German schools students learn to make Indonesian foods

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post/Tangerang

Agnes, 17, anthusiastically watched six groups of students taking part in cooking Indonesian food at the Deutsche International Schule in Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD), Tangerang on Thursday.

“I am glad to be here because can get to know a lot of people and cultures of six different countries,” she told The Jakarta Post.

Agnes is one of nine students of Manila Deutsche International School who are taking part in the cultural festival for German International students throughout Asia being held at the Jakarta Deutsche Internatioal Schulle (DIS) at its campus in BSD.

“I have been living in Manila for one year but I have yet to see the culture there because most people there are more American minded. Here, I can really see various cultures and learn many things,” she said.

Although she did not take part in the cooking activity but curiousity lead the girl and several other fellow students from Manila to stay and observe the process performed by six groups of students learning how to make gado-gado, soto and pepes ikan.

Belle, 27, one of two teachers who accompanied Agnes and her schoolmates from Manila said that she and her students were excited to come to Indonesia.

“My students are very happy to come here because they are very curious. We went to wet market together this morning. Students were surprised because they have never seen wet market as clean as they saw here,” she said, refering to Modern Market at BSD.

Meanwhile, Fiona Teschner, a grade-five students of DIS said that it was the first experience for her to slice vegetables while holding a knife.

“I enjoy cutting off vegetable but I have never seen gado-gado and tasted it,” said the little girl.

However, she was so curious to learn because slicing vegetable was only a part of the entire process in the cooking activity at the festival.

Mira Borstner, a mother of two students Daniel Borstner (grade 3) and Hugo Borstner (grade 2) was also busy during the cooking activity.

“I am just asked to lend my hands and direct the students to make gado-gado because they like it so much,” she said, adding that the organizing committee had also invited a chef to instruct the anxious participants.

She said there were six groups of students who joined the cooking activity. Two groups were assigned to cook gado-gado, soto and pepes ikan each and when the food is ready, they will present them for lunch together.

“The main idea of the cooking activity is that the students from the six countries learn the culture of Indonesia, especially cooking,” she told the Post.

74 students and 16 teachers from Bangkok Deutschsprachige Schule, Mumbai DSB International School, Manila Deutsche Schule, Kuala Lumpur Deutsche Schule and Singapore Deutsche Schule (including DIS) are taking part in the three-day event.

The cultural festival focuses on encouraging participating students to learn new skills and appreciate different cultures. The highlight of the festival is a series of workshops in which the participants learn artistic skills an creativity from Friday to Sunday.

The workshops feature a number of well-known artists including a painting workshop taught by Teguh Ostenrik, mural painting by Thana Sundarraj, modern dance by Chendra Panatan and choir by Christa Folsterer.

Students interested in handicrafts took the opportunity to learn batik, pottery and Balinese carving while others learned animation, comic making workshops, fashion modeling.

“The festival is an assembly point and cultural exchange for students representing German International schools in six Asian countries," DIS principal Peter Schafer said.

The festival will end with the presentation of student creativity and work from the workshops on Sunday.