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ENGLISH ENGLISH

NEW PLACE,

NEW EXPERIENCE

n this semester I had a chance to apply for someone of a different race and culture. We
Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN) program. As the socialized as soon as the next day despite the
international students, the program allows language barrier. People were curious about my
me to connect with experience, understand origins and why I chose to pursue my studies
Ifirsthand other cultures, and ways of life. in Indonesia. Photo sessions were frequently
Receiving notification that I would be posted to requested because this was an experience, we both
Pantan Kuli for a month was initially unsettling do not want to forget soon. I attempted to study
because I had never heard of the area and had no their culture and to abide by it, which included
idea what to expect. This was the start of a period touching elders’ hands on the forehead and bending
of an uncertainty and mixed emotions as I tried to my legs when sitting with others. When sitting with
figure out how to adjust to the different cultures someone, especially the elderly, it is considered
and even converse with the inhabitants of this impolite in their culture to stretch your legs.
Date & Place of Birth: village because I do not speak Indonesian fluently. Because of my height, this was a tough challenge
14 August 1988, Farafenni Town, The Gambia Despite this, I proceeded to go with my group for me. Nonetheless, I gave it my all, even if I had to
Origin: Gambian members after multiple meetings and information beg permission to stretch my legs when I became
Status: Economics Student of Syiah Kuala exchanges on the location and programs to be tired.
University, Faculty of Economics and Business
Email: bsdibba7@gmail.com implemented. On the 6th of June 2022, at 5 p.m., On Friday, I went to a small village to do Jummah
we arrived in Pantan Kuli village. As we started prayers, where I was greeted warmly by the imam
ACHIEVEMENTS: climbing mountains with basically no good road, and the villagers. They also shared information
at that time I thought it would be uncomfortable. with me and asked me some common questions I
Finalist FMS NCAM 2021” National
Conference on Management”, Prince of Though this initial impression was quickly modified always have to answer. Siapa Namanya? Dari mana
Songkla University, Thailand because, whereas the village is difficult to reach, it asalnya? Sudah berapa lama di sini? Kuliah jurusan
is an interesting village. apa? Tinggal di mana? Berapa umurnya? Buat apa
Former President of WCRP “World Class
Research Programme” Universitas In my first days, I spent a little time asking and kamu ke Indonesia dan apakah kamu muslim? Were
Syiah Kuala, Faculty of Economics and discovering several things. The first is that the questions frequently asked by the people I met.
Business, Department of International inhabitants of Pantan Kuli and Bener Mariah in My socialization continued the next day when
Economics and Business Programme general are in Aceh Province, but they are of the I went to another village to play volleyball with
(IBEP) Gayo tribe, not the Acehnese as I had assumed. the guys of Pantan Kuli. It was fun to play with
the people because by that way I can get to know
Pantan Kuli, also known as Hamparan Kayu (wood
Bakary S Dibba land) in Indonesian language, began as a hamlet people quickly. Overall, KKN program has been an
in the year 2000 and has since grown into a
incredible experience since I have seen and learned
community.
I had stayed only in Banda Aceh. []
The villagers were equally surprised to see things that I would not have easily seen or learned if

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