Published on October 26, 2011 at 6:01 pm by aiesecid.
Filed under story.
Like zomg guys where do I begin? I guess at the start and I will keep going until I get to the end and then stop.
I arrived in Surabaya, Indonesia two months ago to complete and AIESEC internship with the NGO Tunas Hijau. On the plane I contemplated the long chain of unlikely events that had led to me being here and was considering the next two months with excited apprehension.
Collecting my bag, passing through immigration, having my bag searched by customs, leaves me passing through the doors saying Selemat Datang. I scan the area for the AIESECers, I see them and wow, they are short. Our first conversations are funny and different to what I’m used to. I’ve been to Japan before but I feel this is much more ‘eastern’ than Tokyo.
The first month of my TN sees me in the paper 3 times and on radio twice – so famous huh! I really get on well with the other interns and am so glad this is a PBoX (Project Based On Exchange). After a while I start to realise there are some big cultural differences between Indonesia and Australia (who’d of thought it!). I’ve thousands of kilometres away from my parents and have been making decisions for myself for a long time. Here I’m dependent on everyone and it can be really frustrating.
It takes me a while to learn how to handle this situation but I feel I get it after a few more weeks. You have to be ‘pushy’ I think – well more than I normally am. More vocal about what you think and be honest. In Australia if I don’t like something or someone I can normally maneuvre my way out of it without having to confront anyone but here you can’t. With my new social skill set I manage to get along much better with all the Indonesians I work with. I was the favourite intern by far – sorry mandy, pasquelle and curtis but did you get a special fish barbeque when you left where people begged you to stay? I don’t think so.
To those reading this and think I’ve got a big head blame it on the media! (what don’t we?) By the time I leave I’ve been in the press more times than I can remember and am sure I classify for like some kind of C list celebrity. And it wasn’t just the pros taking the shots. I only wish all the teachers, students, and random members of the public who took my photo would publish them on facebook! My photo count would be in the 1000s. I now sympathise with Brad Pitt and Jude Law when they complain abou the papparazzi: “all I want is an orange juice…ok one photo.”
My best memories of my TN in no particular order are:
Bromo trip on the last weekend with the AIESECers so glad to spend some quality time with you gusy.
Ijen trip with Pasquelle – we proved the world that two bules could survive three days alone.
Mojokerto trip with Tunas Hijau – milking the cow, my jawanese host family, Trekking up Pacet with Mandy stopping every 5 minutes, riding down the mountain in neutral on the moto while the sun was lighting the sky but hadn’t yet risen.
Coffee Bean and Tunjungan Plaza – oh we had some good times here didn’t we guys (minus 5 cultural points for spending so much time here)
Selling clothes at the Market on the first day – hahahahahaha I had two hours sleep then Nizar and me had to carry a clothes hanger (like they use in a clothes store to hang clothes) on a motobike. His arm was stretched forward and mine was stretched back. This was the most stereotypical image ever and was hilarious.
Motos in general – I love riding a moto. I was a bit nervous at the start but by the end I had carried: backpacks, food, compost bins, piles of bamboo, aforementioned clothes stand and a myriad of other items while riding. I also mastered not holding on, texting while riding and police evasion.
Rafting in Probollingo – it was awesome, mandy and yvonne not being able to swim made this much better.
The other interns – Pas, Mandy, Curtis and Yvonne. You guys were really fun.
My AIESEC Manager Dea – for all the calls to my taksi driver asking how to get home, for the driving to coffee bean, for the green car, for not giving up when the going got tough, for the “email” and for acknowelding me as the best intern with a mix CD; THANK YOU!
AIESEC SURABAYA – Nizar, Fickar (thanks so much for having me stay Fickar; best host brother ever), Ritzalicious, Citra, Cindy, Pera, Trisca, Andes (hilarious), Milla, Fandy, Lail, Marina, Yoga, Dion, Lita, Ruri, and anyone else I met at Orimont but don’t have a tagged photo of you on facebook.
Tunas Hijau – Mas Roni, Afif, Black, Brahm, Ferry, Narendra, Sugeng, Sucre, Dolong (I have no idea how to spell some of your names).
I’m sure there are lots of people who I’ve forgotten to thank for giving me such a rewarding Indonesian – feel free to send me angry hate mail.
I’d like to paraphrase Xavier Rudd now to reflect the environmental, social and cultural message that dominated my time in Indonesia and I think provides a link between our two countries.
“our ancient lands they have seen many hands,
they have wealth and gold but they are fragile and old,
and those greedy souls just wont care to know,
of the changes they will confront;
so speak out loud of the things you are proud,
and if you love this coast then keep it clean as it hopes,
’cause te changes it will confront,
With each gift that you share you may heal and repair,
with each choice you make you may help someone’s day,
Well I know you are strong may your journey be long and now I wish you the best of luck.”
