 Bireun Sedati performed the Saman Dance at the opening of ICS Cultural Talkshow
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Still in the series of ICS Cultural Week, at the fourth day, October 1, 2015, ICS held a talk show themed ?How to Build Better Generation of Indonesia?. This talk show was hosted by two people who has been involved in the cultural world, they are Ruliah Hasyim, Sub-division Directorate of the Education Minister and Jeffrey Polnaja, from Ride for Peace.
The opening of the talk show was livened up by a performance of UKM Saman Dance UPH, ?Bireun Seudati? who had also participated in preserving Indonesian culture and even introducing it to other countries, such as Germany, America, England, Spain and many others. Saman dance is one of Indonesia?s cultural treasure which had already gotten its acknowledgement from UNESCO.
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After that, the talk show began with an exposition by Ruliah Hasyim, urging students to be more active in talking in English, remembering that in late 2015, Indonesia will be entering the free market era. She stated that, nowadays the young people of Indonesia didn?t really know their own culture, thus consequently the uniqueness and diversity of Indonesian culture seems to fade away. Because of that, she re-encouraged young people, especially UPH students, through ICS, to be more sensitive about Indonesia?s culture preservation.
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Ruliah Hasyim
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Jeffrey Polnaja
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The nest exposition was brought by Jeffrey Polnaja, the first Indonesian who had travelled 97 countries for seven years, riding a motorbike, alone and without crews. He dedicated this tour of his for world peace. In his presentation, he recounted how he met with many kinds of different culture and tribes from different countries, and one thing that he wanted to emphasize is that each country has their own unique and beautiful culture, which would be a very interesting subject of study and learning. He stated that when someone comes to a country with a different culture than what she/he had, then they have to adjust themselves. ?For example when I was at Thailand, there was a food made from insects which would probably be killed because it was seen as disgusting here, in Indonesia. But when you arrived there, you have to adjust ourselves. That is their culture, and we?re a visitor, a guest, so we have just had to enjoy it,? Jeffrey said surely. Jeffrey closed his presentation with a short video that covers his 7-years journey using a motorbike, travelling 97 countries, while giving inspiration and motivation for students to keep igniting the spirit of world peace through unique and diverse cultural differences.
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Participants of ICS Cultural Talk 2015
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Group photo of speakers with ICS leader and International Office
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The talk show was closed with a performance from Acoustic ICS band who sung ?Rayuan Pulau Kelapa? in Spanish with a medley with a Batak song. About 80 people was present at this talk show and all of them gave a positive respond. (FC/MF)
Following are testimonies from participants:
| ?I think this talk show is really great and interesting. It makes me want to know more about my own culture. I think Indonesia?s food should be known to the world as one of our cultures, because we have so many unique and delicious foods.? (Dolly, Management 2015)
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| ?I?m personally impressed with Mr. Jeffrey?s courage to travel around the world. Especially when he faced the most dangerous place on earth, Afghanistan. I sincerely hope that his goal for ?Ride for Peace? can really be achieved.? (Clara, Management 2015)
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UPH Media Relations
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