Whirlwind of expereinces & growth

I realize this entry is coming long after my return from Indonesia. For the past month or so I have been dealing with some family issues and was thrown into an extremely chaotic environment with little time for reflection. However, I have notice some major changes and reflections based on my experiences in Indonesia. There are many things that I found I could prepare for this trip and many I had to just learn as I went.

I first heard about this opportunity the previous year and was thinking that there was no way for me to be able to have that kind of experience in Child and Youth Care. However, with the support of my family and friends my dreams came true. One of the primary reasons for wanting this dream related to my curiosity of what Child and Youth Care practices are like in different countries and cultures. Another focus for my decision was the want to experience the aspects of special needs children and youth within another culture. To be able to see how they view special needs individuals and how they are treated. I was also excited about learning from my fellow travelers because we all came from different backgrounds and schooling disciplines.

With having all this excitement for new learning I knew I had some fears as well. Some of the most common fears for me related to culture shock and I was wondering if I was going to be able to cope with all of the changes. I knew that I have a hard time in extreme heat therefore I was afraid that the weather was going to be too much for me. I was unsure how I was going to handle the language difference and working with my translators. Finally, I was worried about my placement because I was placed at a school for Autistic children and they had wanted some education around sexual education. The week before leaving there was a change in my placement which was a relief because of being unsure about teaching sexual education to a Muslim country. My new placement was a special needs school for children and youth called Amaryllis.

Once arriving the most challenging aspects for me were our group process and my practicum placement. I think since we as a group did not have many opportunities to bond and get to know each other there were some conflicts within the group. This was a process for myself and I also needed to remind myself of the communication skills I have acquired over the past few years. I would recommend trying to get together as a group before embarking on this adventure to work out all of the kinks. I think we as a group were able to perform well in the end.

Having the opportunity to work within another culture as well as with my passions for special needs was unbelievable! I had my own personal challenges at Amaryllis mostly dealing with the language barriers between my translators and my practicum mentors. I found very little difficulty relating to the children and found so many similarities between children of Canada and children of Indonesia. The spirit I saw within these children was amazing and their willingness to communicate with me was heart warming. I was extremely sad to leave and know that there was little possibility of seeing these children again in the future. Going into the placement I never thought I would have been so affected by the work I was doing and the lives I was touching. I know I will never forget those children's faces and all of the laughs I had with them.

I wasn’t sure what things I was going to learn from going to another country to practice Child and Youth Care that I could not have learned at home however I needed to see what was out there in the world of Child and Youth Care. One of the best things that will always be with me is that children are children all across the world including children from different backgrounds as well as different levels of monetary standing. I also would not have had the chance to work side by side with both the nursing program and the early childhood education program. I would not have had the opportunity to learn from their perspectives on situations I was dealing with because typically I have been surrounded by similar professionals from similar professional backgrounds.

One of the most frustrating aspects of my trip was when I was sometimes relating or communicating to the Indonesian people because of their need to please and make our experience positive. I found myself needing to focus very hard on the non-verbal communication because sometimes the verbal and non-verbal communication conflicted with each other. I never wanted to offend anyone therefore I was constantly asking for clarification so that we were on the same page. Even though I was doing my best there were times when that was not enough. I learned that I need to be more flexible and open to change but I knew that about myself already, hehehe. This need for flexibility came at me almost everyday for instance I would leave practicum knowing one thing and arrive the next day needing to know something new.

I would like to thank everyone who stood behind and beside me through out this experience. I know there were some downs but they were definitely outweighed by the ups. Even though these are just some reflections from my trip I know there are many more to come as I delve more deeply into my experiences. Thank you for taking the time to read about what life was like for me in Indonesia and what it was like to practice in another country with different values and beliefs. This experience will always be with me and it’s even hard to realize that I even went at all.

Sincerely,

Heather Carroll-Fraser

A Reflection

I realize this is an extremely late entry, but you know the saying, better late then never! The truth is I had actually posted a summary upon my return but did not realize it had not posted properly. So here is my summary for those who are still checking this blog.

