Kang GURU Travels to Ambon March 2008

Sue and Ogi headed to eastern Indonesia to the city of Ambon for a teacher workshops, a visit to RRI and meetings with students. Kang Guru plans to return to Ambon in July for a more intensive series of workshops and visits including to nearby islands such Seran and Buru.

We set off for Ambon, via Makassar on Wednesday 26 March with a suitcase each and four huge boxes. The weather was fine and we soon arrived in Makassar. Because we had so much luggage we were advised by the taxi drivers to get a HHP or was it a PPV – it was hard to understand what they were saying. Then one of them pointed and we understood – an APV!!! We loaded the boxes into the back and set off for the city. There are major road works taking place on the road into the city – perhaps in anticipation of the opening of the new airport and the driver took a different route into the city.

After checking into the hotel Ogi and I went straight to RRI Makassar. We met with Pak Nuryadi, Endang, a coordinator for English interactive and Sisca. We discussed the possibility of linking Kang Guru with an interactive English show on Pro 2 FM.

Ogi and I walked back to the hotel via Pantai Losari. It was early evening and lots of people were there meeting friends, exercising, fishing, eating corn and other snacks and just enjoying the fresh air and the view. We joined them for an hour – it was nice not to have to rush off to another appointment. Later that evening we went to a local seafood restaurant and ate some delicious seafood. Next morning we set off from the hotel in a regular taxi laden down with bags and boxes. It was a bit of a squeeze but we managed. There were long queues due to the road works and the road was quite bumpy but we made it to the airport on time. We arrived in Ambon about three and Paula and Ibu Non were there to meet us. Again it was a bit of a squash getting everything into the Kijang and set off for the hour long drive to Ambon city surrounded by bags and boxes.

The road to the city is quite scenic as it runs close to the sea. However along the route there is still evidence of burnt and dilapidated building from the conflict several years ago. At the hotel we went to our rooms and went straight out again for a walk round the city. Ambon isn’t very big and Paula and Ibu Non accompanied us as we ambled around the city. We returned to the hotel and unpacked and had a rest before going out for dinner. The fish was very nice!

Next morning at 8:30 Ogi and I went to SMA 2 Ambon where about 150 students from 12 different schools senior high schools were waiting for us. They were great. Most of them hadn’t heard of Kang Guru but promised to listen to the show in the future and they seemed keen to get the KG magazine. They had plenty of questions to ask about Kang Guru, scholarships and the best ways to learn English. We stayed till about 11 and finished off the session with three KG quizzes – one for the boys, one for the girls and one for the teachers. Ogi and I then went to SMP 6 where we met more students. Again, they were great. Lots of interaction and they were all very eager to take part in the final quizzes.

After retuning to the hotel to pick up more souvenirs Ogi and I went by becak to RRI Ambon. There we met with several members of the team including the Station Head and Pak Yacob, Head of Programming. We thanked them for playing the show but pointed out to them that the time early Friday morning wasn’t very good for students and teachers as they were already at school. They were surprised as that time of the morning is considered “prime time”. We asked them to consider Sunday evening and they promised to see what they could do.

Then Ogi and I went to the local DIKPORA Province office to meet with Pak Syukur Mony the Deputy in charge. As it was Friday he had gone to the mosque. We waited for some time and were beginning to think we would have to cancel as we had another appointment scheduled for 3 o clock. However just before three he came and we held our meeting with him. While we were there I was amazed to see that in several of the offices the staff were watching satellite TV! He was supportive of our ideas of visiting other places – not just Ambon city but fixing a time seems to be the problem so it doesn’t clash with national/school exams and the local election.

When the meeting was over we went by angkot to Kuda Mati. We got off the bus at the correct place and met with one of the members of Yayasan Siwa Lima. She took us to the house where the meeting was to be held. Yayasan Siwa Lima. We met several English teachers and other members of the Yayasan who are trying to educate and empower the people (especially women) in the villages using various methods. When that meeting was over it was back on the bus and back to Ambon. As a change from seafood we ate Chinese food that night! Later that evening Ogi received an email from Pak Yacob telling us that RRI will move KG to a new time slot at 8:30 Sunday evening starting on the 6 April! Fast work RRI, thanks - and great news for listeners in Ambon.

By 3:30 the workshop was over and all the participants had left. Ogi and I packed up and caught becak back to the hotel. Ibu Non and Paula joined us and we all went out to Natsepa beach for rujak Ambon and fresh coconut juice. It was lovely there and a great way to relax after a busy workshop.

Sunday we flew back to Bali – via the oleh oleh shop! We bought lots of Ambon specialities for the teachers and staff at Kang Guru and IALF Bali to try. The flight from Ambon to Makassar was very bumpy and we hoped the flight from Makassar to Bali would be better, but no, that was the same. Up and down. Up and down. It was a great feeling to land safely in Bali.