My Experience Of Adaptation To New Environment In Indonesia
I was so ignorant. So unknowing. So uncultured. I embarked on a journey that would shift my perception of society. One that would teach me to dissent from the cultural norm of some people, embracing the differentiations that accrue across cultures. My mom came into the room. She made an announcement that would undeniably change my life. Anxiously, she blurred out, “we’re moving.” Two simple words. A pause. A blank. Then I think through the statement, overwhelmed with emotion. A variety of thoughts swirl and spiral through my naive head. All I had ever known was my hometown, Houston. I could only remember living, studying, and making friends in Houston. Undoubtedly, everyone undergoes such struggles in life. Yet, my story felt like an oddity among all of those formalities.
Fast forward a few years later, when I find myself starting my first day of school in Indonesia. I realized that the students shared things in common, we all spoke the same language and wore similar clothes; though, there was one thing that separated me from the rest. As I sat down in class, we played small icebreaker activities to get to know each other. The teacher went around asking students to say their name and where they’re from. Silence filled the classroom, hoping that the buzzing sound of the AC would cover my voice. I nervously said, “Hi. My name is Andres, I was born in Singapore, I’m Peruvian by blood, I’m an American citizen, and I live here”. Awkward stares filled the dead room from both students and teachers. She looked at me and said, “What was that? On-dre-as?” I chuckled and kindly corrected her, “It’s Andrés, but On-dre-as is fine too.” I repeated this six times throughout the day as I went from class to class.
The days went by, waking up to the prayer of the mosque next door at five AM, struggling to get to school, dodging food vendors and hundreds of motorbikes. It made me a bit uncomfortable at first, but I began to accept it as it became a daily routine. Nevertheless, I feel privileged to learn about other cultures and keep an open mind wherever I traveled to. Getting to know others and how they lived, I slowly noticed that the mask I once wore slowly began to disintegrate as I moved from one country to the next, not being ashamed of who I was, where I came from, and what I represented. Through all the changes in my community and surroundings, my family was my constant and strong safe zone. When you move and leave behind good friendships and your routines, it is impossible to feel somewhat displaced and lonely. Knowing that everyone in my family was experiencing this same feeling reduced my anxiety and reminded me that I was never alone and it would gradually get better. Having a united and loving family gave me the confidence and stability I needed in the midst of moving.
Unquestionably, change has been a constant in my life. I developed the skills to successfully adapt to new environments. I was aware that regardless of the circumstances that placed me in a specific location; it was imperative to have a positive attitude. Meeting people of different backgrounds and learning how they lived proved to me that there was no need to hide under a rock. Being scared of what there is to explore around the world is a waste of time. Getting outside of my comfort zone by joining clubs and meeting people has shaped me to be the tolerant and open-minded individual I am today. Now, I am my own constant; as I start my college education, I want to contribute to society with a global perspective by uniting people of different backgrounds. I plan to take advantage of opportunities to learn and get involved in my school, community, and city.