Its funny but now that I have been home for over a month my appreciation for this Indonesian experience is seeming to grow. It is hard to believe that I even went on this trip at times but when looking back at pictures and remembering stories reminds me that yes I have.

Some of the memorable moments for my self was stepping out of the Surabaya air port. The hot humid air was very thick and I thought to myself "What have I got myself in to!". The arrival at the Kassanda guest house was significant to me because my first glance at the guest house lay out and garden made me feel like I was in a movie. The beautiful tropical garden, open floor plan of the guest house and the odd gecko on the wall was definitely a different atmosphere than home and one that I now miss very much!

The Indonesian people I found to be a very kind and generous people; they also had a good sense of humor. I had a chance to get to know a few fellow Indonesian students from the University and shared a lot of laughs and memories. Closer to the end of our stay in Indonesia we started to hang out with the Indonesia student translators doing activities such as going to the movies, shopping, a day at the water park, hanging out at Kassanda and going out for dinner. It was really neat to see and hear how students our age lived and managed their studies as well as make new friends!

One quirky aspect of Indonesia that I don't necessarily miss is the toilets (which were in the ground and you had to squat over) and the lack of toilet paper. Lets just say that the left hand was designated for certain things and therefore in the Indonesian culture you don't eat with that hand or shake hands with that hand. We were able to buy toilet paper there but I never thought I would be so thankful for toilet paper in my life!

Random Memories

Crossing the roads was something I dreaded in Indonesia because it seemed to be a life threatening ordeal every time it was attempted. I soon got use to it but it still scared me every time. The protocol for crossing the roads in Indonesia is hold up one hand towards the oncoming traffic and run across the road...fast! The was a very effective technique but sure didn't allow for any hesitation.

The Muslim call to prayer took place around every four hours. This call to prayer could be heard all over Surabaya as the mosques had loud speakers on top of the roofs. This call to prayer also served as my own personal alarm clock every morning at around 4:00am!

The food is something I miss very much actually. My favourite meal being Nasi Gorenge Aym which I ate every day sometimes twice a day! Previously before this trip I did not enjoy spicy food in the least, especially spicy peanut sauce! After this experience in Indonesia I not only enjoy the odd spicy dish but I love spicy peanut sauce!

The overall highlight for me on this trip was the orphanage. It was an experience that I hope to have again but I realize is very rare. The sisters and care givers were so warm and inviting and even though we struggled to understand each other the non verbal communication, use of drawings and Indonesian translation book seemed to be adequate. The challenge of communication between the staff did not seem that much of a challenge because we had so much fun trying to figure out what each of use was saying.

The children were so precious! full of energy, healthy and well cared for. Being that I am a Nursing student I learnt a lot from my fellow Early Childhood Edcucation and Child and Youth Care Students and collaborated with them on a daily basis. I entered this placement with what I thought to be an open mind but learnt soon after that I did have some previous assumptions of what I would possibly find, for example, lack of adequate nutrition, activities, and hygiene. In contrast to my assumptions I found that they were infact doing a wonderful job, with what resources they had, in all of these areas. This placement was very open to learning new ideas and ways of doing things and we worked together to create new ideas in terms of discipline and activities. This was an eye opening experience for myself as I realize even more so now how much different cultures can learn from each other.

It is sad to be back in a way because, like I said before, it feels at times like I never even went. But I will never forget the wonderful memories and different cultural experiences which I was so fortunate to have!

Thank you to all of you for taking the time to read this blog!

Sincerely,

Krista

Back from Indonesia!!

Hello everybody!!! Well the trip came to an end a little over a week ago and I have been back into the swing of things! I have had a chance to reflect on the whole thing and thought I would share some of my reflections with you!

I originally signed up for the trip on a whim. I have wanted to do some travelling as part of a field study and the opportunity presented itself to me so I took it. I have travelled on my own before and really wanted to have the opportunity to travel with a group to a place I probably wouldn't consider travelling on my own. What a great experience it was! I learned a lot, and would now choose to spend time in back in Indonesia in the future.

I did not know what to expect, going into the trip. I had no clue! But I just "went with it" and made up my mind to have a good time. However, I'm not that easy going!! The the that I was concerned the most about, wast my practicum placement. I was so nervous before my first day I could hardly stand it! After the first day though, my fears were relieved! I loved the people, the children and the whole experience.

