University of Indonesia
Al Azhar was new and shiny. University of Indonesia was older and not as shiny but still a good University. Indonesian students often live at home and commute to school. They find the American style of the child going to college at 18 and being “on their own” to be strange, especially for women. This, no doubt, has economic and social roots. So the schools are commuter schools.

I still haven’t figured out the educational hierarchy with Rectors, Vice Rectors, Deans, teachers, professors, etc – but a lot of them have been to the U.S.. We all met in a small conference room before the meeting. Food, coffee, and tea are served and an introductory discussion initiated.

I’m always in a hurry. Indonesians, once off the scooter, are usually not, so there is a little dance. If it is a 9:00 talk I want to get there at 8:50 so I can set up. They want to get there at 9:15 and assume their technical people will set up for me. This almost never works but I will say that between the MAC PC issues, flash drives, speakers, etc. we have figured it out every time.

The classroom at UI looked just like a U.S. classroom – not a lecture hall but a room with desks seating about 40 people. The students looked just like US students – jeans, Tee Shirts. There was not much traditional muslim dress but Indonesian women, although they wear clothes very tight, do not show much skin – and comment about how their friends who have gone to America or become American dress in a more revealing manner.

My talk lasted about 50 minutes and then three students in the International Relations club gave a talk that lasted 10 minutes about U.S. Foreign Policy. They don’t like it. The usual questions appeared but they were very detailed. One student wanted to know about Barry Goldwater – I didn’t expect that. A female student questioned whether Obama being black would affect his governing were he elected. I said I didn’t think so and it might even be useful overseas to show a different face for America.

Students at both Universities were of the highest quality. Their questions were excellent and they were genuinely interested. There is a very different quality to Indonesian students. They are less “world weary” (how can you be world weary at 19?) and are more than happy to ask to take a picture with you and not at all embarrassed to send a follow up email or ask a question.

Boys usually ask the first questions but, with encouragement, women ask just as many. Both classes had a roughly equal number of men and women.

The Foreign Policy question always follow a pattern. I say I’m not a Foreign Policy expert but they ask and I give my opinion. I make it clear it is only my opinion and many in the U.S. would disagree with it and, in fact, on some issues I may be a clear minority. They appreciate that my answers are blunt and detailed and not particularly diplomatic. They are interested in:

1) The US/Muslim world relations in general
2) Palestine/Israel
3) Iraq
4) And to a lesser extent foreign trade/barriers