Notes from the land of Flores - #Part 1 - Minang people are everywhere

Indonesia is a beautiful country. People say this country was created when God was smiling, so the nature is beautiful and rich. Not only nature, this country is also rich in traditions, culture, ethnic and religious diversity. It seems that a lifetime is not enough to understand, witness and enjoy this wealth. They are one reason to be proud in an eternal breath of gratitude to God Almighty. That day I enjoyed the beauty of the blue sky of Mother Earth. After a flight from Padang to Jakarta, then continue to Surabaya until it ends in Kupang. The beautiful orange twilight spread out behind the Garuda window on the half way to Kupang until the change in time zone appeared in an instant outside the plane turning very dark. This is a sign that we are leaving day in the West to night in Southeastern Indonesia. At 21.00 WITA we were a group of SM-3T UNP Padang teachers who would be on duty in the district. Ende and Kab. North Middle East landed at El Tari Kupang International Airport. It was a long but memorable journey to get to this Southeastern Indonesia. A total of 12 hours were only spent on the plane and just transiting at the airport until the last flight my ears sounded like ringing. Evidence of how vast this beautiful country that stretches above the equator.

After taking our luggage, which amounted to more than 50 people, we headed to the inn to rest before continuing our flight to Kab. Ende and his entourage Kab. The North Middle East will continue the overland journey from Kupang to Kefemenanu. Arriving at the hotel, we all went to our respective rooms and all rested a sign of tiredness that had reached its peak. It turned out that at that time it was 00.00 WITA. we still see 23.00 and forgot to change the time setting to 1 hour faster. The next morning we all got up and prayed Fajr a little late. Getting used to hearing the call to prayer in the early morning reminded us that the majority of the population here is Catholic, so we had to adjust the conditions. After bathing and having breakfast at 08.00 WITA, everyone was ready to return to the airport to continue the flight to Ende.

young teacher from Padang State University who will teach in Ende District

Again, the expanse of beautiful islands in the middle of the blue sea is displayed outside the plane window. Who does not know how beautiful Flores is. It's a fortune to get a teaching assignment here. Who does not know the phenomenal Lake Kelimutu with its 3 different colored craters in Ende. Yes, today I will be closer to those beautiful places. As if Allah SWT prepared a special bonus from this service. In the afternoon we landed at Haji Hasan Aroebusman Ende Airport. Our seniors from SM-3T Generation IV UNP Padang are waiting outside the airport. In the next few days, they will go home with the lecturer who is our companion. After shaking hands and traveling, we were taken to the District Education Office. Ende for the welcoming process. On the sidelines of the activity, we were informed that later there will be friends from UNHIKSA Bali and UNNES Semarang who will also be on duty and will collaborate together for the next year in helping Kab. Ende in education.

photo with the head of the Ende district education office

After the teacher handover process was carried out, we were taken to Mr. Alianis' house. He is a Minang nomad who is a parent to SM-3T teachers from Padang. The Minang people are everywhere. It is very easy to find them even to the east of Indonesia. Even from the stories of friends who served in Papua, there they also met and always gathered with Minang immigrants in Papua. The tradition of migrating has become something that is inseparable from the Minang youth who have grown up. The bus provided by the District Education Office. Ende who picked us up at the airport earlier now took us to Mr. Alianis' house. Father and Mother are very kind people. Mom and Dad never counted with us during our year in Ende. We are free to live there and we really feel we are not far from our hometown. If we are busy gathering, just unwinding at the place of duty always having dinner together is something that should not be done. In fact, at certain times we help them sell in the market.

That night we were introduced to the tradition of eating "bajamba" or eating together with fathers, mothers, lecturers who escorted us and of course we were SM-3T class V who had just arrived as well as SM-3T class IV who were going home. That night the event was also packed with the farewell of class IV with Mr. Alianis' family. The atmosphere changed emotionally when one by one our seniors conveyed a word to the families of the father and mother, which made us know how warm and close the relationship between father, mother and them had been for the past year. A task that we must maintain for the next year because we are their next children. The two lecturers accompanying us also dissolved in feelings of emotion. We then discussed many things and learned from the seniors of class IV, of course, about the culture, customs, culture and habits of the people at the assignment location. As a bedtime night chat before tomorrow starts enjoying the day in Ende, the City of Pancasila. (continued)

my introduction in achievement 1 : https://steemit.com/hive-172186/@fajrihasan12/achievement-1-my-introduction-fajrihasan12-kata-mereka-saya-guru-jalan-jalan