During the month of December, schools in Indonesia become consumed with end of semester testing. This leaves ETAs with the choice of connection to other communities outside of their host schools, traveling to another part of Indonesia to learn more about the diversity of the country, or simply relaxing and taking time to reflect before the new semester begins. Some ETAs put their time management skills to use and made time for all three. The December edition of the ETA Monthly Highlights reflects these stories. Read them below.
Many thanks to all of the ETAs for their wonderful stories and photos.
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North meets West Sumatra
For a weekend excursion, ETAs Nathan Danielson, Emily Thomas, Joe Miller, and Ammarah Rehman met at Lake Toba to enjoy December liburan. The weekend was a great opportunity to share experiences, challenges, and successes that each of them has had at their respective sites over the past five months. The conversations gave them ideas and.. Read More.
Student-Centered Celebrations
On Wednesday, December 11, 2019, ETA Joseph “Joe” Janik Miller participated in student-led efforts to celebrate the end of examinations and to kick off the holiday season. The Intra School Student Organization at SMAN 1 (National High School 1) Padangsidimpuan, abbreviated as “OSIS,” organized basketball, soccer, and volleyball tournaments among the classes at school. There.. Read More.
Closing Out 2019
In December, ETA Kush Mansuria had some extra time outside of school because students were taking their semester exams and the semester was wrapping up. Kush took some time to travel to India to attend his friend’s wedding and meet some of his extended family. Kush also got to visit a few Hindu temples and.. Read More.
The Journey or the Destination, why not both?
It’s two am and the irritatingly familiar preset alarm of an iPhone pierces the night air. For the first time since late July ETA Conor Jackman is cold, even as he is buried deep in his sleeping bag and in a tent occupied by two others — ETA Gabe Umland and ETA Joseph Miller. Just.. Read More.
Welcome Home
As things started to wind down at MAN 2 Bukittinggi, ETA Ammarah Rehman had an idea to visit her students’ homes during the semester holiday. Almost 90% of the students at MAN 2 come from local villages and live several hours away from home. Majority of the students live on the same street as Ammarah.. Read More.
Mushrooms? Lamak bana!
Much to his mother’s dismay, ETA Nicholas Navin does not particularly enjoy eating mushrooms. This changed, however, when the mushrooms are cooked by Nicholas’ students and become nothing short of delicious. Following the hectic final exams, MAN 1 Payakumbuh enjoyed a more relaxed period of various competitions and activities before school let out for December.. Read More.
Service with a Surprise
Both the students and teachers of SMA Unggul Del had had a tiring first few weeks of December – full of final tests and end of the year reports. The students, who live on campus, were especially excited about a break spent at home with their families. But before everyone packed up and went their.. Read More.
New Connections In East Lombok
After an exhausting two-day hike to and from Mt. Rinjani, ETA Janika Berridge spent the following day forming new connections in East Lombok. Local Hamzanwadi University student Fatihin hosted Janika and site-mate Lucy at BestOne Education, an English education center organized by members of the university’s English department. Janika and Lucy were welcomed by Fatihin.. Read More.
Holidays in Bukit Lawang
This past month, ETA Lindsay Smith has been busy cheering her students on as they prepare for their end-of-semester testing and enjoying some downtime at her site before the next semester starts up again! She has also had a chance to travel around the holidays. One of her favorite parts of this past month was.. Read More.
Revisiting My Site
ETA Michael Walsh enjoyed revisiting notable locations in his site after the end of his first semester teaching at SMKN 1 Tana Toraja. He was reminded of the beauty of Tana Toraja and its unique culture by visiting Lolai, a scenic, mountainous overlook that sits above the clouds with his sitemate ETA Angela Zhu. They.. Read More.
