Gunungsari Work Camp

Daily Report,6 Feb 2007

2007-03-12T01:51:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, 2007.02.06 TAKU

There is a group. There is in Indonesia. Yes, there are eight volunteers! Yes, we are. Speaking of workcamp, we’ve spent 6 days as of today. Amazing, it was so fast. That makes me feel how quickly time flies.

By the way, I think my literature (?) is very dirty (Taku made so many corrections on his original repot—red), so from now on, I’ll write it clearly. Ye,yes,yes. Oops, I forget what should I write!! Ah..that is what we done today. Ok, let me tell you.

In the morning, may be we woke up around 7.00. Have breakfast and prepare we did, and we went to high school to discuss street children. Approximately 9.30, we arrived at school, and Taku and Jae Yun prrepared for cultural exchange. Taku wore “Yukata” which is one of the Japan’s traditional cloths. Especial for summer. Jae yun wore Korean’s traditional cloth which is “hanbok”, which is for older people usually, so he looks like little older (?) and I think it doesn’t match him (LoL).

In the bih room, I did cultural exchange and discussion. In cultural exchange, we could see “Javanesse traditional dance”. It was soooo amazing that I’ve never seen that kind of sexy dance. You know, the people who did the dance wore muslim clothes, so in term of cloths, it was not sexy. But their hands were so sexy!! Very natural, smooth and so on.....

Speaking of us, we also showed them each traditional dance. In case of Japan, Taku danced “Awa dance”. According to him, that was kind of joke dance b/c looks so funny!! And also every students got a laugh, so it was good way to get attention of students. In case of Korea, they introduced their flag, and Chinese caracter, which is called “Hanji”. After that, Jae Yun also tried to dance, but he seems feel shame, so it was so so....... then, we did discussion with students about street children. Unfortunately, it was unsuccessful in terms of our plan because we did only 10 minutes for discussion, so it was not enough. I hope to discuss that again, but we have no time. Oh, tite (tight—red) schedule....

In the lunch time, we have a “Ramun” and “ Ayu eggs”. Both are very good.........! Actually now I’m very sleepy. I don’t want to write anymore. In fact writing in English is been long time for me. It’s like for 5 months when I wrote English last time. Wow, now, in the house, 4 ladies are sleeping! And 3 boys are waking up. Boys are strong!! We walk around local region in the after lunch, and played something.

In the night, we had Japanesse class, but it was bad because except Taku and Mai, they didn’t join program. Taku and Mai felt lonely, so I hope this was first time and last time (sorry....So Hee was sick, and there were so many troubles at that time T_T—Indri)
Tomorrow we have Free day....!!!

PS. And, So hee, take care

Daily Report, 5 Feb 2007

2007-03-12T01:42:00.000-07:00

Monday, 2007.02.05

Hello, everyone! I’m Jae Yun. Ho...ho...ho.. ^o^ This is my first time that I keep a diary in english except for my vacation homework. So, I worry about this little. But I’ll do my best!

Today, we visited kindergarten. We departed at 09.10am maybe. It was a little late. But we arrived on time, fortunately. After introducing ourselves, we entered one class. Children were smiling, but they didn’t come to us. Just kept their position. I disappointed to their behaviour a little, but it was very impressive. We introduced ourselves to children simply and sang Indonesian children’s song together. Of course, I just clapped and danced. And then, we taught “Gom Semari” with dance. They were so smart. They learned so fast. After that, we acted the drama that we prepared yesterday. This is the ticket!!!
Name : Brush Your Teeth
Actor/Actress : Narration—Ayu
Bacteria—Jae Yun, Indri, yeny
Lazy Girl—So hee
Teeth—Seol, Mai
Hero—Taku
Perform time : about 10 minutes
When : 2007.02.05
When : Kindergarten ( I don’t know the name of that )

We couldn’t practice enough, but it was very good I think. Did children accept our message? Well... I don’t know. I hope that they did. We came back home by walk at noon. It was so.... hot --.--;;

Taku made spaghetti for lunch. It was very good. Thank You Taku!
After the lunch, we asked children’s dream and reason. They want to be a soccer player, singer, nurse and so on. I really hope that the children get their dream. Dreams come true! Fighting!

