Three decades of international partnership

GEELONG Christian College Geelong and Indonesian school SMAN 2 Mataram have celebrated three decades of partnership with a recent student visit.

Starting in April, 18 students and three staff members from the Indonesian school landed in Australia for two weeks of learning and cultural immersion.

During their time in Geelong the group lived with host families from the college, experienced school life in Australia and went on day trips, including to the Vic Markets and Serendip Sanctuary. Christian College Geelong

co-ordinator of international exchange Jess Bijaksono said there were three main benefits of the partnership, with the first being intercultural understanding and awareness.

“Interacting with people from another country broadens our students’ perspectives, challenges their assumption, broadens their global perspective on the world.

“Then there’s lifelong friendships, that goes without saying, our students born very quickly and their relationships tend to last a lifetime, as cliche as that sounds.

“We have our Christian college students often heading back to Lombok when they finish school to visit their host families.

“The third and final would have to be language proficiency, there is no substitute for immersion.

“Whether that’s speaking English or speaking Indonesian in a real-life context with native speakers is the best way to learn, it’s something that we just can’t replicate in our classrooms.”

As part of the partnership, the school’s alternate years they visit the other country, with college students visiting Indonesia last year.

The relationships between the students start to build before even stepping on the plane, participating in regular group calls and keeping in touch.

Matrium teacher Pak Ihdzar Said his school’s students found being in Australia interesting and helpful, especially for the students as they immerse themselves in the language and culture.

“It improves their English language skills and then they learn about the cultures of Australia.

“They learn what specific places here and the history, it applies as well for the CCG students, when they visit Lombok we try to show them the iconic places and the history.”

Mr Ihdzar said it is the warm welcome they receive when they land in Australia that he enjoy about being here the most.

“It feels like home. They treat us very well, it’s not like a family, it is a family, we are friends forever now.

“It’s good, especially for the students, they just met, they have made contact before through social media or emails, but once they meet, they call each other mum, dad, son.”

As both schools look to continue the partnership into the future, they hope to foster the relationship with the possibility of a teacher exchange.