Eliah Dean on volunteering for YTS …
Eliah in Kalimantan
I grew up in a pond called Australia. Culturally mixed and historically jaded, Australia provided a sheltered paradise where the world’s concerns were washed away by blue skies and crystal beaches. Economic growth was an emerging priority, but for a long time people could cover their living and surfing costs by a monthly government payment. Food was abundant and the kangaroos ran free.
For many, the discomforts of Australia come through the nightly news. A soapy called Home and Away would always follow and this would carry the illusion of true Australian culture. The cultural canvas did extend but the tapestry would mostly come from America. Ideas of countries other than Europe remained locked in the minds of academics and people with feet that itched.
After studying and a few years of work, my cycle of comfort consisted of Indian on Friday nights, Hippo Bar on Saturday nights and gourmet birchir muesli on Sunday mornings. Regular catch-up coffee with friends covered issues of critical importance; houses, relationships, money and a God called ‘My Identity’.
Underneath the surface of all that was interesting to others except me, a range of feelings flowed indicating that where I was, and what I was doing, was going to change. A period of not knowing would always weigh heaviest, but previous memories of overseas adventures made me search for a different line.
A relatively new programme undoubtedly initiated by a public servant with itchy feet, gave young Australians the chance to experience a different pond. A contract that limited overt behaviour was a simple trade-off, and recognition that this experience would be different to being a traveller. The concept of volunteering and the ideas of what it was supposed to be idealistically, were constrained to a feeling that I wanted to help people.
I found a position at a Susila Dharma supported organization called Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta (YTS). YTS needed someone with experience in communication and media production, and this seemed to fit well with my studies and work experience.
The jump to Indonesia was made with some informal and formal preparations. Guidebooks and the Internet were great sources of the landscape and common sense practicalities. People with experience in the area with firsthand accounts were better sources, both for my questions and for feeling where they were coming from.
Arriving in Kalimantan on a plane that offered prayer cards and a guarantee that it would not crash reinforced the idea that this would indeed be an adventure.
Arriving in Kalimantan on a plane that offered prayer cards and a guarantee that it would not crash reinforced the idea that this would indeed be an adventure. I was first greeted by the director of YTS, who explained the context of the work, the people and the town. He mentioned that the jungle town of Palangka Raya was rather sleepy and there wasn’t much to do.
Challenge 1 – what to do in a sleepy town?
Solution – find your own entertainment.
Limits in language meant that my circle of friends remained empty for a while. Instead, I found entertainment in food. Food was comforting, pleasing and satisfying. The trade off was the kilos but the gain was security from loneliness.
After my language progressed from baby level, I was able to make friends and engage in activities notably focussed on shedding some weight. Even though I couldn’t play badminton, this type of interaction opened my ears to cultural profanities as well as personal humilities – notably the fact that I couldn’t play badminton. A fashionable reason for this ability to lose every game may have been that my shoes were falling apart.
Challenge 2 – material items aren’t available?
Solution – be creative.
While the marketing gurus spend millions on fancy advertising to convince you that in life you can’t walk on this earth without a pair of shiny white Nike shoes, the reality is that our feet evolved to suit the planet. A pair of thongs eventually became the substitute and with them came a few wins.
When reflecting about the challenges I had off the sporting field, notably at work, I found that these were very specific to my own nature and what I brought with me.
Eliah with friends
Challenge 3 – personality exposure.
Solution – embrace it.
Using a practical example, suppose I came from a world where everything had to be planned and if something didn’t happen according to plan, frustration would appear. Now, change contexts and change cultural settings. Without a good understanding of how local processes and dynamics work, moments become embarrassing and humility is learnt.
The emotional roller for most volunteers, including myself, does end, and eventually the experience becomes like spreading smooth butter on good bread – easy. At that point it becomes clearer to know if anything is being gained.
Realisation: How to measure the gains?
This question can be seen from multiple perspectives, but to keep it simple I’ll chose two. Fish A and Fish I.
Fish A is from Australia while Fish I is from Indonesia. Fish A has landed in the Fish I’s pond. They are from the same source but differences do exist. At first, Fish A can’t stop talking, while Fish I is wishing Fish A would take a deep breath. Eventually, both fish develop a relationship that lets them share information, knowledge and experience. Eventually, both fish come to an understanding where growth in its many dimensions – material, personal, etc. – happens. Many people would see such a qualitative gain as immeasurable; but really, how do you measure understanding?
I first chose to jump into this fishpond because I had a feeling to help people. What I have learnt from being in the pond for nearly 3 years is that I am helped too. For example, culturally rich regions beside Europe do exist, human needs in the context of community development are better understood, the enjoyment of listening has been found, and rice with fish tastes better then birchir muesli for breakfast on Sundays.
Volunteering allows for a mutual gain and when the emotions are taken away from the experience both fish can benefit from swimming in the same pond.
Words have helped me make sense of my experience as a volunteer, but words aren’t needed to jump.
Read Eliah’s previous article on his adventures, Unpacking Kalimantan
Good luck!