Do you guys remember (well if you did read my posts continuously) I have posted some stories about Indonesia International Week? Well for you who haven't read that yet, go have some sneak peek into some posts labeled "Indonesia International Week" on my homepage (or just simply click the link).
Now, here in this new post I'm going to spread the word about Indonesia International Week 2011 again, from the point of view of a western friend (which will represent the other westerns, I suppose).
Internacional Week Indonesia 2011: ¿‘Halal’ o ‘haram’?
The program of the last IW INDONESIA 2011 was focused in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia; Yogyakarta, the second big city; and finally Bali, a popular island known by all. Jakarta is a capital jammed with traffic. We do not exaggerate by saying that to move about 20 miles it takes an average of 2 hour drive. "Unacceptable", "desperate" is how I would describe Westerners. "Regular" and "routine" is what they live. The secret? Be patient, positive and above. However, go ahead.
"Welcome Party"
Our stay in Jakarta, I feel compelled to refer to anecdotal welcome party, every group of students had to prepare a dish from their country while also dancing. We, as good stewards, prepare a pa amb tomàquet with tortilla chips. There was also gazpacho. With respect to the ball, we finally decided that La Macarena was seemed to be the best dance. To give you an idea of the situation: about 30 students from around the world eating and dancing at the home of one of the organizers of the IW. It was easy to see that over 60% of the guests were Muslim. Well, it all started when a girl from Hungary brought a giant sausage in his country, which bore many similarities to what we here call "sausage". This food was eaten by each and every one of the guests, and that together with our pa amb tomàquet, the delicatessen became the party. We we questioned what kind of sausage that should be, ruling out the possibility that it could come from pigs. However, a cold water would fall on those moments of culinary glory. It was the end of dinner, when we had to get up in countries to explain the ingredients of our plate, when the Hungarian said, with a calm exorbitant, that what had just eaten came mainly from the guts of the PIG. A death silence filled the room, everyone looked at each other turning pale at times. To catch his breath, the boldest reassured others explaining that eating pork will be a sin. Incredibly, the Hungarian completely unaware that the pig was an animal sacred to Islam. Since then learned two words necessary to survive in a Muslim country such as Indonesia: halal, for foods permitted by religion and haram, forbidden for.
Road to Yogyakarta and Bali
The next stop was Yogyakarta, a city in the midst of nature that allowed us to explore from its vast coffee fields to the largest Buddhist temple in the world, Borobudur temple, a world heritage monument by UNESCO. In Yogya we found that the ability to bargain requires years of experience as they leave a proud and confident negotiating the price already got two meters find the same product at an extremely lower makes you realize that you are in its territory the inexperienced. Finally, the last stop was Bali, the visit we were all waiting. In Bali we learned that you should always ask the state of the sea before, without any idea of surfing. You'll rent a table by 0.10 € / hour, you go the to the bottom of a sea that seems quieter than the lake of Banyoles and pretend to wait for your big wave. Do not go into details. Our stay in Bali vacation coincided with the Australians, a great coincidence to learn English and had good views. However, it was easy to verify that you enjoy being a tourist Bali. We were pleasantly surprised not that in all the pubs there were separate managers responsible for the main queue to indigenous people. The tail incorporated into a secondary requirement to pay entry, an entry is absolutely free for all others.
An IW gives you the opportunity to visit a country from the perspective of a native: sleeping, eating and traveling with them and like them. A journey that offers a multicultural vision of the world around us and about his career. It is an experience that makes you break down myths and realize that, despite the many differences of religion, education or tradition that can be separated from the rest of the group, all have a common interest: to learn from others, learn about experiences, ideologies, needs, concerns and new lifestyles of a dramatically enrich you as a person. I have been very difficult to compress this trip in brief, however, I am satisfied if I manage to participate in the next International Week.
Have an International Week, guys! Meet new people! Learn cultures! And yes, post some blog posts (or articles)!
We do not exaggerate by saying that to move about 20 miles it takes an average of 2 hour drive. "Unacceptable", "desperate" is how I would describe Westerners. "Regular" and "routine" is what they live.
Ingrid, talking about the hectic Jakarta.
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