Volunteer Teacher — Ubud, Indonesia

I taught English in Ubud, Bali in January 2025. The kids were between five and ten years old.

The first day started before we even reached the classroom. When we arrived, the kids were lined up praying. Once they finished, they formed a line by class, and when we reached the class we would teach, each student took my hand and touched it to their forehead. This gesture is called salim, a common way children in Indonesia show respect to a teacher. It was a small moment, but it said a lot about how these kids were raised.

The classroom was simple. The kids shared chairs, and the walls were covered in posters the teachers made by hand. I taught basic words like beach, sand, and bucket, mostly using pictures since many of the kids were just beginning to learn English.

What stayed with me from that trip is how much a child gives back once you get on their level and pay attention. You do not need a shared language to know when something finally clicks. You can see it on their face.