For ETA Nicholas Navin, hearing the students of MAN 1 Payakumbuh talk about their plans for scouting, camping, or hiking activities is nothing out of the ordinary. In the nature-rich hills of West Sumatra, all of those activities are well enjoyed by many.

One week in mid-January, however, the excitement at school for scouting was a little higher than normal as the 10th-grade students were gearing up for their annual two-night weekend camping trip. On Friday morning, Nicholas waved the 10th graders off at school on Friday morning with the other teachers and remaining older students, and later that night visited the students at their campsite nestled in the middle of the hills. Arriving well after the sun had set but just in time for dinner, Nicholas sat down on the grass with a group of other boys, and they all dug into a student cooked meal of ubi and, of course, rice.

That evening, whether sitting around a plate of rice or whisking up a glass of teh talua (tea prepared with egg yolk), Nicholas enjoyed having a lot of time to chat with his students and hear their other stories of hiking, camping, or scouting, which occasionally also had strong mentions of the supernatural. Nicholas was glad to see what it was like to partake in a school’s camping trip, interact with his students outside of school, and learn more about the area’s customs and beliefs that stem from being tucked away in nature. 

Nicholas Navin is currently teaching at MAN 1 Payakumbuh, West Sumatra.