AOE: Festivals in Europe. Part France & Monaco.

Bonjoir madame & madmoasille ! Komonj sava? hehe... it's been over a week since I posted about Holland and Belgium. Actually, I planned about 1 post 1 week but I had a lot of things to do like right now I'm applying for ACC Global Leaderships in South Korea. So, I have to submit an updated-CV, a TOEFL certificate, and an essay which hampered my blogging activity. haha..

This AOE is going to continue my latest post ("AOE: Festivals in Europe. Part Holland & Belgium."). Different with Odoorn Festival in Holland, France has its own big festival called "Festival de Martigues" placed in Martigues near Marseille. KAG IV joined that festival in 2005, showed our traditional culture through dance and music (angklung), performed some of France songs with angklung, and fortunately, we got a couple standing applause. That's awesome.

Logo of Festival de Martigues.

Boys with Mr. Try Sutrisno (Former of Indonesian vice president).

A statue in front of Eiffel tower, Paris.

With an Iranian artist.

Canoe-ing.

At Indonesian embassy, Marseille.

 We performed at church in Martigues and got a standing applause.

Performing "Plaisir d'Amor"

 Performing "Jali-Jali"

Performing  "Blue Danube"

With our Holland-France-bus-driver, Eric.

A view from Marseille.

A letter from my guest parent in Martigues, Daniel & Cath Martin. A photo of my 15th birthday.

 KAG 4 at Eiffel tower.

KAG 4 with guest parents.

 Opening party of Festival de Martigues.

With Mrs. Try Sutrisno in Eyragues.

Monaco view.

During free time, we went to explore the city of Marseille and we had a trip to Monaco shortly. Sight-seeing around Monte carlo, Monaco by tourist bus is incredible. All the roads around Monte carlo are united to be a single big famous Formula one circuit. That's so impressive. We love being there even though the living cost is more expensive than Martigues. Here is our video:

 Krida Art Group 4 on Festival de Martigues

I think that's all the story I've still remembered until now after 9 years haven't been there again. Maybe there are still a lot of stories I forget but let the picture tell you itself haha.. I'm out of memories of it. I hope you'all enjoy it although it's such a rush I wrote it. Merci boku, everyone !

AOE: Festivals in Europe. Part Holland & Belgium.

Hallo everyone! Here I am again with AOE section from "Pritananda's trying to create something". In this AOE, I would like to share about my first adventure to the world as that was my first time to go abroad.

Start with my senior high school which having an audition for its Indonesian cultural group to participate some festivals in Europe in 2005. With my curiosity, I involved to that audition which held at my high school. The audition had 2 stages. In the first stage, we were tested about our physical skills such as doing some traditional dances, acting, playing traditional music instruments, and so on. The second stage, we did some knowledge testing such as speaking English, doing a psychological test, etc; which later I passed through them and became a part of my school's Indonesian cultural group called "Krida Art Group 4" or "KAG 4".

After we were trained for almost a year, finally we were sent to Europe with arriving at Schipol airport in Holland on July 2005. At first, I didn't believe that I went to Europe but as soon as I arrived there, I adapted quickly.

We had an Indonesian night in Terneuzen, Holland which showed all of our cultural we have through dancing and singing with angklung. And in short story, we participated some big festivals like Festival de Martigues in France (I share it later in "AOE: Festivals in Europe part France & Monaco.") and Odoorn festival; which has dozens of participators from around the world.

Our school gave us some guest parents to stay with. We were split into 2 or 3 persons per guest parent and it gave us a real European lifestyle. We also had fun when we had no schedule.

Me and my friend, Lizadri with Rombouts family (our guest parent in Odoorn)

Odoorn, Emmen map

Some big dolls in Odoorn festival opening

All of participators had to make a parade

Opening ceremony

Our introduction, "Rampai Aceh" dance

I was performing "Gong giring-giring" dance

We were playing puzzles at Corn Labyrinth

Our farewell party with guest parents in Odoorn

One more thing, we also visit Brussels, Belgium; just to had a breakfast there when we were having France-Holland trip.

Atomium in Brussels, Belgium. Not so bad hahaha...

Here is our video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pKMp-JAVPI&list=UUp6li3zpJbUcAXT8Ks7Pl3g

I would like to thank you to God, my parent, and my school, SMAT Krida Nusantara to give me a chance to see the world, Also I'd like to thank you to my  guest parent in Odoorn, Rombouts family who treat us so well. I hope I can meet you'all again next time. It's been 9 years since I had those journey. Dank u.