Norwegian students have fun despite fears

Norwegian students have fun despite fears

Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Eight Norwegian students stood on a simple stage covered in red
carpet at the Kanisius College High School in Central Jakarta.
The Norwegian red-and-black-cross flag hung on as a backdrop.

With their usual carefree, indifferent teenage style and
smiling faces, the students -- aged between 14 and 15 -- took
turns to perform their traditional songs and plays as well as
introducing Norwegian culture and their way of life.

The students were participants of a cross-cultural interchange
program organized by the London-based Children's International
Summer Village (CISV), a non-governmental organization promoting
cross-cultural education for teenagers aged 11 to 19 years old
worldwide.

From Dec. 19, 2002, to Jan. 12, the eight Norwegian students,
accompanied by two chaperons, have been living with Indonesian
families and getting first hand experience about Indonesian
cultures and lifestyles.

While many student exchange programs were canceled following
the horrific Oct. 12 Bali bombings, the Norwegian students went
ahead with their plans to visit their Indonesian host families.

The terrorist attacks here did not seem to disturb or daunt
them. Nor the fact that there were foreign teenagers of their own
age among the 195 bomb victims.

Fourteen-year-old Lauritz O.V. Raustel commented casually,
"I'm not afraid. I read about it (the bombings) before I came
here. It (terrorist attack) can happen anywhere in the world,
even in the U.S."

His group-mate, Helene Gran Overli, also 14, confidently
quipped, "I don't think, whoever did it, will try to do it here
again."

"Besides, if you just staying in the house and be afraid all
the time, how are you going to live your life?," Raustel
remarked.

It was somewhat surprising to hear such confidence from these
teenagers. Adults could actually learn from them about how to
overcome their fear of terrorism, which seems to have clouded
most people's minds after the bombings, not surprisingly.

Margit Tengen, one of the chaperons, admitted that the CISV
Norway Chapter had considered canceling the trip amid rising
concerns from the participants' parents, whose approval was, of
course, necessary for the visit.

In addition, the Norwegian government still imposed their
travel warning to Indonesia.

After a thorough explanation and lengthy discussion between
the organizer and the Norwegian government, finally the students
and their chaperons were permitted to leave for Indonesia but
strongly advised not to visit certain tourist destinations,
including Bali.

However, in order to continue the program, CISV Norway sought
support from CISV headquarters, and held discussions with the
parents.

"The program had been arranged. It would be a pity to cancel
it .. so we had meetings to talk about the situation with the
parents, and kept close contact with the hosts," she said.

"But in the end, it was up to the parents. We wouldn't send
them if the parents didn't want them to go," Tengen added.

Exchange information with the host families and the CISV
Indonesia chapter played a big part in ensuring the success of
the program.

Adviser and co-founder of CISV Indonesia Mira Wisendha said
they had sent detailed information about the latest situation in
Indonesia to avoid unwarranted fears.

"We regularly sent reports about our activities here so they
could see that their children would be fine," she said.

All the efforts bore fruit in the end as none of the parents
canceled their child's trip and CISV headquarters managed to
convince the Norwegian government.

"Although they're afraid, I think my parents want me to
explore and experience things. Moreover, if it (the bombing)
teaches peace and tolerance, that's the aim of this program,"
Lauritz added.

The host parents' role in explaining the real situation to the
children proved to be most helpful.

"I try to give the best information I know about the bombing,"
said Mira, who hosted Jorgen Hebe, 14.

Tengen added that after spending three weeks in the country,
the students all said they had a great time, and many even said
they would come on their own some day when they were older.

The commitment from the students and parents as members of
CISV is inseparable from the organizations philosophy that
no country should be excluded from its programs.

"We also sent our children to conflict-torn Colombia, why
would it be any different with Indonesia? In addition, we believe
in the principal of learning by doing. Children have to get
first-hand experience," Mira said.

Founded by British psychologist Doris Allen 52 years ago, CISV
believes that peace can take root by helping youngsters to
understand different cultures and become more sensitive about
their environment.

CISV programs emphasize cross-cultural education to combat
racism, xenophobia, religious and any other forms of prejudice in
families, neighborhoods, schools and workplaces around the world.

It now has 62 countries as members and CISV Indonesia, which
was established 10 years ago, now has 250 families as members.