Fish and Foreigners

First the Foreigners

Universitas Dhyana Pura (aka Undhira) has for several years run an International School.  In the early years the students were mainly from The Netherlands but recently most of the students have come from Heilbronn University which is located (very roughly) between the better known cities of Heidelberg and Stuttgart in south-western Germany.  This year the 7 German students were joined by 4 Japanese students from Momoyama University in Osaka, Japan.  Four or five Undhira students join the group for some sessions and activities.  Classes are held to explain local culture, to teach the Indonesian language, and to teach economic principles of "Community Intrapreneurship". As I'm not in the classes I'm not well equipped to explain the details but, as I understand, it is not so much about starting new business for the benefit of the initiating individual (that's the "entrepeneur") but about being innovative within existing businesses, or particularly in small communities.

Students of the "International Class"
(there are more - a couple are out of frame)

In mid October I joined a gathering of the International students, some Undhira staff  who have studied in the USA, and local students from the classes getting most of their lectures in English.  We shared stories of some local customs and practices in our various communities, and especially how (or "if") Halloween was celebrated.  For many of the local students posing for a group photo was possibly the highlight of the morning.

The local students just love posing forthe camera.
The German guest students are just visible at the rear.

Most of the students in the blue uniforms belong to the 2
classes I teach in the "Hotel Management" stream.

Now for the Fish

The main buildings on the Dhyana Pura campus are located on the north and south sides of a water feature known variously as the "fish pond", the "Lotus pond" (no Lotus plants recently") or just "the lake".  Apart from its visual appeal the lake has a practical purpose.  It acts as a buffer and storage area for runoff and irrigation water enterring the campus from the slightly higher ground to the east of the campus.  During the dry season some of the water is used to irrigate the green field.  During times of heavy rain excess water runs away to the vegetable gardens cultivated by our farmer neighbour.

Dark clouds gather over the northern buildings on campus.

Some weekends I see a few locals fishing in the lake, and sometimes I even see them catch a small fish or two.  On the weekend before last a fishing contest was held on campus.  There were perhaps 50 or so people fishing, and occasionally fish were caught and flung onto the ground around the lake.  They were definitely fishing for fun and some small prizes as the fish were certainly not edible.  The largest fish I saw was perhaps about 25-30 cm, and you might get a small but boney fillet from it, but the water in the lake is very dirty and contaminated (and I presume so is the flesh of the fish).

This one did not get away.  It's not an attractive fish
and I was told it was a kind of local catfish.

Anglers spread around the campus lake.

What the well-dressed dog wears when going fishing.

Paul in Bali
November 2016

A Lazy Weekend in East Bali

Lolling about at Candidasa

I must admit that it was not just one particular weekend which was "lazy".  I just didn't get around to writing a little about this weekend earlier.  Lazy me!

Three weeks ago, as a gesture of appreciation, the University provided a weekend away for its two Australian volunteers.  I went with Marg Blanch, an early childhood specialist from Perth, for a relaxing weekend at the Anom Beachside Hotel in Candidasa.  This coastal town is in the Regency of Karangasem, "in the shadow of Gunang Agung" as one tourism brochure described it.  Gunung Agung is the highest mountain in Bali but it doesn't cast a shadow quite long enough to reach Candidasa.  I doubt that the roads in Bali ever have a "quiet time", but at least once we left the outskirts of Denpasar our trip proceeded smoothly. 

Our check-in and registration at the hotel was not difficult for us, but the woman taking our details was not quite sure of what was happening.  We registered separately and asked for separate rooms (of course).  The woman asked if we were married.  Unfortunately the answer "Yes, but not to each other" confused her even more, but she eventually worked things out and gave us our keys.

The lobby (left) of Anom Beachside Hotel, Candidasa.

The hotel grounds contain a mix of building types: simple detached chalets, double units, double storey multi-bedroom units and traditional houses.  The buildings are set in garden-like grounds which provide a reasonable degree of visual privacy.

Double storey accommodation block.

The hotel pool with a traditional style building beyond.

Front view of the building by the pool.

Wikipedia says that Candidasa " ... is a seaside town in eastern Bali that rests on the edge of a fresh water lagoon. It is popular tourist stop and is often described as a more sedate and laid back beach alternative to the teeming, nightclub filled Kuta area or the large, manicured resorts at Nusa Dua." It was definitely nothing at all like either Kuta or Nusa Dua!  Our little hotel was some distance from the town centre and as the days were quite hot and humid we didn't stray far from the hotel grounds.

Our hotel was called "Anom BEACHSIDE Hotel", so we naturally expected a beach.  There was a beach, but then again, there wasn't a beach.  It depended on the tides.

The beach in front of the hotel at Candidasa.
This is the "low tide" view.

Anom Beachside Hotel.

