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