It had opened My mind

It was 10 years ago when I believe that my mind was opened to see, understanding and also learn about another people’s life besides mine. The idea of doing more for others who need our support started when one day me and my friend had a visit to one of the orphan house in the city of Mataram in west Lombok area.

That day we wanted to donate some money there, when we had a chance to look around inside the orphan’s house, suddenly the idea of teaching them English came up. Then we started to teach there every Saturday night, that was the only day that we could get day off from work. It was great seeing them very enthusiastic in accepting the lesson. Me myself enjoyed my new activity though at the same time I still did things which were the contrary of it… yup… to be frankly that I also did activities really waste money for nothing.

Day by day it ran well, even though my aim wasn’t really 100% teaching but more was because I had another personal interest. Until one day, when I came late… never crossed in my mind that those students of mine were waiting patiently, sitting nicely with their sarong and a piece of book on their hands…. They were about 40 boys, that day I could see that things I did there were meant a lot for them and aware me of what is giving. I think that would be the day that I’ve started to see another live besides kind of live I have.

I won’t say that I’ve changed but more like opened… yes, my understanding of how should we share and give to others started growing. I continued doing those things until one day it should stop when I decided to leave the city by my own willing. Something had caused me leaving my job and things I have had, there was a condition which was a bit hard for me to compromise. I had to pull myself back from any condition would make myself even more drown and maybe I was also too young to understand that life actually has its own complicated part.

It was year of 2000 when I started to be a teacher in one of American nursery and preschool in Jakarta (I had moved back to jakarta since then). New experiences began there, as teacher I had to work for children most of the times and my sensitivity as woman and teacher was growing, I enjoyed those very much. My new friends there had given me valuable things that I could learn about, thanks for them and not mention those students of mine who are adorable … things were wonderful.

I wasn’t sure how did it start, what I remember well was finally I gave a hand to my friend who had an idea teaching children in “ tempat penampungan sampah” (dump) area. It was in north Jakarta, right in front of one of the biggest recreation park. They were only about 20 children from elementary to secondary school, not much that I could tell because it was just stop after about three months and I didn’t really understand the reason. But I believed that I got my lesson there which make my mind again were opened.

Written by wiwin
Jakarta, august 27th 2008 (01.55 am)