The people in Indonesia were so inviting and wonderful. They are very hospitable and I had to learn how to say no, which was very hard for me. In Canada we have a tendency to feel the need to be "polite" by saying we like something or saying yes to doing something we may not want to do. It is now a good idea to do this there as the people are so nice and such good hosts, they will make sure you will have plenty of that thing you said you liked but you really didn't and will fill your day with plenty of that thing you said you would do, even if you didn't really want to!

The group process was a difficult one for me, and I think it is different for every group that travels together. It is a long story and really it only pertains to those who were on the trip but my advice for those travelling as a group in the future actually comes from one of the instructors who came with us. She commented on how our group spent a lot of time focusing on the things that weren't working for us, rather than the things that were. This bit of advice works for ever aspect of the trip. There is a need to re frame things and turn negatives into positive, and by this I don't mean live in a false reality, but understand that this trip is a month out of your life...it will end and everyone soon goes back to their own lives!

Culture was the other factor that influenced this trip in a big way -- obviously!! I mentioned it briefly above but considering we were in another country on the other side of the world, culture would have to play a large role! I learned so much about culture I do not know where to start! I think it is just one of those things one has to experience on their own. I can talk a bit about culture shock though. It is real, and it does get easier. It isn't just about the people. It's about the heat, the smells, the food, and everything else in between. It is part of travelling, and the trip would be the same without it! Just about the time I was leaving Indonesia, was when I was really starting to enjoy myself and really did not want to come home!

My life was impacted hugely by this trip, and has influenced me greatly. I would love to go back, or use my experience and try somewhere else. The whole trip was about perspective, we all have different ones, and need to respect that. What was really great for one, wasn't so great for another and vice versa. Having the best attitude possible and keeping an open mind and heart and the best tools you could employ!

Anyways, goodbye for now,

Janine D.

Amaryllis School

The Amaryllis School is a private school for children with different learning abilities and challenges. Currently there are 17 children ranging in ages of 7 to 19. The children are separated into different classes based on their abilities and ages. In each class there are no more than 3 children for one teacher. There are approximately 12 teachers and they rotate through the classes based on what they are teaching to the students.

When arriving in the morning the students start their lessons from 7:30 am until 9 am. Then they have a break for 15 minutes and classes commence again from 9:15 am to 10:30 am. At this time the younger students leave to go home while the older students have a break and another session of lessons start at 10:45 am to 12 pm.

Each of the lessons are designed to focus on the needs of the individual children and they also try to focus on curriculum that is mirrored by government curriculum. There are 2 children who are currently studying under government curriculum. Some of the other lessons focus on some basics such as numbers, letters, reading, and grammer. There are also some lessons with the focus on social skills and vocational learning.

The role of the practicum student was to teach and interact with the children through games, songs and activities. There were many opportunities for the practicum student to demonstrate their skills and build relationship with the children and teachers. This was a great opportunity to see how a different culture relates to special needs children and to see some new techniques on teaching to these children.

Hospital Day Care

The hospital day care is a day care situated at one of the hospitals in Indonesia. It consists of a small building which also has a room where kindergarten is taught. The children range in age from infants to five years old. The average age of the children is about three years old. There are approx. 60 children and 14-17 staff members. The activities and format of the day care is very similar to those in North America as the day care format is based on a format out of Florida. The children are active in fine motor skills with such activities as colouring, building, manipulating materials, learning about hygiene, water play, food play and other similar activities. The practicum student has done such as activities as finger painting, bubbles, song, and reading as well as working with the children during their daily activities which are similar to those the student has introduced.

Yogyakarta

This past weekend we went to Yogyakarta. This is another major centre with about 4.8 million people.

We all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly!! There was a lot to see and do there. Yogyakarta is famous for the shopping and decent prices! We shopped until we dropped! It is also a beautiful city with a slower pace than Surabaya.

We went to the Borobudur Temple, a very large Buddhist temple with an incredible view of Mt Marapi (a volcano!). We also went to a beautiful beach and saw and incredible sunset, rode in a pony carriage, and some of us braved a motorcycle ride!