In the evening we visited local leader’s house and introduce ourselves in Indonesian. The leader said somethings, the point was that he disappointed because we are not in his town?, but he wants us to take care ourselves. So there wasn’t big problem. When we come back home, it almost 07.30 pm. We were late for class. Cooking team prepared a dinner quickly (including me), and others taught “folding paper’ (exactly crane) to children. While rices were made, I also helped them to teach folding crane. It was very difficult for me to teach folding crane. Because I can’t speak Indonesian and communicate with children, But I and my group children made two crane. Wow, I did my best. I am proud of me, Ha..ha..ha.. ^^. Anyway, we had a dinner ( Sushi ) at 09.30pm and discussed tomorrow plan until 0.30am --.--;;

Our schedule is very tight everyday.... So I’m very tired. But, otherwise, I can do many things for someone and learn many things because of tight schedule. So I love it and it makes me happy. Maybe, everyone is thinking as mine. ^^ Okay,finish!
Have a good sleep.^^;;

Jae Yun
PS. Actually, it is 8.30 am now (2/6)

Daily report, 4 Feb 2007

2007-03-06T06:55:00.001-08:00

Sunday (Ahad)* Feb 4, 2007
*Indonesian + Arabic

Hi, all! It’s Ayu. This day we woke up very early in the morning, 5.30!! We had to go to SimpangLima, to meet the real street children. We departed from the house around 6.20 and we could reach the Simpang Lima before seven. Some of us were very surprised of the sightseeing. There were so many people in the down town, and also so many motorcycles there. It was kind of “occasional & traditional market” in the city yard with so many things be sold and bought. We found out that so many parents told their children to beg in Simpang Lima. The parents just waited somewhere, and collected the money. Some of the children still go to school, but some of them don’t. Also we found teenagers. They are also street children. We found out that they were pushed by their parents to go begging. But they said that younger children could make people easier to feel pitty, so some of them don’t want to go begging. They let their younger brother to beg, instead of doing by themselves.

The breakfast was bubur ayam (Indonesian Porridge). After that we went to internet cafe for about 1 hour. We also went shopping in the supermarket. So many things we bought, like beef, mushroom, tuna, spinach. We headed home after the shopping. I washed the dishes, even though I was the cleaning team, because the day before I didn’t wash....

It was great lunch. We ate bulgogi, Korean food made of beef, and little bit of carrots, onions, ??? I like it. We have the Indonesian food similiar with that one, called “semur sapi”. And we had melon for this lunch. OK, it was impressive lunch, we could say.

The nutritional assessment went very well. I was excited. I just realized that I love children, more than I thought before. Maybe I will consider being a pediatrician. Some of the children asked me whether I would inject them or not. Maybe because of the handgloves that we have worn or everytime I opened their sleeves to measure their upper arm circle ( arm circumstance ). Approximately 20 children came. I would make the resume of the data. I hadn’t made of it. After the nutritional assessment we prepared to go for the free time. We planned to go to the hot spring, and then we have dinner in a fine Indonesian restaurant.

We couldn’t control all the things that would happen in the future. Apparently, after we were in the green car (public transportation) for more than 1 hour, and walked in an ascended pathway which was sorrounded by very beautiful scenery and thick fogs—it was very cool up there—we found the hot water pool was empty! So sad... Then we only went to the near the small waterfall, washed our feet, and took picture. After all, the scenery was very beautiful. Small rain that fell through our head couldn’t stop us to be amazed by the beauty of the nature.

The cool and fresh weather could ease our tiredness. I felt we enjoyed the long journey, although we couldn’t mandi in the hotspring. Just small mandi, put water through our feet, arm and face.
We decided to have the dinner instead of trying to find another “pemandian air panas” (hot spring). Of course after having some minutes of discussion and considering one place to have the dinner. The name of the restaurant is “Djaikem”. We had nasi goreng and mie goreng, but mine was so—spicy, so hot! I enjoyed it, but so sorry if the place that I recommended was not very great or satisfying or impressing. So sorry.... >_<

Daily report, 3 Feb 2007

2007-03-06T06:51:00.000-08:00

Saturday, 3 February 2007

Hello. My name is Seol Seung Hwan. But, these people call me Seol. Because my name is difficult. Today is third day after beginning. In this place, there are so many children. This camp’s theme is “take care of street children”. But until this time I can’t think this camp is not for street children. These children are very bright.

Today morning, we prepare health education, medical check up. Health education is about fever convulsion. Maybe convulsion is common disease. So we should teach the mother how to deal the sick child. We decided to make poster. Indri went to her university for her study. She is medical university student. So we should prepare with Ayu. Before that we played with the children. We played the game “hide and catch”. Suddenly Aji throw a stone to Erna. I don’t know why, but he was so angry. So we were very worry about him.

