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On July 8 and 9, I attended the Monash Indonesian Language Holiday Program with Ayeza and Avneet. It was an amazing experience being able to meet other students in Victoria who were also studying VCE Indonesian. It was an early morning for all of us as we had to travel to Clayton and arrive for the 9:30am class but it was completely worth it.

On Day 1, we had a language study where Year 11s were combined with Year 12s. We improved our vocabulary and learnt how to impress our examiners during the oral component of exams. It was originally stressful speaking to people you had never met before, but we gained confidence. Everyone in the room was supportive and helped each other out without any judgement. We participated in a traditional dance workshop which a highlight of the program. We learned about the assorted styles in different provinces. The day continued with more conversation and vocabulary workshops including a Year 12 practice exam.

Day 2 was the most exciting day. We were able to participate in Pencak Silat (martial arts) where we also were able to learn more about modern and traditional versions of Pencak Silat. After, we had a tour of the campus where we were shown a beautiful library full of Indonesian books and an Indonesian Museum. We also had a cooking session where we divided into groups. Ayeza, Avneet, and I were in one group alongside four other people who are now our good friends. Those four friends were all Indonesian and thus taught us how to make Sambal Goreng Kentang (Chilli potato with green bean) in an authentic way. To finish off our final day, we participated in a treasure hunt in random groups. All groups were extremely competitive which made the entire game fun. Some groups zoomed through the tasks on each building level whereas some groups struggled. My group ended up losing an important sheet of paper. However, we were all awarded with a bag full of Indonesian snacks as well as a bag full of Monash merchandise. This opportunity is not one to miss, so those who are eligible to join the program, should come along next year.

Sampai Jumpa!

Deborah Htoosaw
Year 11 Student