Each year from grade 8 and upward, homeroom teachers guide their students on a trip to experience culture and serve others. Because I have a 8th graders in my homeroom, I went with several other teachers and the entire 8th grade (50 students) to Yogyakarta in Central Java (the island that I live on).
We took the train there, which was a long ride across flat rice fields for nearly 8 hours. The flat land and endless crops reminded me of the Illinois plains that I grew up surround by. When people drive through my home state they joke that it all looks the same: cornfield after endless cornfield.
I must disagree. When each thing is the same you learn to spot the little differences. And it is the little things that cultivate your sense of home.
There in the endless, muddy rice fields, I felt more at home than I have in a long time.
Even after 8 hours I felt it much too soon that we passed into the city and mountainy areas again. Once a country girl, always a country girl. But the city has its own charms, I must admit.
The next day we left the hotel to go spend time with a school that we had partnered with. Part of the trip is learning how others live and these students did not come from the wealthy background that most of our students have. The students taught each other cultural games and they did crafts together. Then we taught them some English words, played more games, and worshiped together.
One of the hardest things for our students we realizing their school did not have air conditioning. It barely had electricity to power some fans and lights. We were all pretty sweaty by the end of the day.
Day two was about Javanese culture. We visited Borobudur temple (picture above). Which, I must admit, was even cooler than I expected.
I felt like a movie star for just a bit as I was asked over a dozen times to have my picture taken with them. Some more nicely asked then others. I say no because if I say yes 12 more people want a photo with you and I was there to get my own photos and take in the amazing view.
At the top, looking across at the mountains, I couldn't help but smile realizing this was my job. I get to experience the world with my students. I get to learn about different cultures and traditions and learn along side my middle schoolers. I have a pretty cool job.
Later that day, we attended a traditional Javanese dance with our partner school and the students learned how to cook traditional foods and make crafts.
As a side note, you know you are a minority when the dancer in the scary mask asks for a picture with you.
You can't tell but that day we also sweated a lot spending the whole day outside climbing temples and dancing.
Mind you this is all during the school week. We took off class Tuesday through Friday to take our students on this trip.
My job is pretty cool.
When others ask why did I decide to teach in Indonesia, beyond knowing I was called, I tell them it is about this. It is about getting to explore the world with my students in real and exciting ways. It is about tossing aside worries and actually living out my dreams (don't worry Mom, I haven't thrown all caution to the wind). There is just something very liberating about moving to the other side of the world that suddenly makes all of my other dreams seem more than just dreams.
I don't dream of exploring the world any more.
I plan on it.
(Last week I finally learned how to count to five, so here you go!) Bahasa words:
One: satu
Two: dua
Three: tiga
Four: empat
Five: lima
-Rachael
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