East Timor Immersion 2018

Student Reflection by Jessie Bennett

An hour’s walk from the local secondary school, in the remote community of Lequidoe, I was welcomed into a small, dirt-floored house. Along the way, students had excitedly shared hopes and dreams of moving to Dili to become mechanics, doctors, and even biology teachers, and explained that they worked very hard in school so that they might have a chance of one day achieving these goals. The people who lived there immediately moved to get chairs for myself and the other students I was with and insisted that we stay for coffee and biscuits, though we knew that food and fresh water were precious. This was a hallmark of my experience in Timor-Leste as baring witness to this selfless generosity, even in the most difficult of circumstances, was astonishing and deeply moving.

The East Timor Immersion was just that, in the space of two weeks we fell in love with a country characterised by yes, a beautiful landscape, but by far the most genuine and kind-hearted people I’ve ever had the pleasure of spending time with. From playing with children and visiting homes in Lequidoe, to teaching in the secondary school and chatting to members of the youth group in Aileu, we were met with open arms and smiling faces at every turn throughout our trip.

A few of my favourite memories from my time in Timor-Leste include:

• waking up before dawn on our last day and walking to the top of the mountain to watch the sun rise over Lequidoe
• during my lesson at St Pedro and St Paulo Catholic Secondary School, seeing the look on the students’ faces when I asked for volunteers (a concept they were not familiar with) and their excitement when an acidic solution turned red in front of their eyes with a drop of universal indicator
• and, playing endlessly with the children who lived close to where we were staying, whose faces would light up at the smallest of gestures, even a smile or remembering their name.

Through this Immersion I have learnt just how fortunate we are to have access to healthcare and education. The situation in East Timor is heartbreaking, with so many ambitious young people desperate to receive tertiary education or training and work to improve their circumstances, while in Australia this privilege is often taken for granted. Moreover, the joyful demeanour of the Timorese has stayed with me long since the conclusion of the Immersion, and is a constant reminder to go about my life with happiness and gratitude.

Ultimately, our two weeks in Timor-Leste was an unforgettable experience that words cannot truly do justice to, and that being said, I would absolutely recommend any and all students considering applying for next year’s Immersion to do so without a doubt.

by Jessie Bennett.

Student Reflection by Tegan Williams

I loved and enjoyed every moment of our Timor experience. Stepping off the plane I instantly fell in love with the country and we could tell how meaningful what we were going to do over the next 12 days, would be for the Timorese people.

The communities welcomed us with open arms, everyone had a smile on their face which was amazing to see considering how little they had. Living in the communities gave us the opportunity to interact with the locals, which was something that I really cherished in Timor especially playing with all the kids. Playing with the kids gave them and us so much joy. Giving them something as little as a balloon or even just us being there brought them so much happiness.

Teaching in the schools was one of my favourite things to do. Every student was so eager to learn and so interested in what we had to teach them. Some schools we went to didn’t have a teacher in the classrooms, but instead of the students going home a few of them were up at the front teaching the rest of the class. This has really opened my eyes to how lucky we are to have access to education, as well as resources including textbooks or even just a table and chair for everyone.

Timor opened our eyes to the help low-income countries need. When we visited a healthcare clinic in Aileu we could see the amazing work they were doing to stop malnutrition and encourage people to seek healthcare. We also saw a disability centre where they are encouraging people with disabilities to be a part of the communities.

Having this experience with our group has made us all so much closer and we’ve made many special friendships, which contributed to our amazing Timor experience.  Timor has taught me how lucky I am to have access to healthcare and education. I’ve learnt small things can bring the biggest smile to a person’s face; small things can help make a difference to someone’s life.

by Tegan Williams.