Yogyakarta is the Javanese "highlight city" as Bali is the centre of the Balinese culture. The people were lovely and accommodating as always and our tour guide was comical!

We really had a lovely time as a group and learned a lot about group process throughout the trip! Definitely a recommended stop if in Indonesia!!

Pondok Hayat

Pondok Hayat is a facility for single expectant mothers. It is a Christian organization and is funded by donations and a church. There are about 35 children ranging from 0-4 yrs. The staff is made up of paid, volunteer, and there is help from the mothers who have had their child or are still living there.

The mothers usually arrive at the facility when they are 6 months pregnant. Pondok Hayat will accept any woman of any age or religion for any reason. After they give birth they usually stay for an additional 2 months. If the mother decides to keep her baby rather than give it up for adoption, it is during this time they will be able to have support for raising a child.

The students at this placement are speding two hours with the preschool children (2-4yrs) every morning. They have attempted to introduce a structured play schedule to suit their learning needs. It has been noticed that these children do much better with additional supervision as there are 3 practicum students to 6 children at any given time. Normally there is only one teacher to 6 VERY active children!

The caregivers also requested lessons in Baby massage, hygiene, and growth and development. These teaching sessions were kept informal and conversational and the caregivers appeared to benefit greatly.

The mothers requested to have stretch and relaxation session as well as a time for questions and answers. The students also enjoyed themselves durning this time with the mothers and caregivers and learned just as much from the mothers and caregivers surrounding the cultural piece as they did teach.

Over all this placement was an excellent experience and a lasting relationship was formed!

Up date about our practicums

We would like to up date you all on what it is we are doing at our practicum sites, so in the next few post we will be doing just that!

Don Bosco

Don Bosco is a Catholic orphanage, run be sisters and care givers. This practicum site has a very positive feel as it is evident the love both the sisters and care givers have for the children. At this site the student there has been working with the sisters in a variety of areas, such as, nutrition, language development, hearing screening, baby massage, and child development. The toddlers and infants as this site are precious and the student at this site feels very privilege to be having such an experience. The language barrier between the practicum student and the children does not seem too much like a barrier as their ability to communicate non verbally is amazing.

SDN Menegal

SDN Menegal is a public elementary school. The student at this practicum site spends the morning going to different classes teaching planned English lessons. She has taught the grade five's and six's about Canadian geography and recently the grade 3's and 4's learned about Canadian money and value. The students at SDN are really enjoying playing Red Rover and Heads up 7 up. They are also teaching the practicum student how to play traditional Indonesian games and dances.

The practicum student at SDN is finding it challenging to be fully covered in this un-airconditioned school and there is a lot of confusion and chaos most of the time. Over all the practicum student at this site is finding this experience very rewarding.

Sorry about the technical difficulities

We apologize for the brief absence of posts as we were having technical difficulty with the web site. Currently it is all fixed so we will try and give you a summary up date!

Bali was beautiful and for most people a much needed break where we could relax and explore!

While in Bali we went to a few different beaches, one in particular was a water sport beach where we went snorkeling, wake boarding, boating to turtle island and para sailing. Another activity some members of the group enjoyed were taking a guided touring of Bali which took you to the other side of Bali and allowed for the individuals on the tour to see what the traditional Balinese villages look like as well as soak in the breath taking scenery. On our last day in Bali we went to a Hindu temple, Tanahalot, which was located on a little island just off the shore. We were not able to go into the temple as the it was high tide, but the sight of it was worth seeing. It was sad to leave Bali but it was also nice to be back at Kassanda as the Family who runs the guest house are lovely and the beds more comfortable!

Jase Testing Blog for Indonesia Members. All Fixed now.

Bali Bali Bali

We have made it safely to Bali for some rest and relaxation for a few days. We had the opportunity to experience the culture in many ways this first day. We have seen some traditional Balinese dancing as well as a traditional village. We are all looking forward to seeing some more sights of Bali and to enjoy the relaxing life style. The communication is still a challenge at times however there appears to be more of a Western feel to the atmosphere here and there are more individuals speaking English. We will be posting in detail about the rest of our Bali trip and some more practicum experiences.

