A Village at the Foot of Mount Merapi

The story tells the story of a high school student's experience on a "live in" trip, a self-development program by staying in the village for nine days. These activities enable students to understand the different cultures and socio-economic conditions of their daily lives.

The journey begins with a journey using trains and buses to the village at the foot of Mount Merapi, Central Java. The author and her friends follow a series of events and live with a foster family. They interact with villagers, help with daily activities, and attend events that have been arranged by the school.

On the first night, the author and his friend, Kerel, checked their flashlights and found a difference in the light produced. While trying to flashlight around the house, they saw a grandmother who appeared to be drying clothes at night. Remembering the message from the teacher to help the villagers, they approached the place, but found that the grandmother and all the drying utensils had disappeared. Shocked and frightened, they returned home and decided not to tell anyone about the incident.

After that, the author fell ill, had a high fever for several days. He was taken to a doctor for treatment and was also scraped by his surrogate mother. In the chat while being scraped, the author recounted the horror experience of that night. The surrogate mother explained that three months earlier, their neighbor had passed away. It is possible that the "apparition" is a form of greeting from the spirit of the deceased.

After learning that the mysterious figure they saw may be related to someone who had recently died, the author felt more comfortable even though there was still residual fear. This feeling gradually fades as activities get denser. Other high school students and accompanying teachers invited the writer to continue to follow the daily activities in the village, so that time went by without much opportunity to think about the events of that night.

After a few days, the author's condition began to improve. After recovering from fever and dizziness, he returned to the village with a new spirit. While eating with foster families, the author began to understand more deeply the way of life of the villagers and the strong social bonds between them. She admires the way the villagers support each other, and this feeling gives a new perspective on the importance of togetherness in the community.

One day, the accompanying teacher announced that they would visit several important places in the village, including rice fields, handicraft houses, and a local cultural site. During a visit to the cultural site, a villager told a local legend about the guardian spirits of the mountain. Residents explained that these spirits are believed to protect the village from harm and lead residents in a good direction.

Hearing this story, the author recalls the experience that night and wonders if the grandmother they saw might have been one of those guardian spirits. Although still hesitant, he feels a sense of calm as this legendary story adds depth to the understanding of the village culture and how the local people relate to the spirit world.

After a visit to the cultural site, the author returned to the foster home and talked to the surrogate mother and surrogate. They tell stories about daily life in the village and tell more local legends. The author became increasingly close to the foster family and felt like part of the community. As the author sat in front of the house at night, he looked at the sparkling stars in the sky and felt a great peace. This time, he was no longer afraid of the darkness or what might be lurking in it.

In the following days, the author felt more confident and was able to follow the village activities without hesitation. He learned about agriculture, cooked traditional food, and participated in mutual aid activities with the villagers. At the end of the live in program, the author felt that this experience had opened his eyes to various aspects of life that he had never understood before.

When she returned to school, she shared this experience with her friends and felt proud to be able to learn from the villagers. Memories of the horror event remain, but now the author can see it from a different perspective, as part of an enriching life experience. He realized that fear can be overcome with understanding and openness, and every experience, good or bad, can provide valuable lessons.