Students of the Merdeka Student Exchange Program (PMM) 3 Outbound of the Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) participated in the Nusantara Module (MN) activity at Airlangga University (UNAIR) Surabaya, East Java, Saturday (28/10).
Week 9 of the Nusantara Module is a Diversity class held in Kediri City. Cansy Gesi Sanda, a UMSU student who is currently undergoing the PMM 3 Program at Airlangga University, admitted that she was pleased to get valuable experience, not only learning but also being able to travel to visit the third largest city in East Java after Surabaya and Malang for free.
“This is the first time I set foot in the city of Kediri; I am happy that I am not here alone. And this is the best experience because not all modules in PMM 3 Unair can experience visiting the city of Kediri, “said Cansy enthusiastically…
The 5th-semester student of Fisip UMSU with his group mate “Mahatta” also shared his amazement at seeing the city’s uniqueness, often nicknamed “The City of Tofu”. He shared his experience of visiting the Simpang Lima Gumul monument to meet the Jaranan Art actors.
“When we arrived in this city, we immediately ate Soto Branggahan as breakfast. Then we went to the Simpang Lima Gumul monument, the iconic city of Kediri,” said the FISIP UMSU student.
An interesting thing about the Simpang Lima Gumul monument is the shape of the building, which resembles the Arch D’Triomphe in Paris, France.
“The building in this monument is more highlighted to the cultural arts of Kediri Regency itself,” he said.
Not only studying the art in the monument building, but Cansy also claimed to be invited to eat special Punten typical of Kediri. According to him, the pecel flavor is delicious, plus a large portion, so it arouses his culinary tastes.
“After that, we went to the Jaranan Art headquarters. Here, I gained new knowledge about the art of Jaranan that he previously did not know. Then, the most memorable occasion was when we were allowed to see and wear Jaranan Art attributes or accessories,” said Cansy.
Not wanting to waste the opportunity, Cansy ventured to interview Gunawan as the performer of Jaranan Art at Padepokan New Rogo Samboyo Putro.
The result of his conversation with the performer reminded him to preserve Jaranan Art so that it remains known among young people in the modern era.
“It is my duty and that of my friends at Padepokan New Rogo Samboyo Putro to preserve Jaranan Art so that it remains known among young people in this modern era by holding Jaranan Art Performances,” Gunawan told Cansy.
Gunawan also told Cansy about his hopes for young people regarding Jaranan Art.
“I hope that young people can continue to preserve and introduce this Jaranan Art nationally and internationally. So that this art is not lost in the civilization of the modern world,” Gunawan hoped as the closing of Cansy’s trip to Kediri City.
