3 days to "Return to the Real World"

Friday, August  5: At the Mansfield Foundation – Final Evaluation

Before the evaluation, we still have some light sharing session with important people in the US policymaking institutions; there were representatives from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs who gave us information about Fullbright Program and State Alumni, then came Ms. Amanda Vockerodt from the Office of Global Change (she has represented the US in many Climate Change international forums such as the COP in Kyoto, UNFCC in Bali, and many more). In the final session, everyone talked to Mr. Kevin Orchison about the SUSI program. 

in front of US dept of state

We shared our experience, complains, and suggestions for the future programs. Overall, we love the program though there are some things that we actually want but was not provided and there are some agendas that needs improvements. Mr. Orchison is a very friendly and casual man; he is not 30 yet, but he already holds a high position in the Department of State, and we could talk to him freely. After the discussion over, Mr. Ochison awarded each of us a certificate to acknowledge us as participants of the SUSI program. He also said that he was going to take us to his favorite Egyptian restaurant for the farewell dinner.

post-FREAKYFAREWELLPARTY..hahaa

The farewell dinner was extraordinarily boisterous, it was like our group occupy the whole second floor of it. Not only it is our last dinner together as a group, but we also celebrate Mike's birthday on that day. We had the dinner happily and we took lots of pictures together. We cherish that time to the fullest because tomorrow is a free day, and each country group must want to go different ways.

Saturday, August 6: Free Day and Farewell Party

at the Aeropace museum

That day the whole group took a subway to go to Eastern Market, a kind of traditional market held in the suburb of Washington DC. There, we started to separate. We Indonesians were accompanied by a master student who studies in the US, Tedy and Fitri. They took us to the Smithsonian Museum, the famous museum where the movie Night at the Museum took set. Because it was weekend, the museum was stuffed with people and we decided to move on to our next spot, the Aerospace Museum. There, we saw many interesting aerospace-related displays such as the timeline of space exploration, simulation of NASA's project, and many more.

Later, Tedy and Fitri took us to a place rather out of town, it was like a Chinatown where we could find and buy souvenirs in cheaper price. We took several subways there, and then we bought lots of souvenirs. We spend the rest of the afternoon going back to the city and took a walk from near the Capitol. There, Tedy interviewed us all about SUSI program to be aired in VOA Indonesia. We got back to the hotel pretty late, and right away we gather with the others at a meeting room.

buh-bye :'(

Dr. Broberg, Deena, Kedra, and Mike evaluate the whole program, and handed us ou certificate from the UM before the most unwanted moment came. We took turn telling our favorite moment and part of the program. At first we laugh about all the funny experiences we have been through, and every participant has their own remarks that the others can make fun of. Slowly we realized that we only got few hours left, and everybody turned sad. After the farewell moment passed with some thank yous, tears and cheers, everybody got ready for leaving and tried to have a rest.

Sunday, August 7: Leaving

Indonesians had the earliest flight leaving Washington DC, our plane left at 530. We head to the airport at 4 together with the Cambodians who had slightly later flight but from a different airport. Deena accompanied us as far as the check-in gate, and gave us the last goodbye. Our flights that took us almost 24 hours on the plane only. It was relieving to come home, but the experience in the US would be unforgettable, and same with me, I guess everyone will find a way to return someday.