NewsletterJune 2015

My Time in BKPM Semarang

Living in difference

I wanted to go abroad and do volunteer work for many years. Finally this year I dared to do it and arrived in Semarang, Indonesia, on January 31st 2015.Actually it was not planned that I come to Indonesia, it just happened and I am very happy about it now. I have never been to Asia before so I had to experience a very hard culture shock in my second week.My fantastic Host family was very kind and tried to help me through it. They took me with them traveling and showed me some of the places to visit in central Java.I also met a lot of great People from my project side and Dejavato Organization I became friends with and spend my free time with.

My project was a small clinic right in the center of Semarang. I choose it because I am a nurse and was very curious to find out how it must feel like to work in another country. I wanted to get Information about the Organization in the clinic, the health system and of course some illnesses I have never seen in Europe before.

During my stay I was able to help in Physiotherapy and work hand in hand with the therapists. In 'Klinik Umum' I saw the first examination of patients and some treatments in the emergency room.In 'Klinik TB' I was introduced to the computer system they use to save the

patients' ID and accompanied a colleague doing home-visits to patients who stopped their treatment. The clinic also has a 'child clinic', a nutrition clinic and a stop-smoking-clinic. There is a laboratory and an x-ray, as well as a pharmacy.

From the beginning everyone was very curious to meet me and talk to me. After a short time I knew everyone in the clinic. The staff was also very kind to me. They took me to some places to see, like a small Hindu-temple in Semarang, to go shopping and brought me different types of Indonesian food to try. After a while even some patients recognized me again and talked to me. I think they were really happy to meet a foreigner and some of them even took some pictures with me.

The best experiences I made were living with the people, learning a lot about their culture and religion. One of my favourite Days was, when I first ate with hands like most Indonesians are used to do. It was a great feeling and the food tasted delicious. The only difference to the others was that I was dirty all over but in the next weeks I practiced and got better and better!

I hope to come back to this wonderful country and to the great people there.Going abroad with Dejavato was one of the best decisions I have ever made and no one can take these experiences and impressions ever from me.

My name is Juliana, I am Austrian, twenty years old now and since last year I have been a volunteer in Indonesia where I have been helping with the English lessons in an elementary school in Semarang. I started this volunteering project by nineteen years old just after finishing High school. Back then, many people in Austria asked me why I am planning to stay for one year in a far away and maybe even dangerous country. My main reason was that I wanted to experience a different way of life. I wanted to see how daily life can be, when you are not living in Europe or another western country. Then the people here in Asia also asked me, why I chose exactly Indonesia for that purpose, I answered them that I was fascinated by the many cultures and religions you can find in this country.

Soon I had to find out that adopting a different lifestyle is more difficult than I thought it would be. You cannot just leave behind your own culture you have been raised up with, or at least I could not do that. It felt strange not to say “Good morning” or “Good night” to the people in my host family and not to greet when entering their house. Even though it never bothered me that they didn't do it - since it is not their culture - but I felt myself like I am unfriendly. I also just couldn't come late to an appointment even though I usually had to wait for more than half an hour for my Indonesian friends. And then, when we shake hands in Austria the older person has to stretch out his or her hand first. It's impolite for the younger person to do that. I saw soon that this cultural rule is different in Indonesia, that here I can and even should stretch out my hand first but I was just unable to do that at the beginning. It felt wrong.

Other things were easier to accept; for example that the whole life is much simpler. In my room there was only a mattress on the floor with pillow and blanket, a small wooden wardrobe and a box where I could put down my books and some other small things - and actually that is everything you need to feel fine. In some way it was also nice to wash the clothes with my hands, to sweep the floor with a broom and to buy food at traditional markets, which are so dirty that nobody in Europe would ever buy food at a place like that. I never ever missed all the machines we have in Austria to help us with the housework - and going to a supermarket seems just boring to me now.

