Volunteer’s Diary #1 Paul–Welcome in Rinca

Hi,
Thanks for tuning in!

Short Indroduction: My name is Paul and I’m the new volunteer for Taman Bacaan Pelangi. I’m 19 years old and I just graduated from high school in Germany. I didn’t want to continue to go to university immediately after high school, so I chose to live a year abroad.

Why Indonesia? Because it’s a beautiful and fascinating country with a totally different culture as compare to my home country, Germany.

My adventure started in Rinca Village on Rinca Island, Komodo National Park. A small fishing-village with round about 2,000 people living in stilt-houses.Dried fish, goats and chicken everywhere.

Main dish: Rice everyday, like the Indonesian people like it and fish. Sometimes a coconut as snack or some fruits bought in Labuan Bajo – the next city only reachable with boat.

My tasks over here are to keep an eye on the children, teaching basic English skills, make some arts &handicrafts and the main point is to help nurture those kids of the love of reading. And they already love it. Everyday the library of Taman Bacaan Pelangi [Rainbow Reading Gardens] is filled with kids reading books or just meeting each other and spending time together.

The joy becomes bigger every time I announce an English lesson or I come up with a bunch of white papers and pencils… the children going crazy right away! It really motivates me everyday when I see that they are so happy with everything I can share with them. No iPhone or Playstation needed.

Luckily, I had a Bahasa Indonesia course before in Jogja, so I am able to do basic conversation because nearly nobody can speak English in Rinca Village. However, I’m still learning Bahasa Indonesia every day, from the kids and the locals here in the village. Practice makes perfect, right? 😉

My first week as a teacher was a very new experience for me. I can teach every Friday in the elementary school, too. For my first few hours the School Principal asked me to teach class 1-3 for one hour and class 4-6 for another. So, about 80 children in one little room. Really hard to teach so many kids at the same time, as you can guess!

But now, things got better because I could do the lessons separately with less students in a class. Way much better! Fffiiuhhh..

I also gave some books to the children, because even those are rare in here. Those little writing books caused a big euphoria. Kids were so happy!

Last but not least, I can say, sometimes it’s hard to live in Rinca Village, but a smiling kid is a great motivation to continue.

Everyday is an adventure for me, just as I wanted. And when a day isn’t that exiting I still have books to read 😉
Stay tuned!

Rinca Village, October 30th, 2014
Paul