A few days ago I got a late night text from the New Zealand EP, Ronnie, that was visiting Yogyakarta for the weekend. Ronnie had only the weekend in Yogya and wanted to take an adventure to Borobudur! Ronnie and I met early the next day to catch the bus to the world’s largest Buddhist temple. Merapi exploded a few hundred years ago, covering the area in ash, killing many people. The Dutch then rediscovered Borobudur. Ronnie and I climbed the steps up Borobudur admiring the scenery around us, trying to piece together our knowledge on Buddhist thought. After our trip, we arrived back in Yogya hungry and sunburned! I met up with Dito and asked him about Borobudur. He explained that there is a lower level to the temple that is underground because it is too vulgar to show. I finished the night with Denise and Cipta at Kopi Joss, relating my Borodubur experience and learning about local street side food.
As for the project, HIV/AIDS seems to be a difficult topic of conversation no matter where you are. This week is my road-show around high schools in Yogya to educate youth about HIV/AIDS. My first presentation did not go too well… I met up with some AIESECers to find ways to approach the topic in a better way. I learned some Indonesian jokes, and made my presentation a little more lighthearted. I was surprised that most high schoolers knew most basic facts about HIV/AIDS. I had a portion of my presentation on HIV/AIDS in the U.S. One girl asked me about Twilight and the impact “free-sex” has on youth in my country. It was a difficult question for me to answer. Her question forced me to think about how notions of sex and relationships may be very different cross-culturally. A person in the U.S. may feel pressure to have sex before they enter University, while an Indonesian may be given a bad rep for having had sex before marriage. Sex is complicated, no matter where you are. What makes this experience so unique is that by working on an HIV/AIDS project, I have the opportunity to at least try and step into an Indonesians mind on their thoughts about sex, drugs, and pregnancy. I am also working closely with a transgender organization here in Yogya, giving me a look at LGBTQ culture in Indonesia. I know that these experiences, although very challenging, will make me a better person and a better advocate for social change.
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