David L. Boren Awards for International Study

Peter Gray, Boren Scholar, Indonesia

As a freshman at Clark University, Peter Gray read This Earth of Mankind, a novel set in Java at the end of Dutch colonial rule.  The book’s depiction of Javanese culture sparked Peter’s interest in Indonesia and he has since pursued a number of opportunities to learn more.  Although he had never been outside of the United States, in 2008, he spent two months doing research in Java.  His project dealt with the tension between ritual and commercial aspects of cultural landscapes; he was studying an area famous in Javanese folklore and widely used as a pilgrimage destination.  Peter was challenged to understand complex Javanese/Islamic spiritual concepts.  He also became more interested in Indonesian politics and Indonesia’s relationship with the United States, leading him to pursue a Boren Scholarship. 

Peter accepted the Boren Scholarship in 2009 and is spending this academic year at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.  This past semester, he took four academic courses (Islam, modern Indonesian history, folklore and appreciating ethnic music) and two language units (Indonesian grammar and Indonesian language for research).  All were conducted exclusively in Indonesian.  While this has been challenging and, at times, frustrating, it has also been rewarding.  He has already seen a significant improvement in his reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.   

Outside of class, Peter lives in a “kos,” a living situation which is a mix between a dorm and an apartment.  He lives with 12 other Gadjah Mada University students in this semi-communal facility, allowing him numerous opportunities to practice and develop his Indonesian.  Peter is thankful for his fellow students, claiming “Indonesian students are usually quite interested in getting to know foreigners and are some of the friendliest people I've met.  I could never have gotten through the semester without their help.”   Already, Peter has learned a great deal about Javanese culture and customs.  For example, he has come to appreciate that residents in most neighborhoods know each other, interact socially, and work together in a constructive way.  Likewise, it is customary when walking (or driving) past older people to smile politely and greet them.  Peter has come to value how this tradition builds a sense of community and promotes feelings of comfort, safety and familiarity.  

By the end of his stay in Java, Peter hopes to improve his already superior level of Indonesian language to reach professional fluency.  He will spend the second semester adding extracurricular components to his schedule and will begin conducting field research for his senior thesis.  Upon completion of the Boren Scholarship, Peter plans to pursue a graduate degree in Southeast Asian studies.  Eventually, he would like to apply for the Peace Corps, as the Indonesia program has just reopened since its closure in 1965.  Peter is also interested in working for the State Department as an intelligence analyst or foreign service officer.