Letters from Friends
From Indonesia to Buckeye Wonderland
Agustina Kustulasari
From a speech presented at a Fulbright Scholars reception by Agustina Kustulasari, a master's degree student studying educational policy with Assistant Professor Ann Allen, School of Educational Policy and Leadership. Her master's thesis will be a policy analysis of a recent initiative in the Indonesian education system called the International Standard School Project.
"Before I begin my speech, I would like to make sure that most of you are familiar with the adventure of Alice in Wonderland. Yes? Good, because on this special occasion, I would bring you back to the tale. This is a story of me, Agustina Kustulasari, in this wonderland of the United States.
Alice falls down the rabbit hole, falls so deep down and slowly into a strange land beneath the surface...
Indonesia, my home country, is 12 hours difference from Columbus, almost on the other side of the globe from the United States. I traveled 24 hours, from the comfort of home, down the chimney of Fulbright Scholarship, to the foreign land of Columbus, Ohio.
Alice eventually lands and begins to observe many strange things...
I arrived at Columbus on a Friday. The next day, I learned that on autumn Saturdays, one need not wear other colors than scarlet and grey, and must be alert so anytime you hear an 'O - H,' as you need to scream an 'I - O.' Those flocks of scarlet and grey were an alien sight to my eyes, and the spirit that filled the air was definitely awkward to me at the beginning. But soon it filled me just the same way it fills my fellow international Buckeye fans. Being a Fulbright student at Ohio State is being a Buckeye: Learning to understand the rules of the game is as important as learning to register for classes, and learning to celebrate the victory when Buckeyes win a game is as joyful as feeling the accomplishment when the quarter ends.
Alice becomes a guest at a mad tea party, along with the Hatter, the March Hare, and the Dormouse. In the course of the party, Alice reveals that the date is May 4...
I also have a special date with a 4 - that is, November 4, 2008. Yes, yes! I got to see closely one of the most historical elections in the U.S. I learned what primary elections are, I learned to understand where the Republicans and the Democrats stand on different issues, and I enjoyed rich discussions about the presidential candidates and the vice-presidential candidates with my classmates who found it easy to share their thoughts with me as they knew I would not vote. And even though I did not vote, I could always say to my friends in the future, "I was there, I am part of the history!"
Alice attends a trial and argues about the ridiculous proceedings with the Queen of Hearts, who eventually says her famous words, "Off with her head"...
This time, my story is different from Alice's story. I have not encountered any hostilities during my stay here, and therefore I am convinced one more time that if we could always offer hospitality to each other, there would not be any hate crimes and the world would find its peace. Being a Fulbright student is being a delegate of international, mutual understanding. We seek to understand diverse cultures and make ourselves understood. Winning a Fulbright Scholarship is not an end; real challenges are waiting for us out there. It is truly fair that Fulbright wants us to return to our countries; there are experiences and learning to share, and so, let it be. Let us be the dots that are spread around the world, to which and from which lines can be drawn, forming a network of mutual understanding for peaceful and prosperous nations.
My adventure is not finished yet, and I am looking forward to the end of my journey in this wonderland so I can start a new journey. Meanwhile, allow me to conclude it here and let me once again say, "This is my story, in the very wonderland of the Buckeyes!"
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