Mooi Wid’s Chronicles

Being an Indonesia Language and Learning Ambassador (ILLA) From 6 to 12 September 2026, I had the privilege of taking part in the ILLA program at Mansfield Secondary School, where I spent a week introducing Indonesian language and Balinese culture to students in Years 7, 8, and 12. Alongside fellow scholars Hakim and Mansfield’s teachers Annabella, Azhara, and Didik, I found the week to be one of the most meaningful experiences of my time in Australia, a chance to bring a piece of home into an Australian classroom, and to watch student’s curiosity that turn into genuine connection and friendship.

I began by introducing Indonesia as a whole; its geography, its diversity of islands, languages, and cultures, before narrowing in on the place I know best: Bali. I wanted the students to get to know Bali up close, not just as a holiday destination but as a home; a daily life of being Balinese. I talked about family life, the structure of a traditional Balinese house, and even the ghost stories we grow up with. We explored Balinese traditions, culture, and food together, and I taught them to practise the Kecak dance and to write Aksara Bali, the traditional Balinese script. The highlight for me was the Canang sari-making session; a hands-on activity where students created their own small daily offerings. Their enthusiasm caught me by surprise. Several students went off around the school grounds to pick their own flowers for their Canang sari, determined to make theirs just right. Beside that I also teach them simple technique of Kecak Dance and we did it together in 3 rounds. It was fun and so engaging activities, they love it so much. Their energy was soo legit!

Because our spirit of Hari Kemerdekaan, Indonesia's Independence Day still alive, I couldn't resist bringing that spirit into the classroom too. We talked about History of Indonesia’s Independence Day, we introduce them to “MERDEKA” word, the word that has a lot of meaning to Indonesia, “FREEDOM” and they love the word. They keep saying that word even outside of the class when we passed by. We also introduce what this Independence day means to Indonesians, and then put that energy into action with a set of Lomba 17-an (on how we celebrate Independence day in Indonesia); the games traditionally played in Indonesian neighbourhoods (especially in Kampung) every August: balap karung (sack race), balang koran (newspaper race), lomba kelereng (marble race), bakiak race and tarik tambang (tug of war). Watching the students throw themselves into these games with as much excitement as any Indonesian kampung would have was a wonderful full-circle moment.

Furthermore, for the Year 12 students, I shifted gears to help prepare them for their speaking exams. We practised interview-style speaking around the story of the Tripang trade; the historical connection between Makassarese traders and Aboriginal communities in Northern Australia. It felt fitting to end their preparation with a piece of history that so directly ties our two countries together, long before either of us arrived in this classroom.

On our final day, we played AFL footy together. It wasn't part of the curriculum, but it might have been the activity that bonded us the most, including with the teachers at school. There's something about a shared game that breaks down every barrier of language and culture in an instant, and I think that afternoon did more to strengthen the relationship between Indonesia and Australia than any lesson could have. Yes! We called it Sport and Game Diplomacy! Indonesian games and AFL are so fun to dive into.

I also introduced the students to Leak, the Balinese ghost spirit, which turned out to be one of their favourite topics of the whole week. They were endlessly curious to see Bali from a different, slightly spookier side, and it opened up some of the liveliest conversations we had all week.

Looking back, this week at Mansfield Secondary School reminded me why programs like ILLA matter. It gave me the chance to share not just facts about Indonesia, but the feeling of it; the warmth, the stories, the traditions passed down through generations, with a group of students who met all of it with genuine curiosity and enthusiasm. I'm grateful to Hakim, Annabella, Azhara, and Didik for making the week what it was, and to the students of Mansfield Secondary School for welcoming us so openly into their classroom. The highlight of the week that the student shared to me is making my heart so full! Love Mansfield, see you when I see you again :)