My Australian Journey (Part 6)

DAY 6 June 23, 2010
§ We Are the Country of Thousands Cultures §

The value of culture is its effect on character. It avails nothing unless it ennobles and strengthens that. Its use if for life. Its aim is not beauty but goodness. (W. Somerset Maugham 1874-1965)

Today’s English class was about Australian Lifestyles: living with host family. It’s more like sharing culture. The teachers taught them the differences between Indonesian culture and Australian culture and also ways to solve the problem of cultural shock. Using paper for toilet and no water was the biggest problem for most Indonesian students.
The next session was Buddy class, where the students met and greeted other students from all over the world who were studying at Hawthorn. This opportunity was used by the students to tell what Indonesia was like and also for them to gather info about their culture. This interaction was undoubtedly important especially when it was designed in the program. The students seemed to enjoy it and asked for more time. However, due to limited time, the request couldn’t be granted.
Then….the big moment for students finally came. Yes…today they were scheduled to have an art performance. The info about the show was broadcasted throughout the campus by Daniel through all LCD TV in all campus floors even though there were some protests from the students as Daniel mistype Nusantara into Nasuatra. The girls were about to perform SAMAN DANCE, the one they have prepared prior to the departure to Australia. They put on some colorful dancing apparel, but from the face I could see that they got bees in their belly a.k.a. very nervous. Chill out, ladies!!!! Calm down….give us your big shot and let their jaw drop watching your show!!!
Then all of us went to the cinema. I thought it would be around 50 people coming, but what made me surprised was that more people to come. The theater was almost full. It was around 150 – 200 people. Then…now I,..yes I, who began to feel nervous. Before the performace had started, I came to the lower stage telling the audience that we were going to perform one of Indonesian’s traditional dances, hoping they would enjoy it and let them now that we practiced it only 3 days in the middle of our final test. Then, Golda came forward to explain what the dance meant.
The applause shook the cinema as the lauder they clapped their hands the merrier the cinema. Next, the first motion of the dance started from the slow-mo to the brisk-mo. Once the first style of dance was over….again they give their big hands..and it happened until the dance was over. They still couldn’t believe how the girls could collaborate and dance in such quick way. In short…they were AMAZED!!!! Some of them congratulated the girls and didn’t stop praising them, while some others came to me asking what about the boys???? Would they perform another dance?? And I said yes we would. Some lecturers just said that the students were wonderful…and they wanted more. Okay, enough with the dance performance, it’s time to end today’s lesson. The show ended at 2.30 and the students were free to go. And the destination was……where else…City Center. What about me??? As the shepherd, I had to make sure that they were okay. So…yes..I went to City Center as well.
In the city, we just walked on our own direction because almost all of us were already familiar with Melbourne… Vini..Vidi…Vici… I happened to be with Dananjaya, Sarah Akip, and Riani. The plan was we would go to Shrine of Remembrance. I asked Danan what that was and he explained a lot. He always brought his mini map. Before going there, we had a change to Seven Eleven down the Southbank to buy some snacks and batteries.
We took the tram and got of in front of the Shrine’s gate. The Shrine was more like an old temple in the middle of the city. It looked like Roman Empire castle, but it’s clean enough as a public place. Unfortunately, when we got there the Shrine was about to close..so we just stood outside while taking pictures of the eternal flame outside the Shrine. At the same time, three soldiers lowered three different flags in front of the place accompanied by siren.
Despite my excitement, my legs seemed didn’t want to compromise. Yes… I felt ache all over my legs and feet. So..we were off from there and went to Flinders Station. We stopped there and I still saw some students were hanging around the street. I myself continued the journey to Melbourne Central station to go home and I still had a chance to have dinner at Nelayan Resto. I called Yudi’s cell phone telling him that I wouldn’t have dinner at home. He said yes, he would tell Annie about that.