Ayu should go down for her parents. Her mother came here. So we should make lunch except them (Ayu, Indri). It is so hard. Because rice is different with Korea rice. So I don’t know how to make. But other Mom helped us to make rice. We make “Ju meok bab” for lunch. In Korea I often make it. Because it is easy to make. He..he..he.. But I miss “Kimchi” so much T_T Indri came here with my losted towel. She had a difficult to find it out. I was so sorry to her.

Next program was drawing with the children. They draw “Doraemon”. The picture was funny. 777 (kekeke). So many pictures were drawen. Very interesting.

At dinner time, we make “mie goreng”. Mie goreng is kind of noddles, like a “bibimmyeon”. But difference is with begetable and chicken. We said delicious! Delicious! It was really really delicious. ^_^
After dinner, mother of children came to this house. Actually I can’t understand what Indri says. But I know what the main is. Jae yun demonstrated him self. Many people smile for him. I think he has very good mind. And we sing a “Gom semari”. They are very Tomorrow morning, we should get up so early. Because we will go to simanglima.
Actually we are so tired because lots of people work English. But I feel very proud. I c I so expect remain days.

Daily report, 2 Feb 2007

2007-03-06T06:44:00.000-08:00

Daily Report
Friday, 2 February 2007

Hello.... This is Indri who makes the first daily report. Ah... it’s really hectic day. Especially for me who couldn't sleep last night.

First, we had a breakfast at 08.00 am. We had bread and jam for breakfast. And also chocolate (I don’t need to mention the detail, right?)

And then we had also cultural exchange preparation in the morning after the breakfast. We made a poster of song. The title title of the song is ‘Gom Semari‘. In the afternoon, we taught that song for the children. They do really enjoy the program. And I’m glad they are very clever. They already could sing the song after we finished teach them.

It was surprise for me, when I was going back for from praying the participants made a surprise party (because this is my birthday. He...he..he.. This is my 19th birthday). They bought a chocholate cake for me, thank you so much, arigatou gozaimashita, gamsahapnida, mucho gracia, mercy beaucoup.

Next, the evening program. We got language class (Korean Language). Actually we got some troubles before the project. The rain was falling down and the electricity was suddenly turned off (unintentionally). So we had to wait the electricity and also the rain to stop then the children will would come to the camp site.

But thank God at 08.00 pm the electricity already turned on, so the program could run well. At the first, the children was shy to go to in front and speak Korean, but at last the children did that. I love the children, they are so smart.

At 08.50 pm we finished the language class, but the children not went home right away. We did some traditional games after the language class because the rain falled down again.

We really finished the activity at 09.30 pm because we would have a meeting. After the meeting we had a crazy game (007 game) to decide the turn of ‘mandi’. And like the day before, we went to bed (actually we went to sleeping bag :D) very late. At 00.30 am Taku couldn’t stand anymore and said that he wanted to sleep, so all of us had to finish our interesting discussion. OK that’s all. I hope the next day will be more exciting and interesting.

3 Feb 07 06.37 am
Indriy_shevchenko

PS:
- We had soup (Indonesian soup—Indri featuring Ayu’s soup) for the dinner. ^_^ It was just like a romantic candle light dinner.
- And we ate Korean food for the lunch, but I’m sorry I forget the name. It was made from rise cake. Thank you......

The Story Begin

2007-03-03T22:58:00.000-08:00

Hi, this is Indri who trying to make a blog about Gunungsari work camp. A crazy but meaningfull work camp for me, may be also for another participants ^.^

Gunungsari work camp ( WC ) was held in February 1st 2007 until February 14th, 2007. Two weeks we lived in Mr. Teguh's house and had so many activity there. There were 7 participants. Taku Ishizuki & Mai Nakazawa from Japan, Moon Jae Yun, Kim So Hee, and Seol Seung Hwan from Korea, Indri Hapsari Putri & Darmawati Ayu Indraswari from medical students, oops sorry... I mean from Indonesia :P And we also got help from Yeny Kusuma Wardhani, one of active member of IIWC ( Indonesia International Work Camp ).

Our main programme is to help the "street children". Yeah, we concern about street children, especially in Gunungsari, one of poor area in Semarang city, Central Java, Indonesia. We didn't give money or material to them. But we delivered our knowledge, sharing experience, and also gave them some new knowledge about another country ( cultural exchange ).

Our ideal is, there are street children no more in Semarang. But it's too far to reach T_T So, we shrunk our purpose in this work camp just to prevent the children in Gunungsari to become street children.