Let's start understanding, let's spread positive energy, let's build peace!
March 6-13th, 2014, I joined a cultural study camp held in Yogyakarta by Japanese NGO - Alternative Project. This project's participants were five Indonesian students (from Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia) and eight Japanese students (from Nippon Bunri University, Japan). In this project, we did some cultural activities like Indonesian religion workshop, contemporary puppet making, dancing, and playing gamelan (traditional instruments from Indonesia). We also had voluntary work in an elementary school - Sanggar Anak Alam - to teach Japanese dancing and cooking.
What I've learned from this camp was: STOP PREJUDICE.
At the first time I met with the Japanese students, they were so quiet.. I mean, they ignored Indonesian students. Indonesian students were sitting in one corner and the Japanese just walked passed us, said nothing like we weren't there. Even when we started talking and introducing ourselves to the their teacher, the students still ignored us. My first impression was: wow, they are not friendly at all...
But but but, just after one day, it changed 180 degrees. They are NOT not friendly. In fact, they knew how to have fun and willing to invite other people to have fun with them. We talked, shared, and sang together. Some people were serious, yes. But it didn't mean that they were not nice to talk to.
When I told them about my first impression, they admitted that they were shy people in the first meeting. So, it didn't mean they were arrogant people. Yeah sorry, my bad for judging them only by first impression...
So so so, every person has unique characteristic that we cannot understand only in one meeting.
Give time a chance and we will understand other people better.
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| Visiting Hindu temple in Yogyakarta, Indonesia |
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| Beach time!! @Indrayanti Beach, Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta |
Well, the camp was only 8 days but it felt like it made me knew them for years! Love you, guys!!
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