Islands hopping

Well, hello again to you, all. Do you still remember me?

After a while, a decent internet connection! That's what I thought when I got to the office of HKI in Makassar (South Sulawesi island)....but, of course, not really :( Electricity is kicking out almost every hour (it is actually a problem of this office only as it has small power capacity and no backup) and therefore, the internet connection as well. Plus, the office locals have an "official protocol" how to set it up back to work, meaning not everyone in the office can do it (even if he/she knows how to do it), but only for that purpose officially "trained" and "designated" person can perform this task. If this person is out of the office...then, yes, the internet is not working :) I think this scenario is actually worst (for the internet-wired mind...as mine) than just get use to a fact that there is no internet connection at all.

So, after I arrived, I wanted to provide you with some update about me and Indonesia. But...things progress in slower pace. I am not sure if other Google people noticed, Google doesn't allow you to cut and paste...or is that just me? What I was trying to do was to draft my blog on a blank page (out of my blog), but I am not able to transfer it/copy it to my blog site (and same experience with Gmail). Any suggestions here? (Besides, to quit Google?)

Anyway, what I wanted to really share with you is...that I have actually finished my 3rd round of the teachers training! Yes, I am in half of my way throughout Indonesia....and only one more group to instruct. About a month ago, I left my apartment in Jakarta with one suitcase, one small backpack, my laptop, yoga mat and at the airport I added my personal assistant/interpreter (named Lina)....to get through variety of Indonesian islands. I have to admit that, so far, my journey was a wonderful and stimulating experience....meeting great people, seeing new and different places - even if not always completely cheerful or highly esthetic (to Western standards). But, I guess, most of you who traveled abroad to not so developed world might share similar moments....if you had a chance to go out to the local community.

So, I left Jakarta (West Java) for training in Solo (in Central Java). Solo is really a small city, if compared to Jakarta, of provincial character surrounded by rice fields, and one can notice that by a dramatically decreased number of cars...not motorcycles, though. (I already know by now that motorcycles are everywhere Indonesia...in endless numbers.) Even the HKI office is modest and it is also the newest (from all the HKI offices over the main islands). Things are happening a bit slower here, generally. To my surprise, the office and even my hotel had wireless connection....because, as I could learn, it is afterall cheaper...yet, as I could also learn, way slooower (as it's open to everyone). Geee...real advantage. But, it did not have to bother me much as I forgot my wireless card in Jakarta. No wonder you did not read from me while in Solo, even though, I was actually quite busy there, socially that is. I was doing training all day (from 8 to 5) and after I finished the office staff wanted to talk...as they were new in all this and barely meet someone (Czech) like me...I was tired when heading back to my hotel which was quite lovely (wait to see the pics!) and really looking forward to a little solitude...(hotel had swimming pool, gym and HBO!..great for rebound).

I have to say that I was really nervous about doing the training in such culturally and geo-politically different country; not sure what reactions to expect. And I was so happy and relieved to find out that my first training group in Jakarta was so accepting...and appreciative...and that overall training was so smooth. I could test my training structure, materials, games, jokes...and interpreters. I got better feeling about my Indonesian audience and realized that my training might actually be Indonesia-accessible (even if some modifications would have to be done). Jakarta group was of perfect size (11 - 12), rather experienced teachers, wanted to learn and paid great attention (if not sleeping...as some of them had to wake up around 4 -5 to beat the city morning traffic or simply commuting about 2 hours each way!). Half of the participants were men, generally more responsive than women and cracking some jokes. Well, this Jakarta group took it way easier than I did...and they provided me with a very useful feedback. So, thanks again, to them all. My post-training classroom visits were great experience as well...for all of us. I found out that they really care if I see their classrooms...and that for some of them it was really emotional moment. As they told me, I gave them a new hope in their uneasy task of teaching deaf children (mostly from poor background)....and they hug me a lot...and took a lot of pictures with me. Well, they all gave hope to me that my journey in Indonesia will be worthy. (Picture of my Jakarta group provided previously.)

My experience in Solo was quite similar...sincere people...even if group dynamic was slightly different. This group was dominated by women, some with a strong orall-approach background and belief. At least, this strongly oral-method oriented schools were private and had somewhat pretty classroom environment. They could be schools with great achievements if only children were early identified, provided with hearing aids and coming very regularly since early childhood. Parents in Solo area were poorer than in Jakarta and most children did not come to school very often. Some teachers had 3 students, but only 2 came on regular basis. Even if there is no school tuition, parents still needs to pay for books, pencils..uniforms....and also for transportation which might be sometimes too expensive as too far. Some parents are also ashamed to send their children with special needs to school...or simply, and sadly, they dont see a need to send them to school. Therefore, I usually spend my first training day explaining teachers that they should be the one who advocate for the children ....for their education, everywhere and with everyone. I even talk about this conceptual model of disability...I think that they are actually getting my point only that mostly they are stuck in the system machinery...It almost seems that someone (like, well, me) needs to explain the whole concept to principals...and government...and everything will change? Hmmm.... I told them that they need to have more pictures and prints in their classrooms as deaf children are visual learners...and they said OK and did it. Geee....are things really that simple? (Hint, nobody told them this before!) The schools are generally in miserable conditions, sadly looking (usually dark) rooms with old furniture....yet, being a teacher is a good and secure position with a governmnet and therefore, sought out especially by women (salary is not that great, though...as always). Schools visit is always fun as I am meeting with children, yet, painful together. Simply said...there is lots of talking talking talking to ...deaf ears.

