17/07/2026
Believe it or not, Manhattan was once traded for an island in Indonesia over... nutmeg? 🌰
The room fell silent as Riana and Mutiara shared this little-known chapter of history during their visit to Indian Fields Elementary School in South Brunswick, New Jersey. It was one of many stories that brought Indonesia's rich history, culture, and traditions to life.
As Fulbrighters, Riana and Mutiara serve as cultural ambassadors for Indonesia. Their classroom visit was part of Fulbright in the Classroom, an initiative of the Fulbright Association that connects Fulbrighters with local U.S. students and educators.
Riana reflected, “… While many bilateral relationships are built in formal settings through meetings, conferences, and leaders’ dialogues, this experience taught me that friendship between countries also grows through people-to-people interactions. Through the children’s eyes and curiosity, I felt the 10,000-mile distance between Indonesia and the United States become much smaller. As my first classroom outreach experience in the United States, it was a learning opportunity I am truly grateful for. To me, that is where science and cultural exchange meet, in the simple joy of understanding the world, and each other, a little better. It gives me hope that children who learn to ask about another country with curiosity today may grow into adults who meet the world with kindness tomorrow.”
📘 Full story: bit.ly/Fulbright-Classroom
ℹ️ Riana Wulandari is a 2025 Fulbright Doctoral Degree Scholarship awardee in public health, while Mutiara Indah Puspita Sari is a 2024 Fulbright Master’s Degree awardee in city and regional planning, both at Rutgers University. Their profiles: bit.ly/Riana-W and bit.ly/Mutiara-S
Fulbrighters, what other little-known fact about Indonesia you’d love to share with communities in the United States? Tell us in the comments!
(Photo source: Rutgers and Riana)