Practicum Placements

At our practicum placements we are completely immersed in the Indonesian culture and ways of being. This cultural immersion has required everyone to adjust as well as question their ways of being in relation to others.

We have translators at our practicum placements which we are very thankful for but we have still found communication to be a challenge. Short conversations can often take an hour to two hours as meanings can be "lost in translations".

And when all else fails we use sign language!

Experiences all weekend

Hello everyone, we had an eventful weekend with many new experiences and some time to rest. On Saturday half of us went to an environmental education center while the rest stayed at Kassanda for some rest and relaxation.

The environmental education center, Pusat Pendidikan Lingkungan Hidup, is on the edge of a tropical forest on the side of the Penanggungan Mountain. At the center we learned about the many diverse plants and environments within Indonesia. The purpose of the center is to provide awareness and protection information about the Indonesian community and environment. We also went on a short hike around the village and up the mountain a bit to discover some of the medicinal uses for the plants in Indonesia. It was interesting to learn that the center has been operational since 1990 and has been very successful. Also learning that Indonesia has medicinal plants either similar or the same as Canada. This information is an asset to have learned.

On Sunday some of us went on a tour of Surabaya to discover the local interests. We ended up at a fishing village where we experienced a local market. We also had the opportunity to take a short trip out on a boat to some sand bars about 30 meters out from the shore where locals take their children swimming. After the boat ride we had the pleasure of watching a performance from local performers who were from East Java. There were about 20 to 25 people within the group and they were all family. Some of performance included a dance of four girls and a man eating and blowing fire. This was the most exciting aspect of our day.

On Monday we all took the day to prepare for our week at practicum and we plan on sharing those experiences soon. Overall our first weeks experiences in Indonesia have been exciting and there has been a tremendous amount a learning thus far.

We are completely safe

For those who have not heard, there has been a very small earthquake in East Java. We had not heard anything about it until a loved one from Canada informed us. From our knowledge there has not been any damage and we are safe in Surabaya. For those who are concerned about us there is no need to worry we didn't even know it had happened. We all hope everyone at home is great and we are having a wonderful time exploring the culture.

Practicum

Our first official day of Practicum was on Thursday. We all had to be up bright and early to leave for our placements. The car ride there is enough to wake ANYONE up if they are still sleepy! The traffic is incredible. It's full of motorcycles. The cars are all in a jumble, there is no single file rule here in Indonesia, that's for sure. And if there is, no one adheres to it!

Thursday and Friday were interesting days for us all. We all arrived back to Kassanda after Thursday's practicum and decided we needed an outing to clear our minds! We were overwhelmed to say the least, but in a way that was to be expected. And after our day on Friday we all realized we are going through what is called "Culture Shock". We are needing to learn better communication skills not only with those at our placement, but with our translators as well.

We are learning that all of the feelings we are having are normal and part of this entire experience! They are what makes the experience real and - for those of you who want a big word thrown in - "Phenomenological".
Culture shock is not something we can experience in Canada but we can use this experience to enhance our care of others in our diverse Nation!

We will keep you "posted" on our practical experiences over the next couple of weeks.

Traditional Market

We were invited by some of the locals from Kassanda to accompany them to a traditional Indonesian market. The market had many floors and was extremley hot! The locals guided us through a maze of vendors and people as we browsed through the market. We aquired some followers as the children were very curious of these strange giant white people and wanted to practice their English. One memorable sight was how many of the women were carrying bundles on top of thier heads. This was a unique experience full of different sights and smells.

What an opportunity

Indonesia Time: May 23rd 2007, 10:50 am
Canada Time: May 22nd 2007, 8:50 pm

Yesterday most of us had the opportunity to visit our practicum sites to grasp a sense of what we are going to be doing at each of them. In the morning we visited Don Bosco orphanage and day care and the Amaryllis Special school.

