Indonesia as kids see it
Indonesia as kids see it
JAKARTA (JP): Last month the Jakarta International School --
Pondok Indah Elementary -- celebrated Indonesia Week. They
experienced batik artists, gamelan performers, a wayang kulit
master complete with an evening performance, and a school-wide
assembly on Friday.
David Zehms, a third grade teacher, asked his students to
write a letter to the editor of The Jakarta Post about something
that they have enjoyed here in Indonesia as part of their
homework assignments.
Following are some of those letters.
Dear Editor,
I have been in Jakarta at least two-and-a-half years. I am
amazed that Indonesians are so creative. One day a batik artist
showed up at PIE campus. The batik is very interesting because it
just looked so neat. The batik artist was able to make such fine
work with just simple things: hot wax, a cap, some cloth, a cold
cushion, a dye or two, texture and a pip with a sort of tube on
the bottom of it.
I used to take Indonesian dance. The Batak dance was pretty
hard to learn. When I heard the music it felt as if it was moving
inside me. The music made me feel happy. The moves were very soft
and gentle. When the dancers performed, the wonderful costumes
and flowery headdress looked so beautiful.
I loved the way the Indonesians put a lot of imagination in
their work.
AILA PECK
Dear Editor,
My name is Jay. I enjoyed having a holiday in Indonesia. I've
heard The Jakarta Post is the best newspaper in Indonesia. Why
don't you make a newspaper for kids? Every child would like it.
When I grow up I want to be an editor like you. If I have time I
will write you again.
JAY
Dear Editor,
I enjoy reading The Jakarta Post. My class went on a field-
trip to Sea World. I really liked it a lot. I liked the tunnel
and the Touch Pool. The tanks had so many different kinds of
fish! In the tunnel I felt like I was really swimming with the
fish! I thought that it was really neat. When the men dove in to
do the hand feeding everyone crowded around it to see but some
people could not fit. I think that it is a good field-trip for
classes that are studying sea life to take a trip to the
Sea World.
EMILY FISHER
Dear Editor,
I really enjoy going to Taman Safari because you can see many
kinds of animals and even touch some! My favorite animal is a
lion so I especially like it when we drive through the lion's
part. I see lions, and sometimes I see lionesses, at different
times, but never together and I know why.
I also like driving through the monkey's part, they act so
funny! Once I was watching them through the window and I threw a
monkey a peanut. But then, another one saw this and grabbed it so
the one that I threw it to was angry because he or she had gotten
it first. So he or she grabbed it back. They went on like this
until I threw another peanut to the one that didn't have it.
Then, finally they were satisfied. Well, I really enjoy going
there. (I already said that.)
LAUREN RICHIE
Dear Editor,
I like the Indonesian food here. I will name a few kinds. They
are: mie goreng, nasi goreng, sate and lots more. I also like the
fruit in Indonesia. I will also name a few kinds. I like salak,
rambutan, jambu and a lot more. I like Carita Beach. My family
usually goes there on Saturday and Sunday. Whenever we go there
we swim and chase the chickens. We almost always buy shrimp (I
don't like shrimp). Whenever we go to Puncak we almost always buy
rabbits (I don't think we will buy a rabbit next time because we
already have a rabbit).
RUTH MORRIS
Dear Editor,
I have been in Puncak two times. I like this place because the
climate is cold and there is a lot of vegetation. I enjoy the tea
plantation. I also went horseback riding with my friends. I also
like going to the Safari Park and watching the animals. In the
afternoon I like to go swimming and perhaps enjoy a good
barbecue. We also go to the mountains to have dinner at a very
good restaurant. Puncak is a lovely place to go with the family.
THAI MARIE ESKILDSEN