my plan as soon as I arrived in Indonesia, and now I am working on it. Every time I meet people now is different than before I joined this program. I can be more respectful of people's uniqueness and respect their own personal choice - but on the other hand, I am more respectful to myself for my vision and my rights. I would say thanks to Lucia - another member from Vietnam, for our deep conversation under the moon when we got back from Lafayette. All stories that made me who I am now and what we are now. I hope Lucia will remind me as I remind her as a great inspiring woman, and someday we will share the story after we met that time in the US.

However, I believe that everyone will be a great storyteller when they arrive home, just like me. Because I believe in Ibn Battuta's words that traveling can leave you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller. A story can bring people together and trigger a discussion, and there is no problem that can be solved without a discussion.

Start a story today. We won't regret it.