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!!