National Teacher’s Day started with a bang at SMAN 1 Manggar as students set off firecrackers after the morning assembly! It coincided with Thanksgiving week in the United States, so it was a great opportunity for ETA Mary Breen to discuss the differences between celebrations in the US and Indonesia.

Teacher Appreciation Day at her high school in the US was marked by the students and parents bringing in a special breakfast for the teachers. In class, she introduced common foods and traditions from American Thanksgiving to her 10th-grade classes. Then, they finished a unit on invitations by planning their own Thanksgiving party, using Indonesian and American traditions. The students were very impressed by the size of a roast turkey, but most also decided the menu would be better with nasi goreng (fried rice).

For lunch, Mary joined other teachers for a special meal featuring nasi goreng and the vegetable cah kangkung. They discussed Thanksgiving too, and Mary found out that it is more fun to compare and contrast holiday traditions over a table of food! This year, Mary is thankful for sharing meals and for everyone who has welcomed her to Indonesia.

Mary Breen is currently teaching at SMAN 1 Manggar, East Belitung.