Wikipedia and the Lonely Planet guidebook both explain that Candidasa did indeed have attractive beaches near the town which began to grow as a popular tourist destination in the 1970s, since there is good snorkelling and diving in the area.  This popularity brought money for investment and in the 1970's and 1980's there was a building boom as new homes, bungalows, hotels, resorts, restaurants and other businesses were constructed.  So what happened to the beach that prompted the development?  The offshore reef which had protected the beach was mined to make the lime for the concrete needed for the new buildings.  Once the reef was destroyed there was no longer a coastal barrier to protect the beach which was rapidly undermined and washed away.  Such is the price of uninformed and unregulated development.

The sea now washes against the buildings at
high tide.  The beach has gone and only
reappears  for for a couple of hours at low tide.

The hotel owners have built concrete groins to give some
protection to what is left of the beach.  They are not very
attractive but amateur fishermen find them useful.

My weekend, as the title of this blog notes, really was quite a lazy one.  It was a weekend of enjoying some delicious food not readily available near campus, swimming, enjoying a couple of massages, reading, listening to music and doing some puzzles to keep the brain, if not the body, active.  Thankyou campus managers for the weekend away.

Paul in Bali

October 2016

Campus Life

PPLP Wisuda

If you've been following my blogs for a year or two you should be familiar with the designation "PPLP".  PPLP stands for "Pusat Pendidikan Latihan Pariwisata, Dhyana Pura" (The Dhyana Pura Tourism Training Education Center).  Driving instructors display the same word "Latihan" on their cars - "Learner Under Instruction".   Dhyana Pura is the name of the Foundation responsible for the institutions on campus.   I taught in the PPLP when I first came here in 2010, also in the single "degree course"  which although on site  relied on "certification" from other recognised universities.  The PPLP offers 1,2 and 3 year certificate and diploma courses in many aspects of toUrism and hospitality.  

I was here in 2011 when Universitas Dhyana Pura  "Undhira Bali" was born, and attended the first two "name day" celebrations (I arrived too late this year).   This year the first graduates of the new courses offered by "Undhira Bali" received their degrees so there were separate celebrations for the PPLP and the Undhira students.  A combined ceremony would have been way too large and too long.

The PPLP "Wisuda" (graduation ceremony) was held on Wednesday August 31st at the Grand Bali Beach Hotel in Sanur.  In 2014 I taught mainly university classes, and in 2015 I didn't return.  As a result I had very little contact with 2 student intakes in the PPLP, and so I barely recognised any students I may have taught - but many recognised me, as I was quite well known and visible on campus.

The colour is terrible but it's the only shot I have
of me at the ceremony.  Students ushers are
dressed in traditional ceremonial costumes.

Dancers accompanied by a gamelan band
welcome dignitaries, graduating students,
families and guests to the ceremony.

The choir sang frequently throughout the
ceremony.  I've attended 7 Wisudas so I know
most of the songs - but sing only "inside"!

The "blue team".  Members of the PPLP's governing
body wear blue trimmed robes to distinguish them
from the members of the University's Senate.

The dancers continue.  Their many
movements are amazingly elegant.

Down to business

On Satuday 10th September I went with about 45 students and 1 teacher to the picnic areas in the grounds of the provincial administrative complex.  I regard this as "core business" as this was a welcoming activity of an official club promoting the use of English amongst students.  Naturally I was there, after all, "conversation coach" is a role which is just as important as my class-room teaching.

My colleague Chris Susanto gets help testing my
new phone-camera to see if it is any good for
"group selfies".  It is, but I wouldn't know that!

Pick the visiting teacher.  I think
 the shorts are the "give-away".

International Class

On September 13th I was present at the welcome for 7 students from Heilbronn University (in the south west of Germany), 4 students from Momayama University (Osaka, Japan) and 6 students from Undhira.  They are starting the 4 month course "Intrapreneurship in Another Perspective", a joint program of the International Institute for Sustainability and Intrapreneurship" (IISI) and Universitas Dhyana Pura.  Yes, that's "intra" not "entre".  Look it up to appreciate the difference - I had to.  I've given a couple of classes to the Japanese and Indonesian students on "Preparing Reports" and "Presenting Reports" and will be around to assist with English conversation practice.

Formally welcoming students at their first gathering

Are they wondering what they have let themselves in for?
They will have a challenging, novel and enjoyable time.

Undhira Wisuda

Today, Thursday September 22, was a special day, a proud and satisfying day. It was the first "Undhira only" graduation ceremony.  The first cohort of graduates from across all the departments of the University have come through, justifying the vision and hard work of all who planned and worked away years ago to make this happen.  I was present when Undhira was being "planted", I've watched it grow, and I've seen the first wonderful harvest.  "Well done all!".

Marg Blanch from Perth (another volunteer who is working with staff of the Early Childhood program on campus and teachers in local schools) and I entered the ballroom at the end of the procession of academics and VIPs.  This is a much appreciated honour for us but it does mean that I miss the views of the ceremonial entry.  Look back through the archives of my blog and you will find "Wisuda" entries from past years in which I've included the arrival of the academics.

