Friends in High Places…

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Heather

So, when an Indonesian friend suggested that I might want to meet one of the most important people in Bali, who was I to say no? I was the first tourist invited to the headquarters of the head of army intelligence for Bali and two other regions of Indonesia in thirty years! No, this wasn’t an intimidating experience at all…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we arrived at the check-point at the headquarters, I commented to my friend who accompanied me, “They are probably going to think I’m in trouble!” The guards were very flustered and confused by my presence there, not having checked in a tourist EVER. I offered my Colorado driver’s license as i.d., which, of course, had to be handed all around for viewing. My name always gives people trouble, so that was also repeated all around. We stood nervously and waited to be escorted to the office of “the big boss.”

I was pleasantly surprised that Helmi was NOT in uniform; there were no guns to be found, although “shooting on the range” was an optional activity offered to me that day. Instead we ate bokso, shot the shit about American vs. Indonesian army; not knowing much about either – I mostly listened. The big boss was happy to have an opportunity to practice his English – so happy that he actually called his eleven-year-old son on one of his FIVE cell phones so he could also share this opportunity. (His son clearly was not impressed, as I was a distraction from his soccer video game).

I was a bucket of nerves for most of this visit, but eventually things lightened up and we had another, less formal, photo opportunity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helmi and his staff assured throughout my visit that if I ever needed a security detail in Indonesia, I was set. Also if I wanted to party at local bars for free with said security detail, that could be arranged as well.

Helmi and his staff were incredibly down-to-earth and “normal;” the meeting was friendly and informal.

This week Helmi moves on to bigger and better things in Java, where he will supervise an even larger region of army intelligence officers. I have an open invitation to come and visit him and his family in the new headquarters. Indonesian hospitality at its finest!

Posted in Asia, Bali, blogging, butterflies in stomach, Heather Boylan, Indonesia, Indonesian Army, Indonesian Army Intelligence, scared shitless, southeast asia, teacher education, teachers who travel, travel, travel writing, traveling with Heather, travelwithheather, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Unconventional Summer in Skyline Park

Posted on December 10, 2011 by Heather

One very memorable time I truly felt that “YES!” feeling inside was when I taught an education course under a tent in Skyline Park in Denver.

I’m writing about this experience now in part because of a book I’m reading by Shane Ketterman: The Meaningful Business Book. I won’t go too much into the details of this book right now other than to say that Shane’s focus on “being of service” in terms of business is one that resonates very strongly with me.

One of the exercises in this book is to remember a time when I REALLY had that feeling of “YES!” Teaching the class in a park in downtown Denver was a bit of an experiment on the part of Metro State. As I would be teaching summer school anyways, and I craved being outside during the summer (and imagined students would as well), this was an opportunity I could not resist. I think most other professors thought I was crazy…

Class convened for the first time and I explained to the students that this one would meet at the park nearby; if they wanted to change sections to the “classroom” course they could. Students looked at me like I had two heads. “What do you mean it meets in the PARK?!?” “Where do we park our cars?!?” “What if it rains?!?” They rapid-fired questions at me. In the end, all of the students in this section of the class oped for the park option, and some students from the “classroom” section even oped to join us. We were off to a great start.

What transpired that summer in Skyline Park can only be described as something transformative and magical. As I write this I have chills remembering the students’  – and my – engagement and exuberance. I literally couldn’t wait for each and every class meeting.

At the beginning this experiment felt kind of strange, tent and white board set up steps away from The Palm and other restaurants, open to the park and the sidewalk. Students and I struggled a bit to adjust to this unconventional setting. Before long we were just enjoying being outside and having great conversations about course content. Enthusiasm and engagement were the highest I’ve ever seen in teaching this course.

Just about every activity I used in the “classroom” setting was adapted or even trashed while we learned about the limitations – and possibilities – of meeting in the park. On more than one occasion a homeless person stumbled into the tent to “check out” what we were doing. This was also a point of this class – to generate community interest in Metro State. While this was not exactly the kind of interest sought, it certainly made for good times and teachable moments.

Sometimes during this summer session we were all giddy and giggly from the beginning of class until the end. Sometimes we ran for our lives to our “indoor” alternative setting amidst lightning bolts, giant rain drops, and gale-force winds. Michael Bennett, then superintendent of Denver Public Schools (now US Senator) came to speak to the class, as did many college and city officials. It was a spectacle, albeit a fun one, from start to finish.

I think about this “YES!” moment now, when I’m figuring out just how the next teaching adventure will pay my bills.

According to Shane, “profit is the result of making a difference.” Teaching moments like these are when I most felt I was making a difference. Re-creating these moments in a way that I might eventually make money doing them again – aside from going back to the  “traditional” classroom – while having the freedom to travel is my goal.

Posted in blogging, Downtown Denver, education, Heather Boylan, learning curve, lessons, Metro State College, pixie dust, Skyline Park, teacher education, teachers who travel, Teaching in the Park, travel, travel writing, traveling with Heather, travelwithheather, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Motorbike Reality Check

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Heather

I witnessed a horrific motorbike crash yesterday. The driver was going to pass a taxi on the right (we drive on the left here, and passing in this way is totally normal); the taxi swerved right to avoid a car pulling out of parking to his left; the motorbike driver hit the taxi and went flying off his bike and to the right of the road.

Motorbike accidents aren’t unusual here. The fact that I haven’t seen a bad one until yesterday is.

What I remember most vividly about this wreck is the sound of the motorbike hitting and then being crushed by the taxi.

What makes me most sad about this wreck is that, reportedly, the motorbike driver broke his neck.

Life in Indonesia is no walk in the park. Families of five using motorbikes for transportation is merely one testament to that statement. Now one family is short one son, one brother, maybe one father.  And one motorbike.

This morning I woke up early and took a long walk on the beach. I walk 15 minutes each way to get to the beach, through dirty, narrow, rubbish-strewn, stray dog filled streets. At 6:30 a.m. the walk is very different than during the day. The early morning lives of hard-working Indonesians are on public display; there is no ojek asking “you need transport?” or t-shirt hawker chasing you down. It’s so much more “real” and raw without the tourists.

As I walked I thought about the motorbike driver and his family. Where is he now? Is he alive? Can his family afford the hospital to keep him alive? To help him heal? Can he heal? If he does, then what?

My petty insecurities and worries – how can they possibly compare to the pain his family is suffering right now?

If there’s anything I’ve learned during my time in Indonesia is that as an American I can’t POSSIBLY truly understand the challenges most Indonesians face every day. Comparing my life to theirs is mind-boggling and humbling – there’s just no way to really even do it. I know that I won’t go hungry today or tomorrow or probably ever; I won’t ever have to sleep outside or on a beach or even without a bed unless I WANT to. Few people here can say make any of these statements with ANY amount of certainty.

I look at my life, my possessions, my future, and even now – when I’ve basically quit my American life to follow a dream – I am secure. I’m safe. I’m cared for and supported by a network of incredible family and friends. I have enough money to live comfortably, even luxuriously by Indonesian standards.

Sometimes I just feel like a coddled, spoiled brat. Especially when I open my eyes to the  harsh realities others face every day – and with a smile, no less.

As much as I want to put the motorbike driver and accident out of my head, I cannot. I should not. I NEEDED to witness that accident to awaken from my tourist stupor, and to urge me put my gifts, skills, and privilege to work.

Posted in accident, aging, Asia, blogging, education, Heather Boylan, Indonesia, lessons, motorbike, reality, reality check, scared shitless, shocking, southeast asia, teacher education, travel, travel writing, traveling with Heather, travelwithheather, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments