INDONESIAN STUDENTS COME TO AMERICA TO MEET THEIR NATION'S PRESIDENT

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — When the president of Indonesia Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who was attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit hosted by President Barack Obama in Rancho Mirage last month, heard there was a group of Indonesian students studying at neighboring Cal State San Bernardino, he requested a special meeting.

Students Emma Aud, Aprilia Bano, Beatrix Imbab, Citrakashi Kaigere, Yull Elin Mare, Ade Richard Mehue, Brenda Rumwaropen, Yosias Sapari and Insoraki Swabra, all from Papua, Indonesia, are pursuing a four-year bachelor’s degree in CSUSB’s College of Natural Sciences on scholarships sponsored by the Indonesian government. News of their meeting with President Widodo and their photos made headlines on at least eight different news outlets in Indonesia.

Enrolled as CSUSB international students, they first attended a 10-week English Language Program through the College of Extended Learning. The program focuses on providing the academic English language skills needed to meet the requirements for admission into the university’s undergraduate programs.

Having never met him, the students said they were both “excited and nervous” to meet the president of their country. Ironically, it was 9,000 miles from home in the United States.

As second-year students at CSUSB who plan to graduate in 2018, all had a resounding theme when President Widodo asked them about their studies and what they planned to do with their degree after graduation.

Each one expressed a desire to return to Papua, Indonesia to help develop it further, economically, technologically and industrially with the knowledge and education gained from their varying college degrees. The degrees included bioinformatics, chemistry, computer science, environmental studies, health science (healthcare management) and mathematics.

“I thought it was going to be very formal, so I was nervous and excited,” said Brenda Rumwaropen, an environmental studies major from Jayapura, Papua. “But I quickly found President Widodo to be humble, down-to-earth and charismatic—definitely the ‘wow’ effect!”

Emma Aud, a health science-healthcare management major from Wamema, Papua, said, “At first, I was tense, not knowing what to expect. But after one minute, he made everyone feel comfortable and relaxed.” Aud described the president as humble and ‘cool,’” using one of the American expressions she’s learned.

Yosias Sapari of Waropen, Papua, studying computer engineering, said the president told them to “study hard … and go back to your village to further develop it.” Sapari said he “plans to introduce the full function of technology” to the people of his village.

When Widodo asked about any struggles they faced studying in the U.S., Ade Richard Mehue, from Jayapura studying computer engineering, responded that for him it was the English language barrier. But he felt encouraged and motivated when President Widodo told them, “Papuans are so smart.”

Citrakasih Kaigere, a bioinformatics major also from Jayapura said she wants to return home and hopes to contribute to improving its education, especially in public health and its hospitals. She said it was strange meeting her country’s president in the U.S. because “I can’t even meet him in Indonesia.”

Aprilia Bano, also a health science major, said her village of Jayapura needs to be further developed and plans to “return home after earning my degree to help address the need for more teachers, hospitals and improve its transportation system.”

“For me, meeting President Widodo inspired me to study harder so I can return to my country and give back to my village,” said Insoraki Swabra, a mathematics major from Biak. “It gave me a greater sense of responsibility.”

The Indonesian students, who live in the campus’s residence halls during the first year, shared their personal experience as international students at CSUSB.

“I’ve met many other international students on campus; I’ve improved my language through the help of the university’s Writing Center,” said Kaigere.

“The professors are very friendly; everything’s available to us like lab materials,” said Aud.

“Student life is great,” said Sapari. “I have developed a relationship with Professor Kay Zemoudeh, in computer engineering department, whose teaching is great and always responds to my emails.”

“I like to play indoor soccer at the Rec Center,” said Mehue. “I have met many students, both American and international, through the International Connect-1 club on campus, as well as my participation in the International Friendship Connection organization of Trinity Church in Redlands.”

“I like the quarter system,” said Swabra. “Really like my math professor, Dr. Joseph Chavez. I’ve learned about life in America and its culture. I like interacting with other students in the Student Union and the Commons.”

“I love being here!” said Bano. “All the facilities are amazing; I like the library because it’s quiet and I can check out a laptop.”

Rumwaporen said although the English language was a challenge the first year, it’s gotten much better. “I’ve joined IC-1 (International Connect-1 student club on campus) and have made many new friends from Korea, Saudi Arabia and of course, American students.”

Jack Paduntin, associate dean of CSUSB’s College of Extended Learning, who interviewed some of the students, said “I am so proud of the group—this was a lifetime opportunity for all of them.”

All of the students plan to pursue graduate degrees, but first intend to return to their home villages to put their undergrad degrees to good use.

Visit the International Extension Programs website at http://global.csusb.edu/English-Language-Program/index.html for more information about the College of Extended Learning’s English Language Program.

Set in the foothills of the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains, CSUSB is a preeminent center of intellectual and cultural activity in inland Southern California. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015-2016, CSUSB serves more than 20,000 students each year and graduates about 4,000 students annually.

For more information about Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Strategic Communication at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.

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