By : Ali Musyafak (Headmaster of MTsN 1 Pati)
Having foreign volunteers visiting school is one of my biggest wish and dream since I become of Madrasah. Starting from 2004 as the headmaster of MIN 2 Jepara, then in 2006 becoming the headmaster of MTsN 1 Jepara, shifting to 2013 becoming the headmaster of MTsN 1 Kudus, and from 2018 until now I become the headmaster of MTsN 1 Pati. In those long period of time Allah has not willed for my wish to happened yet, but I am aware and patient because I believe that “We have wish but Allah has will and Allah’s will is something that will happen for sure”.
There was a time when I feel delighted by a news that there will be a foreign volunteer that will be placed in MTsN 1 Pati. But once again Allah has not willed it to happened yet because at that time the pandemic is taking over the country and all activities were halted including the school activities in MTsN 1 Pati. Finally after 3 years, precisely in 2023 I got a wonderful news that there will be a foreign volunteer that will be placed in MTsN 1 Pati.
Thanks to the smart way, hardwork and sincerity of my dear friend Mr. Sa’dun trough “De Javanto” of Central Java, finally it is official that MTsN 1 Pati will hosted a foreign volunteer from Italy for two weeks staring from 7th of August until 20th of August 2023.
The volunteer from Italy named Miss Giulia is a beautiful young lady who wear glasses, she is very friendly and polite. She arrived in the school yard of MTsN 1 Pati at 2 pm coming out from the car. Her arrival was welcomed by the students of MTsN 1 Pati with the accompaniment of angklung music and friendship greetings. With her smile that show her dimple, Miss Giulia who works as social volunteer greets the students and the teachers with hugs. How happy and delightful everyone in MTsN 1 Pati welcoming her with cheers and applause that exploded without being commanded. Everyone feel as if they are already close with Miss Giulia who likes Sate Ayam and did not like spicy foods. It feels like the arrival of the long-awaited star and being blessed by a beautiful shooting star.
The friendly atmosphere continued during the welcome ceremony of Miss Giulia inside the school. Some students immediately rushed Miss Giulia with question in English and Miss Giulia did not want to lose and answered all question politely. What surprised us the most is she was also able to answered the question in Indonesian and Javanese, such as “Matursuwun” means “thank you” and “Sami-sami” means “You are welcome”.
Encouraging Student’s Enthusiasm and Learning Spirits
Volunteer tasks is accompanying teacher in classes, the limit of two weeks volunteer period was a very short time and cannot reach all the classes at MTsN 1 Pati. With a total of 33 study groups maybe only half of the classes that can be accompanied. According to the results of my monitoring, every time Miss Giulia accompanies the teacher in the classroom, the students feel very happy because they can meet foreigner who may only be met once in a lifetime. They feel comfortable with Miss Giulia who is very friendly, she treats students as if they are friends, also her teaching methods and materials are adapted to the abilities of each student. It makes the students feel more free to express themselves and very passionate to follow her lessons.
As a result, every time I visited the students they always said in unison “Sir, please ask Miss Giulia to teach my class again and don’t let her return to her country.” Even the sudents whose classes have not been visited yet they sing me a protest saying “Please ask Miss Giulia to come to my class, why isn’t my class being accompanied?”. Because of that I took the initiative for the students who did not get to meet Miss Giulia in class and to meet her outside the class so they can talk with her, taking pictures and asked her for autograph. A simple things like that can be small pride and happiness for them, the student who got Miss Giulia’s autograph show it off when they got home, they told their parents “Dad, Mom, I just got an autograph from an Italian (Miss Giulia).”
A helping hand, Adaptive and Welcoming
When Miss Giulia asked by anyone about Indonesia, the girl who is traumatized by geckos and lizards always answers “I like and I love Indonesia”. According to her, there is Indonesian’s characteristic that cannot be found in any other country she has ever visited. Indonesian people are caring and like to help others. She experienced Indonesian’s kindness when she was riding a motorcycle taxi (ojek motor) on a mountain in Magelang. When the motorcycle she was riding broke down on the road, spontaneously the people around helped her without being asked, regardless of whether they know eachother or not.
From those personal experience it was added to her belief that the Indonesian nation is a friendly nation whose people are like to help one another and like mutual cooperation. All that make Indonesia a strong and respected nation admired by other nations. Indonesia consists of various tribes, languages, traditions and religions but they live in harmony, safely and peacefully.
When asked about how she feels at MTsN 1 Pati, the girl who was born in 1994 swiftly answered “I’m very happy. I really enjoyed it, even though the weather was hot but the students, teachers, environment, even everyone I met for the first time were very friendly and kind. Especially the students who have high and extraordinary enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Even though some cannot speak the English language but they are willing to try and try” that’s what she said.
There is one special program in MTsN 1 Pati which is located in remote village of Pekalongan, Winong District, Pati Regency, namely the International Digital Class (IDC) where all learning activities are using digital media. According to Miss Giulia this kind of program is not often found in various schools let alone in universities, there is nothing like that.
Miss Giulia really enjoyed and happy with her stay at MTsN Pati. Even she who is setting her foot in Indonesia for the first time is devoting her time for students of MTsN 1 Pati outside her working hours, especially for students who are in the dormitories. Every night they are accompanied by Miss Giulia to study and exchange experiences. She does not hesitate to learn many things at MTsN 1 Pati, for example learning to play the gamelan, speak Arabic, speak Javanese, speak Indonesian, and even speak Japanese. They happily enjoy and take the opportunities to learn, sometimes even forgetting the time until late at ni volunteering is
Apparently foreign volunteering is very useful for the progress of an educational development in school. Volunteering will give its own color in school, it will increase the enthusiasm and passion for students and teachers to learn, it will add positive value to the progress of an institution, especially in language development. Hopefully it’s not just this one time that we get volunteers, and hopefully not only at MTsN 1 Pati but will also have an impact on other madrasah or schools.
My worries for not being able to serve and treat foreigners properly, turned out to be not true. They are welcome, open, adaptable, and easy to served.
Thank you Miss Giulia, thank you De Jevato, thank you Mr Sa’dun, and all my friends. You have given the best for me, hopefully it will reciprocated.
Wallahu A’lam.
Diambil dari artikel “Miss Giulia, Volunteer Asal Italia, Inspirasi bagi MTsN 1 Pati”
Translator : Miss Nia
