Aceh teacher struggles to put on brave face

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

"Come on children, let's learn to recite a prayer...," says Siti Asma, 37, a kindergarten teacher for tsunami survivors, as she starts reciting a prayer.

The flock of Pertiwi Kindergarten pupils in Geuce village, Banda Aceh, immediately follows the teacher's instructions.

There are 15 first-year children in the classroom, ranging from four to five years of age. Siti tends patiently to each and everyone of them, arranging their school bags and dividing colored papers, always with a smile on her face.

At a glance, nobody would believe that Siti was also a victim of the tsunami. She lost her husband and one of her children. Her house was leveled to the ground. She nearly lost her life too.

She survived after being found floating in the middle of the ocean with wounds all over her body.

"I've been truly scarred by the ordeal, but I must not exhibit it in front of the kids. They are still small and they have to grow up in a happy way," Siti told The Jakarta Post.

Her motivation to teach is still strong, even though the disaster has devastated her life. Siti started teaching on the first day schools opened after the tsunami. The kindergarten was spared from the tsunami.

"I have a responsibility to teach. Perhaps, I can find some solace when seeing the antics of the children," she said.

She now lives with her two surviving children in a storeroom on the school grounds, which she has turned into an apartment.

Nothing was left of her belongings. The clothes she now wears have been provided by donors. "However, it is much better than living in those government barracks," said Siti.

She has devoted 15 years of her life to teaching. Her whole career has been spent teaching, playing and singing with children of preschool age. The disaster has greatly impacted her life, and it is quite hard for her to be the same as she was before.

"I cry when I hear sad songs, even in front of the class," said Siti. "The children always ask, 'Are you crying because your child was swept away by the tsunami?'"

The tsunami claimed the lives of many teachers and many others were disabled. Siti was fortunate that she is still alive even though she lost her husband and child.

Government data shows that there were more than 1,500 teachers who died or are considered missing, and over 1,000 were disabled and living in shelters for displaced people.

There are seven teachers from the Pertiwi kindergarten that were directly affected by the tsunami. Most lost their homes. Siti suffered the most.

Appearing before children with a smile and being jovial is required of a kindergarten teacher, and Siti Asma must struggle to do that. "Everyone knows how hard it is to keep smiling when someone is sad," she said.