It was interesting to watch and interact with the children. Some of them seemed completely comfortable with us while other children appeared to be shy. This interaction seems very similar to how children in Canada react to new people or situations. When we would bring out our cameras the children would crowd around excitedly to have their pictures taken. Then they would come even closer to see what the picture looks like on everyone's cameras. In the afternoon we visited Ponok Hayat which appeared to be greatly influenced by the Christian religion. At the center there are approximately 25 children including the babies who were sleeping peacefully 3 to a bed. The workers appeared to be passionate about what they are doing for these mothers and children.

Today we visited the our last two practicum sites, SDN public school and the Hospital Daycare. Most of will be starting our first days at practicum this Thursday so we look forward to describing our experiences

Salem from Indonesia!

Indonesia Time: May 22, 2007 1030am
Canada Time: May 21, 2007 830pm

We had a great day yesterday! We all had the morning to spend time together and relax, however the instructors were straight to work at the University! Some of us ventured out to the Internet cafe to catch up on our emailing and blogging! It is incredible to be on the other side of the world and still be able to remain in contact with friends family and blog readers!

In the early afternoon we all went to Widya Mandela University to meet the students from the Psychology and English Departments who will be our translators at our practicum placements. We were all slightly apprehensive about meeting new people and about the potential language barrier. Once we were there however, we had a great time. The Indonesian students were kind and curious about us as were we of them! There is great potential for friendship and one of the Indonesian students has already visited us at Kassanda House. What a diverse culture there is here especially when it comes to religion.

We are still adjusting to the heat, the food and the different culture, but we are managing just fine!

Over the next two days we will all be visiting our placements and will post about our experiences there as soon as possible.

* On a side note: For those who are interested in posting on our blog please feel free. We would appreciate however if you are wanting to contact a student individually to send them an email! Much appreciated.

Safe and Sound in Indonesia!

We arrived safely in the evening on May 19th in Indonesia! We received a warm welcome from the staff from the guest house, our drivers and University.

Much of our day yesterday, May 20th, was spent orienting ourselves to the area where we are staying. We have found it interesting how "Westernized" the malls are and the presence of English on most packages/items to buy. On our walk yesterday we felt as though out side the guest house and inside the guest house are like two different worlds. Out side the guest house the streets are dirty and bustling with people, cars and motor bikes (lots of them!). Inside the guest house the whole hotel is built around a beautiful tropical garden with palm trees, mango trees and a variety of plants and flowers. Each of our rooms open up to this garden, it is breath taking.

One highlight from our exploration of the area was our lesson on how to cross the roads, stop the cars and run!

We are still getting use to the heat and humidity, as well as, the time difference. Everyone is doing well and is excited for tomorrow, meeting our translators.

Hello from Hong Kong

Hong Kong Date and Time: May 19, 2007 1:50 pm

We have arrived safely from our 12 hour flight from Vancouver to Hong Kong. The flight was fairly uneventful and we are looking forward to continuing on our journey to Surabaya. We have started to notice how we are becoming a visible minority already and are finding this an interesting situation. We noticed a change in climate. It is humid and smoggy, and we can only see a silhouette of the mountains and sky scrapers that are close by!

We are tired as we have been travelling for many hours and the time change has been difficult to get used to. Once we arrive in Surabaya, the time difference is fourteen hours ahead of B.C. We are also putting our energy into group dynamics and team building. We have spent very little time together prior to the trip and have valued this time to build relationships.

We will attempt to post some photos as soon as we can. Our next post will be from Surabya, Indonesia!

Indonesia: International Expedition!

Eight University students from different educational backgrounds including Child and Youth Care, Early Childhood Education and Care, and Nursing, as well as, 4 instructors from Malaspina University/College, are embarking on an international trip of a life time! We would like to invite you (family, friends, Malaspina students and staff) to follow our international experience by reading our weekly blog.

As a part of our experience each student will have the opportunity to work within the Indonesian culture as a part of a practicum. The practicum sites are Don Bosco - an orphanage/nursery and day-care centre, Pondok Hayat – a home for temporary stays for young mothers and babies, Amaryllis - a special school for slow learners, and SDN DUkuh Menanggal II No. 425 - a state-funded elementary school of approximately 300 students in a working class area of Surabaya.

We will also have the opportunity to experience the culture of Indonesia and many of the local sites. After our arrival we will determine our additional excursions, which could include Mount Bromo, Bali, and Yogyakarta.

