Preparing for voyage aboard the 'Prince William'<\/p>\n
Tantri Almira Wardhani, University of Malang\/Malang, East Java<\/p>\n
I am one of the young persons selected by ENCOMPASS Trust
\n(www.encompasstrust.org) to partake in the sail training
\nadventure aboard the Tall Ship, Prince William, with the Tall
\nShips Youth Trust (www.sta.org.uk) in the United Kingdom from
\nNov. 5 to 19, 2005.<\/p>\n
The name of the program is The 5th Voyage of Understanding
\n2005, which is aimed at promoting tolerance and understanding
\nbetween people of different cultural backgrounds through
\neducation, travel and fellowship.<\/p>\n
The program will include about 30 young people (18 to 23) from
\nseveral countries in the world, including Israel, Indonesia,
\nPalestine, the United Kingdom and the United States. Indonesia
\nwill be represented by nine university students: me (State
\nUniversity of Malang), Hamidyah Qutsi (State University of
\nMalang), Rila Kristanti (Brawijaya University of Malang), Singgih
\nKiswantoro (State University of Malang), Dini Privea (Brawijaya
\nUniversity of Malang), Nada Yangrifqi (State University of
\nMalang), Septiana Butar-Butar (Brawijya University of Malang),
\nResi Yusfiki (STIE Malang Kucecwara Malang) and Romadhona
\n(Brawijaya University of Malang).<\/p>\n
The nine of us were selected after applying with ENCOMPASS
\nTrust and the YEPE (Young Pioneers). As all the participants of
\nthe program will pursue exciting mental and physical challenges
\non the Prince William, myself and the other eight participants
\nfrom Indonesia took part in pre-voyage activities in order to
\nbetter prepare us before setting sail on the real voyage. The
\nfirst training session was held at the Citius Training Center in
\nJakarta from Sept. 2 to Sept. 6, 2005. We had a lot of activities
\nthere dealing with the preparation before our big trip. I will
\nshare stories about that.<\/p>\n
I really enjoyed the daily activities at the center. I learned
\na lot of new things. I got some valuable and interesting
\nexperience there. What I liked the most was when we went scuba
\ndiving. It was nice! I found that before diving we had to make
\nsuch a careful plan. We had to know the area where we wanted to
\ndive, identify how deep it was, and calculate how much air that
\nwe needed underwater. We also learned how to prepare our scuba
\nequipment. We had to make sure that the equipment was all
\ncomplete and was in good condition.<\/p>\n
There were many other things that needed to be considered as
\nwell. For instance, we were not allowed to dive alone and,
\ninstead, must be accompanied by our friends called "buddy". We
\nmust also have good health and were not allowed to take drugs or
\ndrink alcoholic drinks before diving.<\/p>\n
Diving was not the only activity that impressed me much. I
\nreally loved the moment when I had the HUET (Helicopter
\nUnderwater Escape Training). It was challenging. What I learned
\nfrom HUET is that when we are in a helicopter and an unexpected
\nbad thing occurs, do not panic easily because there is a way to
\nsurvive in that kind of terrible situation.<\/p>\n
Another activity was Sea Survival Training. We were trained by
\nprofessional instructors to survive even in bad conditions in the
\nmiddle of the sea. It was nice.<\/p>\n
We also learned in a classroom. We learned about navigation
\nand knots. As we will run the ship, at least we have to know
\nabout navigation and how to make knots.<\/p>\n
In addition, we learned how to do presentations in front of
\nmany people so that we are able to communicate well and have good
\npresentation skills. There will be a cross-cultural night on the
\nlast day of the voyage. The voyagers will have a discussion
\nsession and will discuss about the issues in the world;
\nespecially world peace issues. The voyagers will also have a
\nchance to present their culture, such as dancing the traditional
\ndances or singing folk songs.<\/p>\n
A large group of young people concerned about world peace
\nissues will be on the ship, making friendships without thinking
\nabout the differences between them. What good news in view of the
\nnumerous problems that undermine world peace today!<\/p>\n
My experience did not end with the pre-voyage preparation. On
\nthe last day of training, we had a party in one of the cafes in
\nKemang. We had fun there until midnight. I had a great time
\nduring the pre-voyage activities. I feel very lucky to be one of
\nthe participants of the Fifth Voyage of Understanding 2005.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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