ETA Nitika Johri lives in Salatiga, a town in Central Java, known for its tolerance and acceptance within Indonesia. Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana (UKSW), one of the universities in Salatiga, is known to attract students from all over the country, making UKSW and Salatiga incredibly diverse. It’s fondly referred to as “Kampus Indonesia Mini.”

In April, Nitika was able to attend the Indonesian International Culture Festival at UKSW, where students displayed, performed, and discussed the different islands, cultures, and traditions that they hail from. Nitika was lucky to meet students from Sumba, Sulawesi, Nias, Maluku, Papua, Sumatra, Flores, and Kalimantan, all while on the same campus. Each region had their own booth, so Nitika was able to taste food from each region and ask about the ikat (traditional woven cloth) and other items on display. Students also put on different performances, from traditional dances to musical shows.

Nitika felt lucky to be able to participate in an event, make new friends, and learn so much about Indonesia’s diversity without having to leave her city!

Nitika Johri is currently teaching at SMAN 1 Salatiga, Central Java