Day 14: My Voice Sings Sweetly Like a Klaxon

Kilometers Cycled Today: 0 km

Me as a Guest Speaker?

For those of you who know me from any period of my life know I speak quietly, often mumble, and am downright nonsensical at times. If there is one medium of communication I am half-way decent at, it's writing. I went to Siliwangi University in Tasikmalaya under the impression that I would chat for 30 minutes about being a foreigner in Indonesia teaching English. Everyone loves to talk about themselves - I could do it for at least 30 minutes with a Q&A session tossed in there for good measure. Robert, the English Language Fellow, at the university was under the same impression. The morning of, we're told to speak for 1 hour with 30 minutes for Q&A! They chose my title for me too - "How to Handle a Large Class" - not something I had much experience or desire to speak about. The audience also grew from 16 to 40.

I did what any person who has adapted to the Indonesian way of planning does, I improvised. It was like I was playing a role on a stage I had rarely been on. Somewhere along the way I hit upon the theme of "Student Agency" - simple enough to expand on, but a little foreign to the Indonesian teaching style that they just might be intrigued. I swear there was more sweat on me in that hour than cycling for a day. By the end, I had tremors; not sure whether they were fear, adrenaline, or hypoglycemia induced.

3/4 of the audience. The one of the far left is Robert.

They liked my presentation! They asked me to come back for the "International Conference". Damn! It's in June or July. Phew, I'm safe, I'll be back in the States.

Back to Cirebon.

I was sorry to leave so soon after the presentation. I had an all-expenses paid 3-star hotel room in Tasikmalaya. Alas, I said goodbye to my friend Robert and a helpful university English teacher Eva who used to be a music sensation before settling down on her quieter English teaching career path. I was ready for another fun day of cycling.

April 16th, 2011

Days Left to Journey: 43 Days

Training Kilometers Cycled: 252 km