Serendipity the Melbourne Story

Serendipity

Serendipity

EDITOR IN CHIEF / POPY SARAH CHAIRUNNISA

MEDIA TEAM / ALBIZIA AKBAR, FADHIL MAULANA

SAPHIETRA, RIZKA SUHANI

PROOFREADERS / TIFANI DIAHNISA HARDIANTI, LUTHFI HAGGI FIANDA, INDRY DWIYANI, RIZKI RAMADHANISSA

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/ FADHIL MAULANA

SAPHIETRA, TIFANI DIAHNISA HARDIANTI, LUTHFI HAGGI FIANDA, RIZKI RAMADHANISSA, RENDY K. SENDUK, SAMMY ENGGAR PATALATU, MUHAMMAD AKBAR, AGUS GUNADI

The beginning of LifeChanging Experience

LUTHFI HAGGI FIANDA

We start the program by following PDT week in Jakarta. It was really nervous yet excited because we finally met in person

The journey has begun. and have the chance to know each other after 5 months waiting. We talked much about what we have done in online PDT and wondering how the real PDT will be going. Actually, I expected that the PDT would be very tough, like a military system. But otherwise, I was surprised that the PDT was going like we have new family. Even with the tight schedule, we didn’t feel much pressure yet we got supported by the seniors instead.

The first session that we had was cultural performance. Each of us performed skills that we have in cultural appearance like dancing, singing, and even we got challenged to be an MC of the event. At that time, we showed our traditional costume and gave a brief explanation about the meaning of it while recorded by senior.

After that, we did a lot of practice for our cultural performance every night to arrange medley and saman dance Our feet were really suffering when practicing saman, yet we were still excited because we will proudly perform our culture in Australia In every session of training, we were given a chance to change our clothes into traditional costume in 5 minutes, it was quite hard but we have to get used to it.

We also had a lot of seminar sessions organized by the seniors and Ministry of Youth and Sport. We got many lessons learnt regarding national interest, public speaking, leadership and team building. And the most enjoyable session was city exploration by using public transportation. At that time, our real character was tested by completing the challenges within one group. We had to take a photo or video in various places and had to find out the places by solving the clue. That was really challenging!

So as in Australia, we had orientation week in Melbourne. It felt really different, in Jakarta we still have senior who was always looking after us, but in Melbourne we have no one And also, the weather was really confusing, we had to feel 4 seasons in a day But yeah, we still enjoyed the orientation week, PDT in Jakarta has made us become stronger and calm to embrace everything.

We got a lot of class sessions regarding intercultural understanding, work culture, communication style and team building. And what we were waiting for was exploring Melbourne city. We had so much fun experiencing the beauty of Melbourne city. By the time, we went to Melbourne museum and flinders street which are the famous places in Melbourne. Not only that, we took many photos at street art and had lunch at the parliament park as well.

At the end of the orientation, our Host family and work placement were revealed. We were really excited to have new family and learn new things in work place. Because the real experience in cultural understanding is started when living in an Australian family and being an intern. We had met Australian delegates earlier on the last day of orientation week as well So, that made us feel the difference earlier and know how to deal with it

All of the PDT and orientation sessions aimed to prepare us to be ready to face the real program and meet cultural differences. Not only that, we learned how to keep our team solid and communication. And what really matter is we are obligated to be able to give good impact to our home country that is Indonesia by implementing the good things that we get from the program

Indonesian in Melbourne

FADHIL MAULANA SAPHIETRA

“Oh, I am an alien, I am a legal alien, I am an Englishman in New York”

That is a part of song lyrics from Sting. This lyrics tell about an Englishman who went to New York and he should face cultural differences between English and American. This song reminds me about my first time in this place, Melbourne At that time, I felt like an Indonesian in Melbourne There are lot of differences between Indonesia and Australia, especially Melbourne Here, people tend to use linear communication when they speak Compare to Indonesia, people tend to use circular communication when they want to say something to the other people. Moreover, the tradition to always keep the toilet dry become the unique things among differences between Indonesia and Australia. It makes those who come to Australia should adapt all of the differences.

PhotobyFadhil

Above

Today, we have been living in Melbourne for 3 weeks and of course we have adapted to the differences However, makes me fall in love with Melbourne Differences makes me realise that Melbourne has plenty of unique and interesting things which need to be explore deeper. Here are some interesting facts that need to be considered about visiting Melbourne.

The first one is Weather. “Four Seasons in One Day”, statement that has been said by almost everyone who I talked to. This expression leads to the fact that Melbourne’s weather tends to change unpredictably during the day You can get warm, cold and rain altogether changing in a day This condition makes few people get sick easily, and it takes time to get use with the weather. So, as people in Melbourne always do, it is a good idea to an umbrella on your bag, jacket and the other preventive stuff which can help you to survive from all conditions.

