On November 10, ETA Jason Yan at SMK Krian 2 Sidoarjo had the opportunity to celebrate Hari Pahlawan Nasional (Hero’s Day) with his school community. With an early wake-up at 5 a.m., the entire school headed to a nearby village as the ceremony commenced to commemorate the fallen soldiers in the Battle of Surabaya. The morning air was still cool as Jason stood among rows of students and teachers, all dressed in their best ceremonial attire (he was dressed as an Indonesian general). From observing the flag ceremony to dance performances, and finally a skit organized by the students, Jason learned so much about Indonesian culture. He felt grateful to have witnessed such an authentic celebration of Indonesia’s victory

Later that following weekend, Jason also had the opportunity to witness SMK Krian 2 students at work outside of a school environment at their leadership camp in the mountains of Trawas. From learning about self-motivation to time management to effective communication, the students spent the weekend learning what it means to be a strong leader. At camp, Jason bonded with students and teachers through countless conversations. He even had the opportunity to lead a fun game of Human Knot, which taught them the importance of clear communication and teamwork. While it was a rainy and wet weekend, it was fulfilling, and Jason hopes to continue strengthening these relationships with the students and teachers.

Jason Yan is currently teaching at SMK Krian 2 Sidoarjo, East Java.