Burak in Indonesia

My story

For me it all started about a year ago at college. We had to sign up for what we call an ‘elective’, which is basically an extra specialist subject that’s taken every year as part of our course, and I knew straight away that I wanted to choose ISO (International Sport Development). I knew right away that I wanted to go to Indonesia, because it had always appealed to me. At college we had general lessons about how to actually teach in another culture, and you also gained knowledge by diving into Indonesian culture.

After the lessons and completing the preparations, it was finally time to really start my internship. When I first set foot on Indonesian soil, I felt something familiar and yet something new. As a Muslim, it was special to enter a country where the adhan (call to prayer) can be heard everywhere, from busy cities to quiet rice fields. And yet… the way faith was lived there was sometimes different from what I was used to.

What I noticed was how faith was part of everyday life here without being imposed, because the people were so calm, relaxed and unhurried. At the markets I saw how people said “Salaam Aleikum” (a formal way of greeting each other) before a sale, and in the villages how families sat together to pray. Islam here wasn’t just lived as a set of rules, but as the rhythm of life.

My internship lasted 4 weeks in the city of Semarang (Central Java). I stayed in the Wisma, which means house/lodging in Javanese. I did this together with 15 other students, and the Indonesian staff were also part of it (Yogi, Wanda, Dina, Ayu, Giza, Sultan, Zoufar, Daniel and all the other freelancers). They came by mainly for the practical announcements and to explain the planning that had been made. This definitely works in your favour, because you’re in close contact with them and do lots of activities together, so you notice you build a good bond.

The activities you gave as a group were mainly sport-related lessons for primary school children and sometimes some secondary school pupils. You did this 4 days a week (Monday to Thursday). The morning session ran from 07:30 until about 10, then you came home, could rest for a bit and eat some tasty nasi, soto ayam and pisang goreng (fried banana) at the warung (lunch spot/shop). After that you had the afternoon session from 15:00 to 16:30. Getting to and from the schools and activities was taken care of by our top taxi drivers, Mr. Gugus and Mr. Erwin.

Once at the schools themselves, it was really lovely to see how much fun they have together, and you notice that they’re very energetic and enthusiastic. You build a strong bond with the children, not least because you gradually get to know the language, which is really useful. The children know who you are, since in their eyes you’re a role model. We also wore Daya Krida (The Power of Sports) T-shirts, which shows that we’re on the same page as the Indonesian team.

Friday and Saturday were our days off, and we used them to do activities with the staff or to go and see the sights in Semarang, which I’d definitely recommend to everyone.

My experience in Indonesia deepened my faith, but through observation, through the smile of a brother or sister, and through the way young people on the street say ‘Assalamu Alaikum’ (the formal greeting in return) to each other without knowing one another. Because of this I also felt a quicker and stronger connection.

Long story short, if you want a unique and awesome experience that you’ll never forget, I highly recommend this!

Thank you to all the staff and the freelancers!

What advice would you like to give future interns and volunteers?

Be yourself and be open to new cultures and people. That makes for the best experience!