The second one is Multiculturalism Melbourne is the second-most important city in Australia and the biggest city in Victoria Multiculturalism itself is related to high number of ethnicities that live here. Chinese, Korean, Arabic, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Western are easy to be seen here, walking in the main road of Melbourne. In addition, some people still keep their own tradition even they have lived in Melbourne for a long time. Building architecture that is similar to England, like a drug that dampens my desire for England. Meeting Koreans and listening to them in interact using Korea Language is enough to represent my desire to go there Chinatown and Box Hill are also the place for asian people live in Melbourne and also there’s a lot of Indian and Sri Langka people who live in Melbourne Melbourne is very rich in various cultures

The next one is Culinary Cultural Wealth in Melbourne makes this city with a lot variant of culinary You can eat various cuisine here Malaysian food, Indonesian food, Lebanese food, Vietnamese food and many others foods in Melbourne. So, you do not have to worry about culinary because you can meet it everywhere. But, do not forget to try Coffee in Melbourne and also the iconic food from Melbourne, Smashed Avocado. Melbourne Coffee and Smashed Avocado are highly recommended for you to taste. That is Amazing! Always put Avocado to be a component for foods is one of the unique things happened in Melbourne. Chicken mixed avocado, Sushi with avocado and many other foods with avocado are an easy view in Melbourne Fortunately, the taste is enough to make you having your second plate on your lunch So you have to try this one if you visit Melbourne

That’s all about the unique and interesting things about Melbourne The differences are a common things here, the things that we should do just try to find the truly us and focus on our development. Like Mandy Hale said, "Just be yourself, and let the people see the real you are". Everything that happened during our journey can be a new experience who can teach us how to be better day by day. It is an honor to be here and get along with people around this place. This journey utterly teaches me many things. Personalities, professionality, solidarity, understanding and many things that I can’t tell one by one. For me, Melbourne is a lovely place to visit. The Cultural Wealth in Melbourne has made me loving this place Too much stories that I can’t tell about this place and will never be forgotten

Just be yourself, and let the people see the real you are

Sunday, October 14, 2018 I started a new life with my host family. They are Papa Don and Mama Sue. They have 3 sons who are married and live far

from them. I live with another AIYEP participant, Usman. My host family is very kind. I am lucky to meet this extraordinary couple. Papa Don is friendly, wise, and funny. He loves camping, cooking, adventure, photography, and IT tools. Mama Sue is a very loving person, motherly, and creative. She likes to create, poetry, gardening, and knitting.

Every day I help Mama Sue do home works. She is not working anymore, she has retired from her job as a nurse. Mama Sue taught me a lot of things. The things I like most are gardening, making clay handicrafts for sale

I Found a House Full of Love!

MUHAMMAD AKBAR

and for home furniture, collecting chicken eggs every day in the cages behind the house, and making sweet and delicious breads from various countries, especially from Australia.

In the afternoon I help Papa Don to preparing dinner. Papa Don is very good at cooking even though he is an IT expert. Every day Papa Don teaches me and Usman to cook new menus from various countries. So every day we have dinner with different menus. Papa Don taught me some cooking techniques from different countries Papa Don also loves to make joke, which makes us laugh out loud while cooking or relaxing time He really likes playing with words, even he can make jokes from grass!

Left

Mama Sue, Papa Don, Akbar, and AIYEP Particip-a nts in Sanctuary

On weekend they took us to new places. Along the way, we got an amazingly beautiful view, the expanse of green agricultural land like carpets and neatly arranged houses. First, we went to Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park. We took pictures with Kangaroo and Koala. Then, we bought Seafood at The Big Fish market. We also bought souvenirs and plants in the Nursery Café.

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We visited some places like Yarra Bend Road, Fairfield Yarra, and VIC After that, we were enjoying the forest in Dandenong Ranges National Park We also visited London Bridge Lookout beach and the last we took photos and had fun at Arthur's Seat

I will always remember when Papa Don and Mama Sue took us to Macedon & Gisborne, the village where they grew up and felt in love for the first time. We were visiting their parents house. We went to Gladysdale Bakehouse, Warburton Highway, Yarra Junction VIC to enjoy their favorite pie when they were still dating. Such a sweet couple!

Every breakfast and dinner

Mama Sue and Papa Don always ask us both to lead a prayer before eating and reciting it They are very happy to hear we pray Dinner time and after that is the best time for quality time We often exchange opinions and thoughts about culture, religion, each other's life and love story, and other things about everyday life. Sometimes they both show us their collection of photos and memories from the past until now through a large computer screen. The photos are stored in the folders of computer server made by Papa Don with a capacity of 100,000 GB.

Even I only live with them for a week, I will always remember them. I will always remember every time we gathered in the living room, they always caressed our hair and back while they tell stories After that they hug and kiss our forehead before we go to bed This is where I feel loved They love us like their own children. Their kindness took my breath away. I feel like I am home. Thank you so much AIYEP for this wonderful experience. I’m forever grateful.