The Shansi Effect in Action - A Message from Eli Fisher '16
My name is Eli Fisher and I was the Shansi Fellow to Yogyakarta from 2016 to 2018. I came back to Oberlin for a year as Shansi's Returned Fellow before launching a career in international education. Currently, I serve as the On-Site Director of the Princeton Bridge Year Program in Indonesia. My job brought me back to Jogja where I work with young adults who chose a long-term, immersive exchange opportunity--much like Shansi--to study and take on internships in Southeast Asia.
One of the first things I teach my students during our orientation in Jogja is how to formally greet people according to Javanese norms and customs. For non-locals, even saying "hello" can seem like intricate choreography. I know this from personal experience. When I started as a Shansi Fellow, I also had to learn how to position my hands and head and discern the postures required to greet colleagues, elders, and peers. My colleagues at Gadjah Mada University, senior fellows, and so many of the people I met during my fellowship, taught me how to navigate day-to-day life in Java, and I am honored to carry those lessons forward to the next generation of international students in Indonesia.
My colleagues during my time with Shansi are still some of my best collaborators. Pak Eddy, a renowned wayang artist and friend to generations of Shansi Fellows, conducts workshops with my students at his studio to guide them through the intricacies of Javanese art, puppetry, and music. His expertise encourages students to see Java through new lenses, allowing them to learn in ways that are more sensory and experiential. He helps my students feel more knowledgeable and more connected to the city and the people they encounter every day, and he still sends me weekly Whatsapp messages about performances in Jogja.
My career was directly shaped by experience as a Shansi Fellow. In turn, my students' experience in Indonesia has also been deeply impacted by Shansi, even though they have no formal connection to Oberlin—although they now know about it because I talk about it constantly! Shansi has equipped me as an educator who seeks to demystify Javanese cultures, religious beliefs, and ways of navigating the world. This is what the "Shansi Effect" is all about.
Shansi depends on the support of our alumni and larger community to continue this important work. To support Shansi, please visit www.shansi.org/donate to give online or send a check to Oberlin Shansi, 50 North Professor Street, Oberlin, OH 44074. You can also donate appreciated stock or consider making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) as part of your IRA Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). Learn more about these tax-advantaged opportunities from our website or by contacting shansi@oberlin.edu.
In a time when international collaborations are fraying and fear of the "other" is spreading, I find people-to-people exchange to be the most powerful tool in debunking misconceptions and promoting intercultural dialogue. Your support today will help Shansi continue this important work, now and for years to come.
Sincerely,
Eli
P.S. I was honored to celebrate my birthday with the Shansi Family in Jogja this past April. Senior Director Ted filmed the occasion. I hope you enjoy!