The implementation Research Class held outbound activities on 21-22 September 2019 in Kebondalem, Prambanan, Central Java. Students from the 4th batch, program manager and staff were participated. This activity aims to introduce the daily life of rural communities in Java. This is particularly important while all students were originated from outer Yogyakarta. A good understanding of the local culture will helps students to adapt and interact with their environment.
Culture is a means to unite people and live-in events, gatherings and visit to local communities are really important to understand the native culture, develop bonding and explore a new community. The 2 days live-in event to Prambanan helped us to see the different colors of this beautiful country. We experienced different shades of Javanese and Indonesian culture, right from learning ‘Jumputan’ printings and creating beautiful prints on t-shirts, to moving our body and dancing traditionally on folk music with the village children. The trip helped us to recall that life is fun along with physical activities. Riding bicycles wearing colourful ‘caping’ hats transformed us in to Javanese people. The visit to ancient ‘Candi Sojiwan’, made us admire the unique local architecture even more. That evening, the setting sun witnessed all of us returning back to our childhood days and playing various indigenous games. The hospitality provided by local people was overwhelming. Their gesture of cooking delicious food, helping us during the entire trip and providing comfort during our stay at their homes touched our hearts. We tracked up the hill top next morning to witness the red sky and beautiful sun rise. These 2 days enriched us with the local Indonesian and Javanese culture and was really helpful for us to connect with the native people in more compassionate manner. As public health scholars, we should understand the local culture and this field visit was an appropriate mixture of learning and recreation with vibrancy. (Abhishek)