We will be departing on the evening of May 17th from Victoria airport and are due to arrive in Indonesia on Saturday May 19th. We are extremely excited and look forward to sharing our experience with all of you!

Some Personal Reflection

Well its been a few days back at home and it feels almost as if I had never left. It is so strange traveling from one reality to another and now in reflection I am trying to piece together how exactly these two could join.

Looking back at all my pictures (which I took a lot of, 2000, I think) I can easily recall my recent adventures in Indonesia. I can still remember the exact moment that I decided I wanted to go to Indonesia. I was checking my email stumbled upon an email which had information about an Indonesian trip I had a sense I wanted to go and immediately sent an email of inquiry. I have always wanted to go on an international study because of how the experience would add to my personal practice. And in coming back I now realize how much this trip will effect and enrich my practice in both ways I am aware and unaware of.

Some of my most memorable moments was when I stepped out of the air port in to the hot humid climate in Surabaya and thought to my self "what have I done!" I find it quite funny now but at the time I had myself quite concerned. It was amazing to notice how my body climatized itself over the span of 4 weeks. The first week and a half I felt the heat and the humidity and in the last couple of weeks I never thought of it and even occasionally shut off the air conditioning in the room.

Another memorable moment was my first road crossing. In Indonesia there are cross walks but they are not used like they are in Canada. Instead you use your hand with your palm open and facing the on coming traffic and you make your way through the mess of cars to the other side sometimes, actually, most times you were running! One of the instructors on the first day took the group in two sections and gave a lesson on road crossing. When it came to my turn I don't think I have been that scared for a long time!

When reaching the end of our two weeks friendships started to form between translators and Malaspina students. We had a chance to go to the water park, which was extremely fun and you didn't feel self conscious as it was the norm to cover up. There was even a slide which I thought resembled a ride at Disney Land, it was so scary and I often wondered the safety of the ride but it sure didn't stop me from going back for more. It was very sad to say goodbye to our new friends. They were all very generous people who had a wonderful sense of humor and were so giving and were especially helpful at our practicum sites. Many of us on the trip are and will continue to keep in touch with these new friends.

My practicum site was that of Don Bosco, Infant and toddlers. I loved going to my placement everyday knowing the children would be there and be happy to see me, as well as, the sisters and caregivers welcoming presence. I had an opportunity to learn a lot about culture and explore how the orphanage was run and why. My observations and participation at this site helped me to see a reality that you often only hear about. There are some practices regarding discipline that you would never hear of in Canada and if you did well there would be trouble. It was interesting to note how well the orphanage was run and the love that both the sisters and caregivers had for the children. Also how well they utilized what they had was something I noticed. In Canada we have so much and don't realize the hard ships some people face because they don't have near the amount of luxuries we have.

While at my placement I learned to step back and observe and be mindful of my "western views". Stopping and questioning why do I think a certain way and is that the only "right" way or are there alternatives? Looking at culture and context was very important. Also reflecting on what my culture is and what is it that I value helped me to identify cultural difference as well as understand these differences. Imagining how I would feel if someone came in and started questioning my culture and diminishing its importance was something I thought about quite often. I was very concerned with respecting the culture and was eager to learn more.

In my personal practice this awareness and critical reflection of culture in general, as well as, my culture is something that will be present. Having the ability to recognize, appreciate and create an environment where culture is acknowledge and encouraged will have a positive effect on my practice and help to strengthen it.

It was very sad leaving Don Bosco and the thought that I would not see these wonderful people again was not one I could entertain until I left the placement on my last day. They were such generous, kind, and grateful people, who I will never forget!

I feel so lucky to have had this experience! There was really nothing that could have prepared me enough. In looking back I am so glad that I stumbled across this opportunity and I am thankful for those who helped and encouraged me to accomplish this experience.

I am going to miss Nasi Gorenge Aym for lunch and dinner everyday, the Muslim call to prayer at 4:30am every morning, the traffic and disregard for road lines, the adrenaline rush while crossing roads, the geckos scurrying around on my wall, and last but not least the lovely warm and inviting Indonesian people.