Tolerance and friendship-Day 5

My last day at Sekolah Global Jaya. I was very touched as the Junior School students and staff gathered to say goodbye and presented me with a gift. The atmosphere of SGJ is one of compassion, tolerance and open-mindedness. The staff are nurturing life-long learners in every way.
I was welcomed to observe prayer time which is held at midday every Friday. All the children went to different parts of the school for their religion; Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Catholic and Christian. As I went up the stairs amongst chattering children many said hello and one boy asked me, 'Are you Muslim?' I joined the Muslim children and enjoyed observing their rituals. I also observed the Buddist and Hindu prayers, each group singing and celebrating their religion in different ways.
This afternoon I went approx. 5 km from SGJ through small traditional villages and rice fields to Parigi, a national school. I enjoyed an Indonesian lunch, sitting on the floor of an open air restuarant, overlooking a rural area and fish farms. I then met the local children and was joined by years 8 and 11 students fro SGJ who teach English as part of their IB requirements of community service. SGJ is very supportive to the Parigi school.

Thank you Global Jaya for making this week so memorable and informative. The children and staff were so welcoming. My host Anne Gallagher, has made my stay comfortable and entertaining. Allison Stekelenberg, the PYP coordinator, did an amazing job establishing this exchange and the blog in collaboration with Chris McNamara from St Leonard's College, fully suppoted by Kathryn Young, the expatriate primary Principal. I hope more teachers are able to experience such a postive learning experience and develop links with other schools creating international learning, friendship and tolerance.
Liz Bawden-Nixon.