When ETA Payton Storey arrived at SMAN 3 Kota Jambi in October, students eagerly asked him questions and conversed in English. But since he was still getting his bearings and needed to attend to other things, he did not indulge them heartily. So, while occasional nibbles of conversation vented their curiosity, students’ questions continued to build, more topics gathering like a storm. Then the semester break came and went, and Payton felt ready to start a new project. As it was, the break had refreshed his students too, and they were eager to discuss all manner of things, so Payton and they founded the American Exchange Club (the would-have-been protests dissipated, with a collective sigh of relief).

For their first weekly meeting, Payton and a host of students began by discussing American high school culture, particularly the all-important sport of American football. Being from Texas, where football is the lifeblood of school spirit, Payton narrated with electrifying detail the raucous stadiums, tense touchdowns, and how students would do all sorts of things to support their home teams. His students compared these to their own school spirit and to how they would cheer on their favorite soccer teams before learning to play table football together.

The conversations about American and Indonesian high school cultural comparisons continued into the following week and continue to this day, including topics such as homerooms, uniforms, and “Just what is it that the other gender talks about?”

Payton Storey is currently teaching at SMAN 3 Kota Jambi, Jambi.