Hello! I am Shikata, a teacher of civics.
After one week of absence, I will report on our fieldwork in Indonesia!
This second report is about what the Global Environment Team studied in Indonesia.
Our high school teacher and three students joined Mr. Fujimoto, a teacher of the Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, at Kansai International Airport to fly to Djakarta, the capital of Indonesia.
After arrived at Djakarta at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 5, we drove to Bandung on the highway.
There were heavy traffic jams on the local streets!
Recently, Indonesia, particularly Djakarta, has rapidly been developing, while horrible traffic congestion has daily happened, becoming one of the social problems.
When arrived in Cimahi City near the suburb of Bandung after passing through the traffic jam, the members of the Global Environment Team were welcomed by.....
Cihanjuang Inti Teknik Company!!!
("Selamat Datang" means Welcome here!)
Do you know what this company has been doing?
The company has been supplying electricity by a small hydropower generation plant. Upon hearing about our study, they readily accepted our visit to see the inside of the company.
After the welcome reception, the students had an opportunity to make a brief presentation about their research!
(This is a wonderful experience!)
Thereafter, we visited to see another factory which has been manufacturing generators.
We also visited an ordinary home.
(The students experienced a side job)
Our visit to the ordinary home was fit for our purpose, not by chance.
In addition to the development of the small hydropower generation plant, this company has been growing tea plants and processing tea leaves, particularly for promoting women's job opportunities.
(*Tea leaves were brought back to Japan and distributed to our cafeteria, the episode of which will be reported later on!)
We experienced firsthand how they have been generating electricity while creating jobs.
Perhaps we could understand what Mr. Fujimoto said, that is, thinking about energy problems is thinking about the nation's future.
After hard work, we took plenty of rest...
The second day saw a crisp morning.
The Global Environment Team patiently headed for Jogjakarta to join the Fair Trade Team!
Yes! By train!
Separating from Mr. Fujimoto there, one teacher and three students directed their course toward Jogjakarta by train.
(Farewell to Bandung!)
It took as many as seven hours!
When the train running slowly in the mountains and smoothly in the plains, our railroad trip was unexpectedly comfortable.
(We enjoyed lunch)
Seen from the train are sprawling rice paddies, where rice can be harvested three to four times a year, people say.
Our tour guide of this railroad trip, who was supposed to separate from us, accompanied us.
So the teacher, who was nervous, was relieved.
After arrived in Jogjakarta, we joined the Fair Trade Team to visit Universitas Islam Indonesia.
I will tell you about the Fair Trade Team's activity in my next report.
Don't miss it!
