Hari Kartini

*Throwback post to PST in Batu, April 2012*

Hari Kartini (Kartini Day) is celebrated every April.  Raden Ayu Kartini is a national hero.  She came of age in the Dutch colonial era, a daughter of a wealthy Javanese Regent.  She was highly educated and fluent in Dutch, which was unusual for Indonesians then.  She is a national hero, because she was a women’s rights warrior. 

This year, Hari Kartini followed National Testing Week, so there were no festivities at my school.  These are some photos from Hari Kartini during Pre-Service Training (PST)  last year.  We happened to be on our way to somewhere when we passed by the town square and were hit in the face with this ridiculous cuteness:

Hari Kartini 2012 fell during our practicum at the middle school, so we were able to take in their festivities.  After the requisite pomp and circumstance, I was handed the school camera and became papparazza for a few hours, right at the edge of the runway where the kids WERRKED it.  By the way and for the record: Nobody does Power Clashing like the Javanese.