Here are a few background information to help you guys understand the trip more.
Why did we go to Medan?
Medan was chosen due to the recent natural disaster that happened more or less a year ago in the mountains area. The disaster was caused due to a volcanic eruption that exerts hot air and volcanic cloud which results to hot volcanic ash. People who lives in those area had to be evacuated to a safer area and only until now that they are allowed to go back to their respective houses. Even so they will always have a feeling of being threatened by nature.
(Personal Justification: Sunlight still passes through even though there are boundaries)
We chose Medan -specifically Mount. Sinabung- because we planned to help them with adapting to a new environment and encourage children there to keep their heads up even in hard times. Mount. Sinabung was chosen because one of our teacher actually has someone she knows there which made it so much easier.
Who did I go to Medan with?
I went to Medan with my school friends and teachers that acts as the supervisor. This activity is actually student-led and it is a part of a social group called LBLS (Little Brother Little Sister) activity. LBLS is also a student-led and student-made group, so most activities are carefully though together and of course with full support from the school.
MEDAN
Our flight to Medan was quite early, around 6 in the morning. What was a pain was that we had to gather at 4.30 in the morning, for some unknown reasons I guess. We chose Garuda Indonesia as our airline to ensure all of the safety issues and of course the excellent service.
The flight took around an hour and forty minutes, so we arrived at around 9 in the morning. As usual we had to go to baggage claim first and all, so we departed at 10 from the airport to go eat lunch, since the airport is located quite far from downtown Medan.
Funny story, we were supposed to go to the restaurant first and then the hotel, but I have no idea what happened to me that day (probably I was malfunctioning), and I told the driver in to go to the hotel first. So, people in my car had to experienced my stupidity and odd leadership skills. Luckily the restaurant and the hotel was just a 10 minutes drive apart.
Another thing that happened was I broke one of the glass in the hotel's meeting room when we were discussing the activity we were gonna do in Sinabung. That proved my malfunctioning state. The hotel we stayed in is called Grand Serela Hotel, located on Jalan Gatot Subroto. It is a 4-star hotel and it was really nice I must say. (room details refer to vlog)
Day 1 was basically meetings and adapting to the hotel. Day 2 is where the fun happened. Day 2 is the day of our visit to Mount. Sinabung and it is located about 80 km from the hotel, so we were to depart early in the morning (around 5 in the morning).
On the way to Mount. Sinabung we passed villages, paddy fields, cliffs and so much more. I must say the scenery was very beautiful, it was like hidden Europe in Indonesia (and I had been to Swiss and Austria). We made a stop at this picturesque cafe by the cliff and took pictures.
It was really cold outside but it was all worth and plus when else can we experience cold in Indonesia.
We finally arrived at a specific area on the mountainside of Mount. Sinabung, where there lies a small village there. We arrived at 8 in the morning (wow a 3 hours drive, even in the morning) and I was touched by how warm they welcomed us to their village. That day was a Sunday, we were welcomed in a Christian Church, so as we were welcomed a holy mass also occurred. It was my first time in undergoing a Christian Holy Mass (cause I am Catholic and it was different in a way), so it felt so exciting and all of the songs were sang by this amazing lady harmonized with an electric piano.
The part that really touched me is that even in the most difficult time, they still believe in God and they do rely on to God as much as possible. They were all so devoted and determined (I can see their determination) to God. I might sound like I am exaggerating but I am actually not, they placed all of their fate on God's hand even if disaster strikes, because they believe God has a purpose for everything, even in situations like the volcanic eruption.
After they welcomed us, we were set to prepare ourselves in the activity of children enrichment or encouragement. It was around 11 am, so the sun was quite hot already. We started of the activity with an Ice-Breaking activity, the activity was dancing. Our purpose was actually to make the children more comfortable with us and more brave and confident, especially in expressing themselves. We danced to the song Happy by Pharrel Williams (with our own simple choreography). We divided the groups of children by age, and the younger ones get to sing local children songs (which you guys can see in my vlog)
Afterwards he had a half an hour break at 12 noon. We ate food that the locals made for us, which was really good in my preference and it was also our first legit meal of the day, since we didn't eat anything in the morning (we did request packed breakfasts from the hotel, but the hotel gave us three small piece bread that was good but unsatisfactory).
We then gathered back at the same area and grouped the children into age groups again. We divided them into two, Grade 1-3 and Grade 4-6. I tackled the older age group, we grouped the children into 6 or 7 people and this resulted to three big groups. Each of the group is given a piece of paper and they must work as a team to create an imaginary village or city. Through that village or city the children must determine what's inside the city and who will work there. e.g A drew a hospital and A works there as a doctor, because A's dream is to be a doctor.
After each group finished their work they were ask to present it in front of everyone else. Most children here wanted to be a teacher, doctor and police. There was one who wanted to become a priest and it really is amazing in my opinion.
At the end of the day we cooked them 'Kolak' (a traditional Indonesian warm dessert, consist of bananas and sweet potatoes) and just enjoyed them together. They were all so lovely and ambitious. They were all so happy and energetic in a way that me myself can't even compete even with so many things that limits them to actually be that happy and ambitious they are still able to feel that way. My only wish for them is to keep up their happiness and ambition close in their lives!
We then said thank you to everyone and donated some school supply to the children and also money to help the village in buying seeds to be able to regrow corps after the ash that killed nearly all. We departed around 3 pm from the village. I must say this trip is truly remarkable and one of the best I have experienced so far in my life.
Check out these two vlogs for a better understanding!
MEDAN VLOG DAY 1
MEDAN VLOG DAY 2
I thank you all for reading until this point and I do wish that you guys are here to support the people and the children of Mount. Sinabung also. I thank you all once again and have good day! God bless you all!