The gamelan band provides the spirited introductions
and accompanies the dancers during their welcome.

The large shells are not just for decoration. They are blown
to announce the arrival and departure of the academics,
and herald some significant parts of the ceremony.
The students are dressed in ceremonial costumes.

Perhaps to mark the special significance of this Wisuda
 (or perhaps it was just a coincidence) we were treated
to more dancers (7) than usual (typically 4 or 5).

So many dancers I can't get them all into the one shot.

The "honour guard" blow their conch shells.

The Rektor (Dr I Made Nyandra) welcomes guests.
He made special mention of my presence
and help in teaching and encouraging
more confident and fluent conversation.

I recognised happy faces everywhere I looked as I had taught many of these students in the English Studies classes, the Hotel and Tourism Management classes, or perhaps in one of the many classes I taught in "Matriculation English" which all new students must complete.  It was a great pleasure to seem them successfully complete their courses.

Perhaps it is unfair to draw attention to just a few students, but these are some of those I've known over the years, or some I could manage to snap as I wasn't able to photograph all whom I recognised. Some are presented here just because I  happen to have photos they probably have forgotten about.  The first is Ni Putu Ari Dewinta ("Ita").  Ita graduated 2 years after most of her classmates as she spent 2 years in Japan as an exchange student.

Ita waits her turn to receive her degree.

This photo was in my photo archive.   That's Ita on the
right with Rani.  They were in class MPA1 in Oct 2010.

It's not hard to pick Ita in this photo from September
2011.  Her class (now MPA3) was having restaurant training.

I remember Evan Max Ray for a number of reasons.  It's hard to forget him - it's even harder not to notice him!  He is one of the few students on campus who is taller than me.  I have special memories of him from his time in the Debating Club, especially when I went with the team to Palembang in Sumatra, to compete in the National University Debating Championships in 2013.  Evan was always fired up - at times I could imagine him leaping over the desk to pursue his point even more vigorously than was normal.

Evan - big young man, big personality.

The Red Cross came to the campus to collect
blood in 2013.  Evan just fits on the stretcher.

Evan at the debating championships in Palembang, 2013.

The Undhira team at the 2013 Championships.
Evan, Mr Chris Susanto, Bu Chrisma, Yustina and Steven.

No, it's not the cover of a CD for a Bali Band.  Some
members of the debating team (Evan at right) at an
informal beach outing and send-off for me (2013).

Ni Luh Juniasih (Juni) gets off lightly.  Surprisingly I couldn't
find any photos of her in my archive.  She's always been a
pleasure to talk with out in the grounds, especially during
 the Orientation activities for the new students.

Tommy Sanjaya Cahyo (L) and Vivilia Setiawan (C) - both
come from Jember in Java.  They were in a MBP Tourism
 Management class I taught for a couple of years.

Tommy, Vivi and Daniel at left (graduated 2014) with
the Director of the Soerkano Museum in Tampaksiring,
 Gianyar Regency (2013).  We were invited to enter the
"off limits" area to view rare items in the collection. 

Vivi waits for presentation of her prize.  In 2013 Vivi often joined
me and Laurel Milner, another Uniting World volunteer from
Adelaide.  She told us she wanted to be a top student and she has
done that.  She graduated with honours, one of the top 3 students
in the faculty.  Well done Vivi, you've made us pleased and proud.

Vivi with part of her prize - a "cheque" from Bank Bukopin.

Here's a photo I'm sure she doesn't know I have.
Orientation Week for new students (August 2012).

With Laurel Milner at Gitgit Falls (July 2013).

The first intake in the Sastra Inggris program
 (English Literature).  I recognised many of these
faces from Sept 2012 amongst the new graduates.

I'm not sure but I think that's Putri Lestari on the
 left and Laura Melinda Wijaya.  Sastra Inggris class.

Almost everyone looks different when dressed up.
Check against the Sastra Inggris 2012 photo and I
think we have (L-R) Ni Wayan Ratna, Yosef Santoso,
 Frido Ayb Meute (he's an easy pick) and Vicka Angelina.
(Use the comment box below the blog to tell me if I'm wrong!)

There's only room and time for just a couple more.  Again these are former students I recognise from my past interactions with them.

Andrie Willson (centre)

I remember Rahel (centre) from Flores.  She was a
"mature age student", as I once was, studying and working.

Some 230+ students were presented with their degrees; outstanding students were recognised and presented with prizes; and the students recited oaths of allegiance as citizens of Indonesia and Undhira Alumni.

Graduates recite their oaths.

One graduate spoke on behalf of all. 

After two speeches, one of which thoroughly engaged the audience and was especially entertaining (even though I had no idea what was said), the ceremony drew to a close.  We joined the procession out of the ballroom, and went past the many little photobooths set up to record memories of the day as we made our way up to the main restaurant for our luncheon.

Another Wisuda was over.  It was my 8th, but it was perhaps the most memorable because of its significance to the Undhira community.

Paul In Bali
September 2016


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