Indonesian Teachers Building Bridges of Learning and Friendship in Australia together with Australia sister-schools

Sixty teachers from Australia and Indonesia are currently building their sister- school relationships as part of a new education initiative to build partnerships and people to people links between the two countries. A further sixty teachers will follow the program later in 2009.

BRIDGE participants, both Australian and Indonesian, are invited to send their stories and reflections about their activities in Australia last March to KGI and have them posted on this website for other participants and fellow Indonesian and Australian teachers to enjoy.

Check some of the webpages about BRIDGE BRIDGE (March KGI AusAID Page) BRIDGE Pre-departure Training Going to Australia and the first 10 days there

My Experience in Australia - Sutra Riadi, SMP Negeri 4 Marga, Tabanan, Bali

It was the first time in my life I had a chance to go to an interesting country like Australia. I had many experiences when I was in this country. The hospitality, the discipline, the beautiful place, the busy of the Australian people were very exciting me. I had two home-stay experiences when I was in Australia. First, I stayed in a rural area (village) because my partner teacher is from a village. The village had a nice view with green trees, and fresh air in the morning. After school we went to the zoo (Walkabout Wild Life Park). I could see and touch the Emu, Kangaroos, Tasmanian Devil and the other natives’ animal in Australia. I could not believe that I could see them with my eyes, and touch with my hands.

My second experience was at Central Coast Grammar School (New South Wales, Sydney). It was very fantastic school for me, because the teachers, the students, the other staffs, and the facilities were very complete. I was very surprised when I had a chance to teach the Indonesian class. The class room was excellent; there were many Balinese handicrafts and Balinese Cultural Books. I felt at my own hometown at that time. The students were very interesting to study bahasa Indonesia and Balinese culture. They liked to practice their speaking skill in Bahasa Indonesia to me.

The other experience is when I stayed in the second of my host (the second bridge teacher's house). They lived near the beach. The house had beautiful scenery when the sunset time. I could not forget when my host took me to the Sydney Opera House. I just could imagine this place before I went to this well-known place. I could take pictures and touch this amazing building. Australia is always in my memory.  

Check out Sue and Kadeks' wikispace for more information and pics

AUSSIE IS GREAT — Johanes Budi Walujo, SMAK Kesuma Mataram, Lombok

I didn't imagine before that I would visit to Australia. So living and teaching in Aussie are a great unforgettable experience during my life and even is the most impressive travelling , just before I retire. Together with 30 Indonesian teachers, we were placed in different city in all over Australia. I got a duty to teach in Victor Harbor High School (VHHS) South Australia. Beside teaching I also introduced Lombok as one of interesting tourist objects of Indonesia, east of Bali, just likes Victor Harbor as a nice tourism coastal beach.

I stayed in my very good host, Ms Reena, an Indonesia language teacher in VHHS and her house is near the school. She lives with her husband, Jeff. Beside teaching he produces beer at home, so that we drank beer everyday. Wow ... great! but don't be negative thinking, I drank just a little for respecting to my host, because I had never done in my country. He said to me that Aussie beer builds better bodies? Yeah? Flaming heck! They also informed me that in Aussie we can drink sterile water from the faucet wherever we are. Wow, it's fair dinkum!

In VHHS, I taught the students about Islam in Indonesia, Indonesian Culture, Lombok island, painting, dancing, and singing. All of them were very enthusiastic listened and following the lessons. There are only 9 students in 11 year and 11 students in 12 year senior high school, It's different with my school in Lombok, every classroom consists of 43 students, very crowded and noisy.

Most of VHHS students like singing and dancing, one of them is Tari Gandrung (Traditional dancing of Lombok which describes a couple of teenagers fall in love). When I asked them whether they could show Austalian dancing, some of them spontaneously came in front of the class and danced together. They taught me Australian dancing -Hoeky Poeky. It's crikey!

Actually I had duty to teach at senior high school, but after the Victor Harbor Principals Meeting in Goolwa where I was asked to have presentation about education and culture in Lombok, some of them asked me to teach in their schools, and wore Lombok traditional clothes. So I also taught at Middle Schools and Primary Schools - I was happy I could promote Tourism of Lombok while teaching them. I taught them happily, I did fun teaching for them. When the recess, I heard some students told me - Pak Budi, teach my class please. I wished I hadn't had full program cos I like teaching them.

During ten days in Victor Harbor, there were principal, teacher's family, students, parents invited me to go for a picnic to Granite Island to visit the Zoo, to have diner in a restaurant and their homes. I got good chance to cook Nasi Goreng and Sate Kangguru for their family. Wow ... delicious ! They ate them up.

On Thursday afternoon, Mr. Peter Crawford ,VHHS Principal, invited me to join Teachers Tennis Competition. My partner was Mr. Peter opposed other partners. Finally, I and Mr, Peter won the competition. I have a certificate and they celebrated the victory in House Beach Restaurant. We're happy, we're the world ! Actually, until now, I am still amazed. No one ''bakso'' seller walks around the silent roads.

