06 December 2024
Fenny Julistine Tarigan
In the rural, quiet city of Waterloo, Chloe Jane Pagett, an architecture student from Universitas Sumatera Utara, spent almost four months on a life-changing journey, learning new cultures and exploring the foreign city. The Indonesian government awarded Chloe the prestigious scholarship, IISMA, to experience one term at the University of Waterloo. Amidst her academic pursuits, she found something far more valuable—a circle of lifelong friends.
Fourteen other students were awarded the same scholarship and lived in the same dorm as Chloe. Even though they came from the same country, they had various backgrounds and ethnicities, each with their own unique stories and perspectives. By living in the same dorm, Chloe would meet her new friends daily and walk to class together.
However, it wasn't just the living conditions that helped build the friendship. The Indonesian cultural events held by the awardees played a huge role in bonding them, from hosting a Heroes event titled 'Kesatria: The Lost Heritage' to donating food wearing Indonesian traditional clothing, Batik.
The Heroes event was a success, thanks to the teamwork of the awardees and their creativity in producing wonderful ideas. Chloe, who was in charge of the photo booth, documented the smiles of the attendants. As for Batik Day, the 15 awardees traveled to the neighboring city to donate food supplies to a non-profit organization, 'House of Friendship.' These experiences highlighted the importance of teamwork and the willingness to listen to each other's ideas. Chloe also learned about the strengths and weaknesses of her friends, which enabled her to help them in the future.
Warm indoor gatherings became the norm during the harsh Canadian winter, where topics ranged from history to dreams. By spending much time together and getting to know each other deeply, Chloe felt a sense of family with her newfound friends and a feeling of belonging far from home.
Chloe recalls the days she spent there. "I've always thought, it's not the place that is special, but the people we spend it with that makes it special," she says with a smile. Forever, I will keep these memories in my head and my friends in my heart." The friends she met, once strangers, now share an unbreakable bond.
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