MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, SURABAYA – SD Muhammadiyah 4 Pucang Surabaya commemorated Independence Day with a cultural initiative – introducing Indonesian heritage to 35 foreign students.
They are dental students from esteemed institutions like Kagoshima University, Niigata University, Kyushu University, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Mahsa University, University of Manchester, Osaka University, and Seoul National University. They are now participating in an international internship program.
At Din Syamsuddin Auditorium of SD Muhammadiyah 4 Pucang on August 15, the elementary students invited the foreign students to play Gamelan, Javanese music instruments, and sing “Suwe Ora Jamu”, a traditional Javanese song.
They also enjoyed art performances such as regional songs by the choir team, who won the 12th Bali Choir Competition 2023, and Wayang, the traditional puppetry art, with an art teacher Arif Abidin who introduced characters like Srikandi, Arjuna, Kresna, and Gatotkaca.
Afterward, the foreign students had an induction session with 5th-6th graders of the Cambridge International Program (CIP). The elementary students brought a badge representing a Wayang character and sought out a foreign student whose name was on a distributed piece of paper.
The local students then pinned the badges while introducing the character’s name. The foreign students, including Kim Dong Hoon from South Korea, appreciated the warm hospitality.
“I really appreciate your hospitality during our stay here,” said Kim Dong Hoon.
Naeema Munshi, a student from the UK, praised traditional Indonesian treats like lapis, klepon, cenil, ketan, and ongol-ongol. “I really like it,” she said.
Edy Susanto, the headmaster of SD Muhammadiyah 4 Pucang Surabaya, mentioned that this international internship teacher program aims to broaden students’ global perspectives and introduce Indonesian culture to the world.
