However, one student stood out from the giggly, shy crowd. Her name is Pusvita Lestari, but her friends call her Lesta. Lesta marched up to me, shook my hand, and offered to show me around Panggul. Later that same week, I was riding my bike down to Konan Beach with her. I thought she was going to be quiet and let me do all the talking. Oh no. That's not Lesta's style. She talked my ear off....in English. In. Nearly. Perfect. English.
Her English speaking skills astonished me. At 15 years old, her knowledge of the English language is advanced and almost equal to my mother's (my mother has lived in the US for 30 years). She told me fun facts about Panggul. She introduced me to some of her friends. She even told me an old Javanese legend called Queen of the South Sea. I had such a fun day with her.
Throughout the year, she has helped me integrate into the school community. If I taught alone, she translated for me. If I had questions about the scheduele, she fed me the answers. If there was chaos in the classroom, she helped maintain control. She was like my little helper!
Last Thursday, Lesta entered her third English speaking competition. She was one of 45 students who competed. Each student had 7 minutes to tell a story (I'm sure you're doing the math and realizing how long I sat through this competition. It was a long day, that's all I have to say). Lesta chose to recite "The Legend of Dang Gedunai." This story explains why fishermen never go to sea when the current is strong. This is the exact text that she translated herself:
Once upon a time in Riau, there was a stubborn kid named Dang Gedunai. He lived with his mother. But he never made her happy.
"Mom, I want to go to the river. I want to go fishing," said Dang Gedunai.
"It's cloudy outisde. Rain will soon fall. Why don't you just stay at home?"
As always, Dang Gedunai ignored her. He then went to the river. It was very cloudy when he arrived at the river side. Soon it was drizzling but Dang Gedunai was still busy fishing. Later rain fell down heavily. Dang Gedunai finally gave up. However right before he left, he saw something shining in the river.
It was a very big egg. Carefull, Dang Gedunai brought the egg home. His mother was surprised to see him brought a big egg.
"What egg is that? Where di you find it?"
"In the river, Mom."
"Be careful with the eff. You have to return it," replied his mother.
As always, he ignored his mother's advice. He planned to boil the egg and ate it. In the morning, his mother was ready to go to the paddy field. Again, she advised him to put the egg back to the river. Dang Gedunai did not say anything.
When his mother left the house, he immediately boiled the egg. When it was cookied, he ate it. It was so delicious. He was so full then he fell a sleep. He had a dream. A giant dragon came to him.
"You stole my egg. For the punishment, you will become a dragon!" Dang Gedunai woke up. He felt very thristy. Later his mother went home.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. Suddenly I feel very thirsty. My throat is very hot."
His mother then gave him a glass of water. It's not enough. He drank another glass, then another glass, then another glass until there was not any water in the house. His mother asked him to go to the pond. Dang Gedunai drank all the water until the pond was dried. But it was not enough. Then they went to the river. Again it was not enough. Dang Gedunai knew his dream would come true. He would become a dragon.
"Mom, please forgive me. I ignored you. I ate the egg. It was a dragon's egg. I will change as a dragon. I cannot live with you anymore. I will live in the sea. If you see big waves in the sea, that means I'm eating. But if the waves are calmed, then I'm sleeping," said Dang Gedunai.
His mother cried. Then slowly Dang Gedunai left her. His mother ten told the villagers not to go to the sea when the waves were big. Her son was eating. Until now fisherman do not want to go fishing in the sea when the waves are big. They know the dragon is eating. They just wait until the dragon is finished eating and the waves are calmed.
Lesta performed this speech with incredible passion. The judges were clearly impressed with her talent, which is exactly why she won first place! On May 29th, Lesta is entering another English speaking contest. She will be performing "The Legend of Dang Gedunai" and "The Legend of Bloody Mary." I will help her practice over the next 2 weeks and I have confidence that she can win another trophy!
Once upon a time in Riau, there was a stubborn kid named Dang Gedunai. He lived with his mother. But he never made her happy.
"Mom, I want to go to the river. I want to go fishing," said Dang Gedunai.
"It's cloudy outisde. Rain will soon fall. Why don't you just stay at home?"
As always, Dang Gedunai ignored her. He then went to the river. It was very cloudy when he arrived at the river side. Soon it was drizzling but Dang Gedunai was still busy fishing. Later rain fell down heavily. Dang Gedunai finally gave up. However right before he left, he saw something shining in the river.
It was a very big egg. Carefull, Dang Gedunai brought the egg home. His mother was surprised to see him brought a big egg.
"What egg is that? Where di you find it?"
"In the river, Mom."
"Be careful with the eff. You have to return it," replied his mother.
As always, he ignored his mother's advice. He planned to boil the egg and ate it. In the morning, his mother was ready to go to the paddy field. Again, she advised him to put the egg back to the river. Dang Gedunai did not say anything.
When his mother left the house, he immediately boiled the egg. When it was cookied, he ate it. It was so delicious. He was so full then he fell a sleep. He had a dream. A giant dragon came to him.
"You stole my egg. For the punishment, you will become a dragon!" Dang Gedunai woke up. He felt very thristy. Later his mother went home.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. Suddenly I feel very thirsty. My throat is very hot."
His mother then gave him a glass of water. It's not enough. He drank another glass, then another glass, then another glass until there was not any water in the house. His mother asked him to go to the pond. Dang Gedunai drank all the water until the pond was dried. But it was not enough. Then they went to the river. Again it was not enough. Dang Gedunai knew his dream would come true. He would become a dragon.
"Mom, please forgive me. I ignored you. I ate the egg. It was a dragon's egg. I will change as a dragon. I cannot live with you anymore. I will live in the sea. If you see big waves in the sea, that means I'm eating. But if the waves are calmed, then I'm sleeping," said Dang Gedunai.
His mother cried. Then slowly Dang Gedunai left her. His mother ten told the villagers not to go to the sea when the waves were big. Her son was eating. Until now fisherman do not want to go fishing in the sea when the waves are big. They know the dragon is eating. They just wait until the dragon is finished eating and the waves are calmed.
Lesta performed this speech with incredible passion. The judges were clearly impressed with her talent, which is exactly why she won first place! On May 29th, Lesta is entering another English speaking contest. She will be performing "The Legend of Dang Gedunai" and "The Legend of Bloody Mary." I will help her practice over the next 2 weeks and I have confidence that she can win another trophy!
I have finished reading your blog. Very nice biography of your in Indonesia. Wish you all the bests.
ReplyDeleteI have finished reading your blog. Very nice biography of your in Indonesia. Wish you all the bests.
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