Our little paradise: the secret beach

Here are pictures of our secret beach that we usually invade on saturdays.. there's nobody around, and you are isolated from the crazy croud.
We love it!

Entering the secret beach....




Abel, Emily et Camille




The view...



And here are our friends from ILO who came with us...!

English classes at GTZ

Since I started with GTZ (German Technical Cooperation) one month ago, I get up every morning at 6:50 to give english classes from 7:30 to 12. My students are workers of Bank Indonesia, whose post-tsunami activities are supported by the GTZ Economic Recovery project; as well as local GTZ staff.

To be honest, with you, I first thought that being an english teacher would be boring as hell. First of all, I thought i wouldn't be a good one: I tend to loose my patience much too quickly and simply have no experience in being a "real teacher". I also thought it wouldn't bring me much personally..

God I was wrong. Although it's hard to get my butt on my motorbile so early, every morning is an enjoyable one: my students are intelligent and interesting people, and they give me the feeling of really contributing to adding something positive to their lives.
Most of them already had a basis in english and some of them are actually quite good. I also have three classes of BEGINNERS. And when I say beginners, believe me, there at the beginning of the beginning. I was scared that those classes especially would be tiring: they're the best! Most of these students are security gards or cleaners, and haven't really been to school that long, so it's very difficult for them to concentrate. They have two classes a week of one hour each. You should see the effort they give, it s really amazing. Here they are trying so hard to give me the right answer, and being SO aware that learning english could really help them improve their future professional career, or simply, opportunities. It is hard but they listen with their eyes one open and then repeat the same word ten times to make sure it will stay in their heads.. :)

Here are a few of them...

Fitri: a beautiful and extremely shy young girl who lost all her family in the tsunami.. There is a constant sadness on her face, but when she manages to do her exercise of participate in the discussion you see her light up and you feel she is feeling proud of herself. She's a "do-it-all" secretary and I know she dreams of more.. And I'm sure she'll get it one day.

Jet: jet is a guard/cleaning worker at Bank Indonesia. Jet probably suffer from a learning disorder or maybe even a kind of social disorder (I don't want to put wrong words on this). He hasn't been to school and is often treated as being a little "stupid". But he is simply amazing. Three weeks ago he couldn't say ANYTHING in english and now he is babbling on about anything all the time. He concentrates so hard during class and you can see how much effort he is giving to do so. He's a generous young man and so respectful. It's also extremely nice to feel him gain confidence and improve his english: i feel he is discovering he can also learn eventhough he' never been to school.

Hanif and Mustafa: two young men who have also been hurt by life, and whose faces clearly show it. But I was immediatly struck by their kindness and manners, so nice and respectful. They are also extremely motivated to speak english. Mustafa at first simply could not speak. When he read, i couldn't hear his voice he was speaking so softly, terrified of himself and his capacity to learn english. After three weeks, he speaks out more and is really trying to not be afraid of his mistakes. Hanif has so many dreams of better things and I hope learning english will help him reach them.

Rahmi: Is a local GTZ staff.. At first, I thought she just didn't care about anything as she just didn't communicate at all. I learned this morning she gave birth to a still-born child three weeks ago. Today in class she shared her experience and I recognize this strength Acehnese women find when confronted to tragedies. She also wrote me a full page describing her wedding so I could "understant our culture". She' an amazing woman.

I could describe all of them but I think i'll stop there.. next time, i'll post pictures!
Best to all,
Emily

Pauvre Palestine

Face à l'échec de l'unité palestinienne, la réponse du poête palestinien et Dieu d'écriture Mahmoud Darwish

Ha'aretz, 22 juin 2007

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/873759.html

Leçons de Palestine dans le monde arabe
Zvi Bar'el

Trad. : Gérard pour La Paix Maintenant


"Devions-nous tomber de ces nobles hauteurs, devions-nous voir le sang couler de nos mains pour comprendre que nous n'étions pas les anges que nous pensions être? Devions-nous exposer notre nudité en public pour ne pas demeurer vierges? Oh, combien nous nous sommes menti à nous-mêmes quand nous disions : Nous sommes quelque chose de particulier. Il est pire de se mentir à soi-même qu'à autrui."

"Ce mois de juin a assailli notre mémoire de 40 années de défaites. Car, si nous n'avons trouvé personne pour nous défaire une seconde fois, nous nous sommes débrouillés pour le faire de nos propres mains, ne l'oublions pas. Ce ne sont pas les fanatiques religieux qui me mettent en colère, après tout, ils croient en leur voie, quelque étrange qu'elle soit. Ce sont leurs
partisans laïques qui me mettent en colère, les infidèles parmi leurs partisans qui ne croient qu'en une religion : celle de leur image à la télévision."

Déjà 10 Jours Après...

Bonjour à tous,

Aujourd'hui était la cérémonie chez les Junaedi marquant les 10 jours après le décès d'Amna (tradition musulmane acehnaise). Nous sommes donc allés manger chez eux ce midi avec tout leurs autres amis/famille. Il y avait beaucoup moins de monde qu'à l'enterrement mais quand même la maison était remplie. Nous avons amené du café, du thé et du sucre, comme le veux la tradition.
Lorsque nous sommes arrivés les hommes étaient tous dehors alors les garçons sont restés avec eux tandis que moi Célina et Adèle (de l'ONG d'Abel) sommes entrées. C'était très émouvant. Tout les enfants de la classe d'Amna était là assis en rond, en train de réciter des prières avec leur maitresse. Ils les chantaient et c'était vraiment beau. Cela a duré bien 15 minutes ce qui m'a permis de dégager ma tristesse à travers ces chants. Elly était là, bien sur, et c'était comme si cette puissance et leur foi nous avaient ramené notre petite Amna là, dans le salon. On la sentait parmi nous. Moment très spirituel.
Puis les enfants sont partis, après avoir faire la queue pour saluer Elly qui les embrassait tous sur le front. Il ne restait plus que les amis proches. Nous avons mangé. J'ai attrapé Latifah et lui ai fait plein de guilis (sans initer d'hurlements féroces, ce qui est assez exceptionnel!). Rizal est venu s'assoeir à côté de moi avec en main l'album que nous avons fait à Amna à Noël. Ils ont rajoutés des photos, dont les dernières d'Amna en avril: elle et Putri faisait les belles devant la caméra et on dirait un vrai défilé de mode. Je vais les faire tirer pour pouvoir les partager avec vous: elles sont vraiment belles. Je leur avais aussi préparer deux cd avec toutes les photos et vidéos que j'avais d'Amna et de la famille et de nous sur mon ordinateur.
Nous sommes restés environ une heure et demi mais ça faisait du bien d'être dans la maison avec tout le monde un brin apaisé. Nous retournerons les voir bientôt avec la traduction de tout vos mots de soutien et inch allah certaines de vos lettres qui arriveront bientôt.

Gros bisous à tous

Emily

Mes copines et moi à Banda Aceh

Qui se ressemble s'assemble.. Voici notre trio infernal: Camille, Célina et moi

A little angel has left us...

Amna left us last friday at 9 o'clock indonesian time. She died in Penang after suffering from a brain hemorragy. Her body was brought back to Banda Aceh this saturday and the funeral was that evening. All news and details are on Amna's website.
http://saving-amna.blogspot.com/

Amna will be missed so much: she was our Acehnese ray of light, our little princess. We won't forget her smile nor her courage and strength

Emily and abel