This reflection is from SEAN ETHAN CHENG, a student leader from Xavier School. Philippines, who participated in the recent Ignatian Student Leadership Forum (August 15-21, 2016), hosted by the Jesuits of the Indonesian Province and held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
The monsoon rains did stop the student leaders from so many different countries in the Asia-Pacific region to converge in unfamiliar Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Our delegation left Manila on a very stormy Sunday. After two flights and more than eight hours of travel, we were welcomed warmly by our hosts at the airport. The other delegations encountered floods on the way to Jogjakarta, but everything fell in place at the end of the day.
The Ignatian Student Leadership Forum (ISLF) began the following day with several activities ranging from games to interactions and reflections. Small groups were formed so that there would be at least one representative from each country. The atmosphere was tense as we were still trying to overcome the initial awkwardness. However, once we started sharing our unique stories, the interaction became more interesting and engaging.
What followed was a two-day immersion with local villagers. Most of us were quite scared at first, but other more experienced delegates helped those who were hesitant to loosen up, soak in and enjoy the whole immersion experience. The cultural exchange allowed for the development of self-awareness and confidence, making me realize what this conference is all about. It is important for leaders to be open-minded and to look at experiences with fresh and curious eyes.
The immersion showed me the warmth and hospitality that we Filipinos share with our Indonesian neighbors. Armed with only very basic Bahasa Indonesia words, we immersed ourselves in their culture and got to know our village hosts as much as we could.
Throughout the two-day immersion, I was with two other participants: Ezar Savero from Indonesia and Chun Yin “Zenas” Ng from Hong Kong. Even with the language barrier, everyone tried to communicate and connect with one another.
As we were tasked to live as villagers, we joined our foster families in their work during the day. We, for example, helped our families in the construction of a concrete irrigation canal for the fields.
But our stay there was not all work. The families showed us what it means to open one’s heart to people from other cultures. The meaningful conversations–which we participated in, thanks to the Indonesian delegate in every group–and their hospitality made it doubly hard to bid them goodbye at the end of the immersion.
What made our experiences even more meaningful were the evening prayers and reflection sessions, ending our days in true Ignatian fashion.
On the seventh day, we were brought to tourist destinations as Borobudur Temple, Sultan Palace, Malioboro Street, and Prambanan Temples. Wonderful selfies were taken with the most breathtaking views of the country in the background.
That seventh day was the most depressing and saddest day of them all, and the nostalgia still pains me even as I write this article. We all knew that it was the last day for us to share since many of the participants would be leaving quite early in the morning. Unfortunately, we from the Philippines left the earliest, departing for the airport at 3:30 am.
This program has shown me that despite only spending a couple of days with people we had never met before in our lives, the experiences we shared together will be unforgettable. We will be tirelessly repeating these stories to family and friends back home. No matter the language barrier, the cultural differences, and the distinct differences in our interests, we managed to form bonds and relationships with one another that will hopefully continue to develop as the days go by. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity to learn about myself in an entirely new environment, meet wonderful people from different backgrounds, and participate in an experience that only a handful of high school students will ever get to experience.
