KangGURU Travels to Sumatra June 2006
with Sue

Sue went to West Sumatra in mid-June to present 3 KGRE Teacher Workshops - in Solok, Payukumbuh and Lubuksikaping. Sue also visited Gapilar Radio in Solok for an interview with the team there.

My journey to West Sumatra began on Saturday, 17 of June with a flight to Jakarta. I had to stay there overnight, ready to catch the early flight to Padang on Sunday morning. I used to live in Jakarta and so while I was there I took the chance to catch up with some old friends. But it wasn’t a late night because I had to leave at 6 the next morning for my flight to Padang.

Mid-morning, on Sunday 18 June I arrived in Padang and was met at the airport by a smiling Ibu Cici and her husband Pak Afrizal. Straight away we began our journey to Solok. After stopping to buy some refreshments for the children we left the flat rice fields around Padang behind and began to climb the hills towards Solok. There were lovely views on all sides and around 12:30 we stopped at a roadside café for lunch. This was my first taste of real Padang food in West Sumatra and very delicious it was too!

Soon after that we arrived in Solok and I checked into the comfortable Caredek Hotel.

After a short rest Pak Afrizal picked me up and we went to Radio Gapilar FM to meet the presenters Johny Riri, Elsi, Vera, Wiko, Sisi, Sophie and Awan. They were eager to practice their English and they had lots of questions about Kang Guru Radio English. On July 2 nd, Radio Gapilar will celebrate their birthday and I recorded a happy birthday message to play on the station later.

Then at 5 o'clock Riri and I entered the studio and for the next hour we invited listeners to call in with their questions in English. We had 7 callers, who all practiced their English on the interactive show. Lovely to hear you out there in Solok. That evening Ibu Cici, Pak Afrizal and I went to the new home of Pak Dodi, the head teacher of SMKN 1 Solok, where his wife had prepared a delicious home-cooked meal for us. We were joined by two other visitors to Solok, and everyone agreed that home cooked food always tasted the best.

The next morning, SMKN 1 Solok was the venue for the first workshop. Students from SMKN 1 opened the event with a song they had learnt from KGRE, accompanied by a lone boy on the guitar. Well done everyone. Pak Dody and Pak Afrizal had invited several local dignatories to open the workshop, and after several opening speeches students from the school then treated me to a colourful West Sumatran welcoming dance.

Pak Dodi told me that the costumes and make up were made by the students themselves. Great work girls. Then the workshop was underway. Despite the heavy rain we had over 100 participants.

We all had a lot of fun doing a variety of activities and games from the KGRE in the Classroom Teachers Packages, and some activities from the latest edition of the magazine. When the workshop was over I met with students from the Solok area. They had lots of questions for me and each of them received a copy of the latest KGRE magazine. Some lucky students went home with KGRE prize packs which they had won by getting the most correct answers in a quiz. Before leaving SMKN 1 I visited the TV studio at the school, where they make their own educational programs.

Before setting of on the drive to Payukumbuh we went via the town and I took some photos of the unique transport in Solok called betor. These are made of a scooter, like a Vespa, with a capsule on the side where the passengers sit and many betor congregate outside the market waiting for passengers. Why is it called a betor? Well it’s half becak and half motor! Unfortunately I didn’t have a ride in one as it was still pouring with rain and although the capsule looks quite cozy I had a long drive to Payakumbuh ahead of me and I didn’t want to get wet. Look out for a photo of a betor in the next edition of the magazine.

The drive to Payakumbuh took about 3 hours. Unfortunately heavy rain obscured the views but the clouds cleared occasionally and I caught glimpses of the surrounding mountains. We drove along lake Singkarak and Pak Afrizal stopped to buy us some small fried fish, which are a popular snack and unique to this lake. All along this road from Solok to Payakumbuh there were lovely examples of Rumah gadang, the old traditional houses of West Sumatra. Next time I visit this area I hope I have more time and the weather is better so I can get out of the car and take more photos.

When we got to Payakumbuh we stopped at a restaurant for dinner before I checked into the Hotel Mangkuto at about 9 o clock. I organized my things for the workshop the next day while behind the scenes Ibu Cici and her husband worked into the small hours of the morning printing certificates. What a long day we all had!

At 7:30 Tuesday morning we went to the venue for the next workshop. There were already many teachers eagerly waiting and after and enthusiastic speech by Pk Ir Irfendi Arbi. MP we began the workshop. Despite rain…again…teachers had come from near and far and we had a great day doing activities from the KGRE packages and KGRE quizzes.

After the teachers had received their certificates I met with students from the area. They were a little shy to begin with but by the end of the session they all had something to say and were enthusisastic joining in the games. Keep practicing your English everyone!

Soon it was time to leave Payukumbuh. Thank you to the committee for the lovely gift, they are all a perfect fit. At 5:30 Cici and Afrizal drove me to a meeting point where we were met by Ibu Ence’s husband, who was going to drive me to Lubuksikaping. A very big thank-you to Ibu Cici and Pak Afrizal who looked after me so well in Solok and Payukumbuh. I hope you managed to have a well-deserved rest after I left.

The drive to Lubuksikaping was via Bukittinggi were I managed to jump out the car for 10 minutes to take a photo of the famous clock tower in Bukittingi town square and look out at the surrounding countryside. Then it was the on the road again and what a windy road it was from Bukittinggi to Lubuksikaping! The driver was very careful and we stopped for a tea break after about an hour and to give everyone a chance to unwind! By now the rain had begun again and it was already dark. Onwards!!!! Ibu Ence phoned ahead and ordered food at the hotel so when we arrived at 9:45 a delicious meal was waiting for us.

The next day Ibu Ence picked me up at 8:30 and we drove to the Bupati complex where the workshop was to be held. Wednesday 21 st of June was a very busy day in Lubuksikaping, there was judging of a competition for the cleanest, tidiest town in the area as well as a sports competition for elementary schools from neighbouring areas. Most important though was the KGRE workshop!!

Ibu Ence and members of her committee opened the workshop and before long the participants were enjoying a number of activities from the KGRE packages and picking up tips and ideas to motivate their students. The day ran smoothly thanks to the great organization by the committee and at there was an enthusiastic response from the teachers attending the workshop. After the workshop I met with another group of students and we played some games, quizzes and learnt a song. We all had fun and there was a great photo session at the end of the meeting. Ibu Ence and I were relieved it was all over and went for a drive to a beautiful setting on the side of a small river to relax.The bubbling brook and sounds of the jungle were very soothing and as the sun began to set we set off back to her house.That evening we called in to the SD where the school sports were being held and I met all the teachers and many of the students, including the proud little girl who had just won the badminton competition. Again there was another photo session before we set off to go to the big screen which had been set up in front of the Bupati’s office to give everyone in Lubuksikaping a chance to watch the World Cup. Ibu Ence’s daughters were very excited as they had never seen anything like this before, even when they had lived in Australia.Finally I got back to my hotel about 10:00 and packed my bag ready for the early start in the morning. At 5am Bidan arrived to drive me back to Padang. Guess what? I was raining again!!!! But Bidan was a good driver and after stopping for a couple of breaks to admire the scenery through the clouds he dropped me off at Padang’s new airport for my flight back to Bali. Thank you to Ibu Ence for all your organization and your husband and brother for all the driving they did. I hope you all got a chance to relax after I left.

A big thank -you to all three areas in West Sumatra who invited KGRE to present workshops. It was lovely to meet you all. I hope next time I visit the rain has stopped so I can see some of the beautiful scenery you were telling me was behind the clouds!