August 17, 2018 marked Indonesia’s 73rd Independence Day. Friday morning, ETA Amanda Cahn’s celebrations commenced at her school SMA Don Bosco in Padang, West Sumatra. Students and teachers took part in the flag raising ceremony, which included patriotic chants and songs. After the ceremony, Amanda returned to the orphanage where she lives to play traditional games with the girls and fellow ETA Sophia Lopresti. Saturday morning, Amanda and Sophia attended the Padang Independence Day parade, which included select students from the area dressed in traditional outfits from different locations and cultures of Indonesia.

The festivities continued on Monday, when students and teachers at SMA Don Bosco came together for traditional games and competitions. For example, student groups sang the national anthem back-to-back, competing for the best scores. Students also participated in lomba makan kerupuk in which contestants race to eat the deep fried crackers hanging from strings. Amanda even got in on the action, competing on the teachers’ team for tug-a-war. It does not matter whether the students’ or teachers’ team won, since everyone are all winners here. Indonesian pride was in the air during this Independence Day weekend, as the community shared their culture and traditions with the ETAs.

Amanda Cahn is currently teaching at SMA Don Bosco Padang, West Sumatra

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