Wash Your Mind Up

This drama called KORU, a story of some people who work as volunteer in Waiheke Island, in New Zealand. There are two guys and two ladies as main stars this drama. Hasan (23) is a man from Indonesia, Carmen (20) is Chinese lady, Michael (20) is Polish guy and the last one is Anne-Sophie (19) from Switzerland. They haven’t met each other before and then an international student-run organization unite them in a project called KORU. That organization is AIESEC Auckland. And the drama made based on true story.  Enjoy reading each of the scenes

Scene #1

First meeting with completed team.

Location               : University Auckland

Everyone has to be boarded in University to go to harbour and then take ferry to the Island. Hasan has waited for 1 hour and eventually the rest of the team came. Carmen came the big luggage, Michael came with the big yellow backpack and Anso who just arrived from her 26 hours flight came with her black big luggage. They had a guy from AIESEC who managed all the things to go to the Island.

Scene #2

Arriving in Waiheke Island

Location : Matiatia Ferry – Onetangi, Waiheke Island

After 45 minutes trip from the city to Waiheke Island, they finally arrived in harbour, well-known as Matiatia Ferry. They’ve been told that somebody will pick them up. When Hasan heard about that, he expected that the one that would pick him is the Jennesse. She was the one who interviewed him before he accepted in that project. Then he found it wasn’t. Two old people waved their hands and said “Welcome to Waiheke Island.” An old lady is Robin and the old man is Bryan, they are about 70 years old. They took them to the cottage where Hasan and his friends would stay. The cottage is so lovely then Bryan invited them to have dinner together. What a great welcome!

Scene #3

First day work.

Location : Onetangi – Man O’ War Bay

First day was a orientation day for them. Bryan is the chair of Forest and Bird which is the NGO that Hasan and his friends work for. He took them around Waiheke to see all the reserve that Forest and Birds manage in the Island. He also took them to popular places in Waiheke. They found it was so beautiful places, they saw green hills along the way. It was so extraordinary especially for Hasan. Since he arrived four weeks ago, he has never seen any sheep in Auckland and at that time he was able to see hundreds of them. He even took a picture with them.

Scene #4

Grocery Shopping

Location : Supermarket

Living together with new people and new habit is not that easy easy with them. They need to buy some grocery stuff to survive during their stay. They found a way to cook by themselves. As first step they bought a lot of food stocks for the first week. They come from across of the world so they must have different prefferance of food. Indonesian and Chinesse often eat rice and Polish and Swissh don’t. That small thing actually unites them in one decision because they have to respect each other, buy rice. At least, the grocery shopping has taught them a valuable thing: cross-cultural communication.

Scene #5

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Location : Cottage

They have to cook by themselves. Everyone has different taste of food but not everyone can cook. Deciding what to cook and who cook also takes time. They kind of enjoy whatever food that they have for each meal time. Even sometimes failure happens. They plan to have country special cooking in the next week.

Scene #6

Tree Plantng

Location : Reserve

One of the job descriptions that they have to do is planting trees. In the first week, they have target to plant 300 trees in the reserve. Tree planting activity is new things for Carmen, Hasan and Michael but not for Anso. Her father is gardener, so sometimes she has to help father to plant something. They do three steps of planting : (1) Digging the hole, (2) Plant the tree and (3) Pour fertilizer.

Scene #7

Track working

Location : Forest and Bird Reserve

Another physical work that they have to do is track building. Reserve area of Forest and Bird has various birds and trees. It’s good if people can see the diversity of nature inside the forest so they build the new track to make people easier to walk in the forest. They get rid of the dead leafs among the track with the rag.

The first week was over and they came to the city to have fun with all AIESEC member. Hasan, Carmen and Anso went to Auckland Museum karaoke and Michael didn’t go with them. WHY?

—– TO BE CONTINUED —–