The morning of October 31st in the Teachers Room, Bapak Suntono (SMAN 1 Demak’s headmaster) announced a holiday he called “Pumpkin Day.” Though no pumpkins made an appearance, the students and teachers at SMAN 1 Demak still enjoyed a Halloween full of candy and surprises.

ETA Sarah Wozniak introduced teachers and students to Halloween and “trick-or-treating.” Later that night, English Club students visited her house for a Halloween party. They played lengthy games of UNO card games, listened to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and were paid a visit by their “fairy godmother,” Ibu Yulia Mufarichah (an English teacher at SMAN 1 Demak). Their fairy godmother and her sister were also accompanied by some assistants: a black cat, a pink fairy, and two ninjas. During class and at the party, students and teachers swapped ghost stories and experienced how language animates the imagination–and that goosebumps transcend translation.

Sarah Wozniak is currently teaching at SMAN 1 Demak, Central Java