General News
8 January, 2024
Summer reading: Experiences in culture
SOUTH Sulawese is known for growing corn, sweet potatoes, green beans, peanuts, and soybeans. The Indonesian province is surrounded by seas where tuna and snapper are fished while on land nickel, gold, magnesium, iron, granite, lead, and stone...
SOUTH Sulawese is known for growing corn, sweet potatoes, green beans, peanuts, and soybeans.
The Indonesian province is surrounded by seas where tuna and snapper are fished while on land nickel, gold, magnesium, iron, granite, lead, and stone products are mined.
And it’s where students from Celebes Global School, in the southern region of the province, left earlier this month for a fortnight of cultural interaction with families and students from Pyramid Hill College and St Patrick’s Primary School.
For the school, it was fulfilling an experience cut short last October when the flood emergency interrupted a visit to Pyramid Hill and students were taken to Bendigo as the region’s roads were blocked and schools closed.
Their gratitude are being able to return was shown during a final assembly at Pyramid Hill College last Friday.
After two weeks of visiting local farms, a fauna park at Kyabram, spending time in Bendigo and picking up the skills of Australian Rules football, the nine students from Celebes Global School entertained with traditional music and dance of Indonesia.
Teachers and students also spoke of their experiences during the fortnight in a country very different to their homeland.
Teacher Riri Syarifuddi said Australia was a popular country for overseas study with Indonesian students.
“And why Pyramid Hill? Because Pyramid is one of the schools teaching Indonesian language,” said Riri.
“We are always looking for a quiet place for our students to study not in the city so they can really know about culture and the people who are living there.
“And of course I have new experience living here. I can feel living in the farm. I know how the people live here.”
And the students of Celebes Global School were equally taken with the welcome and opportunities for discovery during their two weeks in Pyramid Hill.
“Pyramid Hill is such a really good town for us to learn about the Australian culture and develop our English skills,” one said.
“Our school’s main program needs us to learn about the culture across the country and we need to develop our English skills. So this town really helps us to learn!”
Lulu said spending a fortnight in Pyramid Hill had been nice.
“It’s such a lovely experience to live here. Never thought that I would be feel at home here,” said Lulu.
“All the people are kind and friendly Never thought that I would be feel at home here! Two weeks is not enough for me, i need more longer time to stay here.”
Teacher Makmum Ashari said the partnership between Celebes Global School and Pyramid Hill College had meant meaningful relationships between the two schools could be formed during the visits. “Pyramid Hill is very important for this trip because there is Pyramid Hill College which has been the best partner for our school,” said Makmum.
“Intercultural learning at Pyramid Hill college is very good because students experience first hand in a comfortable and fun learning environment.
“Students can exchange experiences and develop their respective languages they learn.
“Celebes Global School students can develop English and Pyramid Hill College students can develop Indonesian.
“Pyramid Hill provides meaningful experiences for students and teachers from Indonesia.
“We can learn a lot at Pyramid Hill such as teaching and learning culture, timely culture, and future-oriented curriculum.
“As a teacher, I really like living in Pyramid Hill because all the people there are very kind and welcoming.”