On December 5, ETA Shannon Pinzon introduced her mother, Mireya, to two very important women at her school, Bu Budi, one of her co-teachers and Bu Jumiati, one of the vice-principals at her school with whom Shannon has formed deep relationships with over these past five months.

For most of the day, as they all took a tour around the kota, Bu Budi and Bu Jumiati went back and forth with Mireya about their relationships with their children and enjoyed having mini-language lessons together, with Shannon acting as the translator.

Mireya learned a little Indonesian while Bu Budi and Bu Jumiati learned a little Spanish. It was a very special time spent together over some delicious, traditional Malang dishes. On this same day, the four visited SMA Lab together to show Shannon’s mother where she has been spending most of her time these past five months.

Overall, being able to share her school and community, and most importantly, introduce her Indonesian family to her mother was undoubtedly a highlight of Shannon’s first half of her grant year.

Shannon Pinzón is currently teaching at SMA Laboratorium UM in Malang, East Java.