The Sweetness of a Degree in Indonesian

By Matt Eckersley s14
University of Queensland

I was in the ACICIS program in 2002. I want to tell you of a nice little moment that occurred in my life over the weekend. I am now a 3rd year medical student at the University of Queensland and last weekend I attended a national medical student's convention on Developing World Health held in Adelaide. The following is a personal testimony as to the benefits of studying Indonesian and also a big thanks to ACICIS.

The setting

I went to a medical student's world health conference in Adelaide. It was totally awesome. On the last night there was a big formal dinner. Lots of VIPs, including the S.A health minister and lots of upper crust doctors. So the room is packed with the VIPs and 300 of the most eager smarty med students in the country. The night revolved around a quiz that was read out by the health minister and answered as a table of 10. This went OK - keep in mind these are med students who pride themselves on their brain - they take their quiz action pretty seriously. I think our table came 10th or something.

The glory begins

The highlight of the night was the reading out of the one quiz question that could be answered by an individual. The first person to put their hand up and answer would not only gain the glory of all his peers and the VIPs but a $300 book voucher was also up for grabs. This was super serious. A silence permeated only by sheer burning desire swept through the 300 students in the room!!

And the Question is.......

All ears are fully focused as the words slowly come forth from the presenter's mouth... "Which Indonesian president...." (oh yes!! I thought I am in with a real chance here) "in a speech about the American……" BOOM!! I leap up out of my chair; throw both arms in the air and let out a yell. I have had about a bottle of wine so there was nothing to inhibit me. The room is stunned - the question isn't even half finished but there I am way too over the top and ready to claim my glory!

"Soekarno!" I blurt out.

Correct says the health minister, but that is only half the answer. I am left there standing while she challenges me with the rest of the question. "And what was it he said?" Uh oh - I go into a second of panic! That was unexpected - I am standing with 300 people staring straight at me when in a magic moment I remember an ACICIS friend once telling me the most famous thing that Soekarno had ever said about America.

"Was it Mengotohellkan?" (meng go to hell kan) I answer a little feebly.

Correct.!!! I can't believe it! No one in the room can really believe it either - an ovation spontaneously breaks out and for the remainder of the night I am a star - looks of disbelief at the power of my brain are thrown my way from every angle. All those other students with their Biomed undergraduate degrees just can't imagine that someone would choose to do Indonesian before they went into med and think I must be some form of political history guru! Little do they know.....

Never ever before and perhaps never again will the sweetness of a degree in Indonesian be so fully felt!

Long live the ACICIS program and all those involved with it.