However, living in Aussie changes my English, my ICT to be better and the important one is I stop smoking. Aussie is different, fun, clean , modern and wonderful. Just great! If God allows me, I will be back!

Check out Johanes and Reena's wikispaces for more information and pics

Hasmi Taufiq — SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Denpasar, Bali

As one of the BRIDGE participants from Indonesia especially from Bali I ( Hasmi Taufiq ) was positioned in Southern Christian College – Kingston – Tasmania. Of course it was a good chance for me to explore this town especially the school. According to my friends and the tutors given our preparation that I was so lucky that I could know more about this area. Besides the beauty of its view, it also gave me hospitality or friendliness of the people.

First time arriving in Tasmania it was nearly midnight. Sonya, Scott’s wife fetched us at Hobart airport. She was warm welcomed me. It made me very happy. I thought it was a good sign for me to pass my ten days in Tasmania. Scott Ambrose, my partner and host as well, was very friendly since we were in Melbourne until arrived in Tasmania. He helped me much with my schedule in helping to teach Indonesian language in his school. I had also a chance to explain about my school, SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Denpasar Bali, and Indonesian culture especially Balinese one.

The most interesting thing that made me impressive was that most students and teachers were enthusiastic with my explanation in Indonesian subject. It also happened when I was given a chance to visit St. Aloysius and Tasmania Academy. They asked me a lot of questions. It, of course, made me as if I had been an important person. The other things were that they were disciplinary and the town was clean.

At week end my partner and his family took me to Mount Field. It was on Saturday, March 21st, 2009. We went into a forest where we could see a lot of big trees. I think we can mention them as giant trees, because the size was very big and tall. Near the top of the mountain I could see a very beautiful water fall. You can also taste how beautiful it was by seeing its image below.

The next day, Sunday March 22nd, 2009 we watched Australian animals in Bonorong zoo Tasmania. There I could see Wombat (I am sorry for not able to show you its image because at that time the batteries of my camera were not functionable), Kangguru, Koala, and also Devil.

KARTINI — SMAN 17 MAKASSAR

I felt I was lucky as ‘a duck’ be able to join the BRIDGE Australia-Indonesia Partnership project, having a study tour for 21 days in Australia. There were 30 teachers from East Java, Nusa Tenggara Barat and South Sulawesi. It gave me a lot of benefits and so did the other participants for both countries.

The project facilitated us to open our world and mind to understand and respect cultural diversities in many aspects of life: in educational fields, food and drinks, sports, transportations, cleanliness, shopping, some interesting places such as gas station, parking lots, etc. Also, it helped us know about wikis website as a collaborative activity with the partnership schools promoting the language capacities and culture as well.

I was impressive with the evening party meeting with the ambassador and consultant of Indonesia and Australia, some successful Australians e.g. Ms. Ellena, the AUS AID manager, the representative from MYER, the Director of Melbourne Uni, the director of Asia-Link, etc who gave a warm welcome for the BRIDGE project.

Staying with host, Geraldine, a Crusoe College teacher, I felt like home sweet home because she was very kind to me. I missed her very much. I got some previous experiences stayed with her. I was able to improve my English ‘dead horse/ sauce, doggy bag (people who take away the meal after eating it in a restaurant, /hu:ru:w/ or goodbye’, etc. Moreover, I found Australians are aware of using water, settling the rubbish, obeying the traffic regulations and so on.

In school, Crusoe College, I taught Indonesian class, observed classes, observed school facilities (very complete with specialist rooms e.g. wood work, technology, telecommunication, sawing, cooking, computer, etc.) observed students activities, and worked on wikis. Meanwhile, outside class, I was able to attend a meeting for Australian teachers who teach Indonesian and helped Indonesian lecturers at La Trobe Uni in Bendigo taught Indonesian too.

There were so many interesting places I visited in Melbourne i.e. Sky Deck, Public Library, Public Baths, Flinders station, Cathedral, Town hall, Victoria traditional market, Zoo etc. Furthermore, In Bendigo, I was able to enjoy Rosalind Park, Gillies pie, Bendigo market, the Land of Bush fire (last February), Lake Weeroona, La Trobe Uni, Botanical Garden, One tree tower, Choc Mill, Nation Pub, Ballarat/Sovereign Hill, a town of gold: everything reflected the OZ traditional life a long time ago. It was nice that I panned the gold there and got some pieces. Horee........

One interesting that I almost forget was Bendigo Cinemas. That’s a special cinema enable a single sex viewer. It is special for women. Geraldine and I watched the film “Confessions of Shopholic”. The actor was Isla Fisher, an Australian famous artist. That was so fantastic film. Australia is wonderful. Hopefully I am able to visit you again.