Today was the last session of the Randy and Jill’s class before our summer break, and we had a really special time together. This morning, the class were attended by Judy, Sabrina, Patria, Pichai, Puti, and Taegyu. Jill brought four great questions that led us into a meaningful and honest conversation about home, life in the U.S., and everything in between.
Here are the questions we talked about:
- What are some things you like best about your country? What do you miss most?
- What are some things you like most and least about the U.S.?
- If you could choose, would you rather stay in the U.S. or return to your native country? Why?
- What are the biggest differences you see between people in the U.S. and your country?
What do we miss from home?
Everyone had something to say. Sabrina talked about how she misses city life and being able to enjoy evenings outside. Judy mentioned how surprised she was at how simple American parties are—just cookies, chips, and soda—while at home, there would be a big meal with all kinds of delicious food.
Puti said she misses how easy it was to travel to nearby countries – like to Singapore, Malayasia, Thailand, and Vietnam – when she was in Indonesia. Patria, who’s originally from Aceh, Sumatra (Indonesia) but now lives in Bandung, West Java, which is a mountainous area, misses fresh seafood and going to the beach—two things that are a big part of life in his coastal hometown.
Taegyu, who has lived in the U.S. for over 20 years, shared that what he misses most from his home country is the nightlife culture. Back home, people often meet up with friends after work to grab a meal or a drink—it’s a normal and lively part of daily life. In contrast, he finds that after work hours in the U.S., most people go straight home, and the streets are quiet.
What do we like (or don’t like) about the U.S.?
There were both positives and challenges. Sabrina said the education system here feels better—it encourages students to think more critically—but she also pointed out the lack of public transportation. Back home, even small cities have good train systems and clear connections.
Judy and Taegyu both said they love how easy it is to go on a road trip here, and how beautiful the national parks are.
Puti said she really appreciates public libraries, playground for children, and also how the government helps people access food when needed. In her hometown, most people just go to the mall when they want entertainment or a proper playground for their little ones.
Cultural differences
Sabrina brought up a fun metaphor:
“Americans are like peaches and Chinese people are like coconuts — Peach people are soft on the outside, but have a hard stone that protects their inner being. Coconuts have tougher exteriors, but get past that, and they’re sweet inside’
Everyone nodded, laughed, and agreed.
So… stay or go?
When asked if we would rather stay in the U.S. or go back to our home country, many of us shared similar mixed feelings. Patria said he’s feeling somewhat hopeless about the current political situation in Indonesia. There’s even a trending hashtag among young people—#letsescape—reflecting frustration over high unemployment rates, government corruption, and policies that just don’t seem to make sense.
Randy and Jill added that things are also tense in the U.S. right now, with Americans experiencing high levels of stress due to the current political climate.
Puti said she would prefer to live in the U.S. because of the many opportunities and the fact that there’s no age limit for starting over—whether it’s going back to school or switching careers. “In Indonesia, turning 40 can feel like the end of your options, and at 70, people think you’re too old for anything. But in the US lots of my friends are 80++ and still very much active and independent. I think the environment factor in this area also plays a great role for that”.
We ended the session with a warm thank you to Randy and Jill. We’ll miss them over the summer, but we look forward to seeing everyone again in the fall. Until then, have a restful and safe summer!
Elaine Bacon Literacy Program 