September has been filled with excitement and much enthusiasm at SMKN 1 Kutalimbaru. ETA Brady Allen has felt a very warm welcome from his students and fellow teachers. During his first few weeks of teaching, grade 10 students got to know Brady and his life in the US through his presentations about his life and American culture. Brady is greeted with many “hello, mister” and smiles whenever he walks from class to class.

The cheerfulness and enthusiasm carry over to the English Club, which Brady began hosting this month. The English Club’s first meeting was a huge success and attracted more than 60 students. Brady started the first meeting with a presentation all about his life in America and elsewhere. He introduced students to his hometown, favorite foods, favorite sports, university, family, and friends. The students were thrilled with the videos Brady showed of some of America’s most beautiful national parks and the atmosphere at his university’s football games.

At the end of the presentation, a student asked Brady, “What’s your favorite song?” Nervous that he would be asked to sing the song in front of all the students, Brady responded with “Country Roads.” The students responded with cheers, leading Brady to pull up the lyrics on the projector. And so, the class began singing along to the famous song, “Country roads, take me home.” The karaoke session capped an amazing end to the first English Club meeting.

Brady Allen is currently teaching at SMKN 1 Kutalimbaru, North Sumatra.