But what I started to like the most in this country is that people are interacting more with each other in their daily lives, not so much in their homes, but on the streets. In Austria so many things work automatically. I buy my train or bus ticket at the ticket machine, a screen shows me how long I have to wait and at with station the train will stop next. When I go to the supermarket I will probably greed the shopkeeper but then I will just give him the money and leave. And that are only a few examples. It has always been normal to me that things work that way, but as I recognised now that it will be like that again it made me a bit sad. Actually I like that I have to stretch out my hand to stop an angkot (small car – public transport) , that I tell the driver where he has to stop for me and sometimes getting a short smile when I am giving him the money. I like to bargain at markets and with the Rickshaw drivers even though I am not good at it and often pay too much. It is like we live our lives more together and not just next to each other.That is why I really like that many people smile at me when I walk down the streets in Indonesia. Some people say it is a dishonest smile, since that person doesn't know you and maybe even feels bad at that moment and still smiles. But in my opinion there is nothing dishonest in the wish to be friendly and to give an unknown person a good feeling by showing him or her smile.

Tim Redaksi:Dejavato Team (Dj Team)

Contact:Jl. Bukit Panjangan Asri

Blok M 7Semarang 50147, Central

JavaIndonesia

Dejavato Newsletter

I was accepted to be an EVS volunteer in Poland for 6 months. Actually, this is my first time to go abroad. So, I had rough days to collect documents for visa applications, go back and forth from my city to Jakarta. But everything was paid when I got the Visa and ticket to Poland. This is where all begins.

I arrived in Wroclaw Airport on 7 April 2015 at 4 pm. The first impression being here was so cold. Also I was messed up a bit here by an Airline Company that I took. I did not get my suitcase at the moment as I arrived. So I could not wear my warm clothes, because I put all my warm clothes in it. I went to the luggage claim office and they said they would send me my suitcase as soon as possible. So I continue my travel without my suitcase. Then I followed the instruction to reach the projects which took more or less 5 hours from airport. After long travel, finally I was welcomed by Indonesian volunteer who has been here before me. I stayed in the apartment building with 30 volunteers around the world. All of my pains were relieved when I met warm people in the building. It was beautiful night to end my travel.

Euroweek was my first time working. I worked with other volunteers to show about the cultures and do some activities to the students. After few days worked there I visited the school where I would work. I met the director and talked about my job there. My main job is to help English teacher which is having individual conversation with students or talking about specific topics. I am so excited for this job. It is all because I like around kids and students. Also I would like to show my beautiful country Indonesia where there are a lot of wonderful places to visit. Not many of them know where exactly Indonesia is. It is a great opportunity for me to introduce my country and represent my culture which is quiet different with Poland.

Welcome to Poland

Written by Yogi, Indonesian Volunteer in the UK

Just guess what's in June? A bundle of brilliant works and absolutely 'Summer Travelling'. Being busy in exploring the endless Birmingham's local wisdom whilst spending my spare time. Ah, fantastic!

I am an International Volunteer in Freshwinds, an organization which has been offering care and support without charge to adults and children living with life limiting illnesses, as well as individuals from socially excluded backgrounds. The clients come from HIV+, priority community, ex-offender, homeless, jobless, disable, and some others. Now, Freshwinds is representing Birmingham City Council to do Lifestyle Consultation. As the resolution for the small number of Birmingham people who access lifestyle services (Health Trainers, Alcohol & Drug Services, Stop Smoking Service, Physical Activities, Pregnancy Services, Children & Adult 's Weight Management, etc.), the city council aims to put them in a single hub supported by phone and online system. They are locally, easier to be accessed. For this master plan, we need to collect 4000 feedback from the citizen before July 12th. I really learn a lot of things which can build my competence so far, one of them is being a sales promotion. It is so challenging to persuade people in some ways using your foreign language, practicing orally.

I cross my fingers for their appreciation to my time and my works; we keep being active and gaining more valuable experience. I have my own saying here 'take the good, give the best, smile the world'. See you guys in July!

Freshwinds

Written by Lisa, Indonesian volunteer in Poland

Written by Juliana, Austrian volunteer in Indonesia

Written by Anna, Austrian volunteer in Indonesia