“Look Lola, It’s a letter for you !” said Charlie.
“Open it Charlie!” Lola said.
“Yes, and look! It’s from a boy, far away from China, and a message for you !”
…….“Hallo Lola, My name is …..(Chinese word), Will you be my pen friend?”….
“Oh.. a letter for me, far away from China. You see Charlie, I’m the only luckies person in the whole wide world !” said Lola.
Lucky, Lucky Me, in Charlie and Lola series became the preambule for the activity of pen friend. We got letters from Java ! Yap, friends in Kartasura, Central Java, sent letters. They were from TPA El Nile under coordination of Kak Azzah Nilawaty.
The letter flew from Kartasura Central Java to Palu, Central Celebes, and arrived in Pak Slash’s home. Then, because Mrs Slash had not stayed at home at the time the postman came, the mail back to the post office. The postman called me, who lived in West Celebes (about 300 km), and asked me to pick the mail in the post office. Then, I ask my friend that in the following day will go to Palu, to take that letter. When the driver took that letter from the post office in Palu, Mr. postman called me to make some clarification. And finally, after the long journey, the precious letter arrived in my house 🙂
So then, I delivered the letters to the kids and we made some letters (actually it’s postcard) back to friends of el Nile. There were 9 letters, while we were more than 9 people. Because we were so exited, one letter replayed for 2-3 people.
The children looked so happy get a letter from their friends in Java. They made postcards, made a picture in one side, and write about themselves in other side of paper. It’s a little bit hard, because we have no habit on writing yet. ‘What should I write, Miss?’ every kids asked me. I told them, ‘Introduce yourself, name, class, age, hobby, game, etc.. most of them answer with regarding the letter.
Eh, kalau suratmu seperti apa? Aku bingung mau tulis apa ya...
Aii...di mana bukunya itu Miss? ada gambar orang main sepak bola...(note : rencana gambar postcard : orang main bola)
dibuat seperti ini lho.....
Some of them put the photo to their pen friend and asked the pen friend to send the photo too.
kartu siapa ini? saya mau bikin juga...
kepada Azzah El Nile, kartasura jawa tengah
Raw conclusion :
I found the gap between kids in Java and here. Letters from Java, from the kids in 5th grade was full with very tidy and full handwriting in the paper. They look used to write alot. Maybe their teacher in Java often asked them to write alot, or they used to read book, magazine, or newspaper.
However, I hope they could be a good pen friend. It’s not only for one time, but for next and next times. And when they grow up in the following years, both have a family in Java and Celebes. A land that far from imagination. Just like Charlie and Lola… Lucky lucky us !
TomatCeri 