NEW YEAR! NEW SPIRIT!

There are many ways to start the New Year. Well, Realia decided to welcome 2007 with fresh spirit and optimism. We started the year with a special event; Realia Gathering and Training.

The purpose of the Gathering was to give Realia teachers the opportunity to reflect on last year’s experiences, refresh a bit from daily routines, and hopefully to be the first step toward an even better coming year. This event was also a small part of welcoming Realia’s 20th Anniversary next July. Held on a sunny Sunday, the gathering was a wonderful experience and a truly new starting point, giving us vision and motivation. Please continue reading and share some of our meaningful moments.

A SPECIAL SUNDAY

It was a rather cold morning when the Realia teachers gathered in our beloved office. But when we left to the gathering venue the sun had started to warm the sky. Our hearts were warm too, filled with expectation and curiosity of what might happen that day.

Courage and the will to change
It was quite shocking indeed when our facilitator, Mas Iwan, pulled a fifty thousand rupiah bill out of his wallet and waived it high in the air. Without saying much he challenged us to grab the money from his hand and whoever succeeded could keep it. There was silence, was it a trick? Suddenly Mbak Sitta moved forward, climbed on the table, and grabbed the bill. Everyone was quite surprised: she got the money in a zap. Then Mas Iwan asked why the rest of us didn’t try to get the money and why Mbak Sitta decided to do it. The lesson was how opportunities don’t wait for us and how quickly an opportunity could be missed. He also mentioned that most of the time it takes courage to act and to change.

I’m the winner! (And so are you)

Becoming a winner is surely many people’s ambition, but what if we can all win, and no one has to lose? That’s what happened during one of the games Mas Iwan facilitated. He divided us into three groups and asked each group to choose one letter from two he provided. The combination of letters that the groups chose would decide how many points each group would receive.

It was a challenging task. Each group had to decide within themselves which letter could bring more points while considering what would other groups do. After several rounds, Mas Iwan asked us to choose a group leader to represent us in a tripartite negotiation. Naturally, each group wanted to choose a letter that will benefit them the most. But in this game, the will to cooperate would actually bring victory to all groups.

Words of Wisdom

In a more serious manner, REALIA Director Ibu Dyah Prasetyo Hening presented REALIA’s visions and core values. Starting with a short history of the school, she recounted of how it had stood the test of time, facing all the ups and downs that came its way. She also pointed out that it would surely take more effort and courage to survive and succeed in today’s more challenging environment. This day’s training was a little part of a big plan to prepare Realia teachers to stiffer competition.

The activities in this gathering and training session focused on cross cultural awareness, communication skills, environment observation, and teamwork. These “soft skills” have been recognized as significant factors contributing to a successful teaching and learning process at Realia. Near the end of the session, we were invited to join a short discussion reviewing what we had learned and how that could be applied in our working situations, strengthening our view and encouraging even greater effort than before.

The end of the gathering was getting closer. The time was already 3.30 pm; the sun had started to move west. After a short and amusing door prize session, we closed the day by praying together. But before closing the whole thing… PHOTO SESSION