While in Central Java, I have also attended a celebration related to launching emergency preparedness program for schools with children with special needs in Jogja (back in Jogja, already familiar place). It was a great example as one "Samaritan" organization (mix of German and British) realized that the emergency plan they developed (related to tsunami and earthquake) is not accessible to population with special needs. So, they actually developed new ones with help of local disability community, tailored to their special evacuation-mobil-communication needs. Obviously, most challenges were related to communication needs of deaf children...Even if the shooting of DVD took place in oral schools, participants were preferably using sing communication...and even this "oral" teachers, when trained for emergency situations, had to actually use signs to communicate with their deaf students. (And then, back to the oral way.) Well, well...what a pathetic world.

It is also fun as I am a big attraction there..."white lady is visiting"....everyone wants to touch me and/or take a picture with me - not only children, but adults too. I sometimes feel like Angelina J....(hey, they ALL tell me I am "cantik"....beautiful!). And also that my skin (still white as not expose to Indonesian sun much, yet) is bagus (good)...which is a bit scary and...annoying (after a while...from children who can barely say/sign their names!). Hmm....women are probably never happy about their breasts and skin-colors....(i just wanted to tell them that lots of white women are roasting themselves in expensive like-sun-ray-beauty salons...just to get a shade darker). Scary is that you can see commercials on TV implying that if you would have whiter skin you would get better job! Ironically, you can watch Oprah all day long here (you know, old re-runs) and in between dozen commercials for women about magical skin-whitening creams (white in 48 hours!)...that can bring them a model-job contract (white skin is a good business in whitening salons here). Well, even Oprah apparently can't solve all the problems in the world. And, even though Indonesian support Obama, they still care about and pay for having a white skin (racisism per se is taboo to them?). Once again, what a pathetic world we have....

From Central Java, lucky plane dropped me in Bali island...for my short break by ocean (far from HKI business). I was enjoying this summer like feeling by ocean and pool (and a bit roasting my white skin), and also did a bit sightseeing (wait to see my pictures!). Bali was busy but I can imagine that it probably must be worst during the full turist season (which is probably not that enjoyable place anymore); even now, it is hard to escape street-sellers...(offering everytying from postcards to real hand-made and just-for-you Gucci bags). And when browsing through the island (observing noble rice fields, monkey forest, coffee, people) you can discover how ridiculously overpriced furniture and home decore from Bali you actually buying in your favorite Piere 1 or West Elm (not sure if I will be ever able to buy something like that back in States, anymore).

After Bali, it was quite bothering to go back to the city...such as Makassar... which is a main city on the island called South Sulawesi (and is 3rd biggest city in Indonesia). Well, time to get back to business...It was one of the hottest day when I landed in Makassar and lucky for me, the AC in car did not work. This time, no hotel, but a room in HKI house (downstairs offices, upstairs rooms)...not far to go to work, right? Well, as I have finished the training, the set up actually worked well....only, no place where to really escape and people are very social....And I get lots of invitations to visit this and that...and have dinner with this one and that one....and people just want to chat about everything. It was actually challenging sometimes ...as this training group was my biggest so far...and it was notso easy going at the beginning (or maybe, it was me who stressed once again?). Yes, I think I am a bit particular about things, but it is just because I really care that people get my points...and things go well (I have lots of handouts, lots of particular jokes, certain structure....and sometimes really not sure what is lost in translation). But, this group reaction was really surprising...and even more emotional than in previous groups (tears in participant eyes!). Maybe, it was also because we had a deaf woman present (just wanted to be present during the training, and had an interpreter)...and she was kind of serving and reacting as my "proofreader"? (Cheering up when I was talking about sign language...about ignorance of providing deaf children with visual stimulation...teaching them proper syntax...) Well, this group was pretty much all about oral method (when we started - one participant stating that "sign language is not human communication"), but all pro-sign communication when we finish. But...to crack the nut...one needed to stay focused and to play a big show (and be beautiful?)! Lucky for me, I could collect a decent number of authentic Indonesian examples while visiting schools and interacting with teachers which helped a lot when proving my points about creating accessible deaf education. (What also helped is knowing a bit of bahasa Indonesia...to be able to give examples related to language developement and language teaching). Otherwise, special schools are as miserable as everywhere in Indonesia. It is interesting to see difference in one building sharing mainstream and special classrooms; it is like to enter two different worlds. Once again, someone (well, like me) needs to come and tell them (to sped. ed. teachers..and all) very directly - can you godamn put some pictures on the wall for these deaf students?!
And I will have to do this all over, once again, with another group of teachers - next time in Aceh, Sumatra.