by Raffaella Commitante
It always amazes me how fast the week can go during the OC/OVAG Veterinary Workshop.
On Monday, after a week of intense and stressful preparations before the start of the workshop, I thought to myself “I wish it were over already” as I was already exhausted. Then in the blink of an eye, it was Friday and we are at the end and I am so sad.
The final day of the workshop was spent at the meeting room back at the hotel. After breakfast the delegates met under our banner wearing our OC/OVAG T-shirts for our group photo. We also took a special photo to commemorate World Orangutan Day which is in November. You’ll have to wait for then to see that picture!
The delegates then broke up into smaller groups to continue their special assignment from Steve.
After, Winny gave a great presentation on orangutan nutrition and energy needs that we hope she will publish.
As has become our new tradition, our orangutan mascot, GAVO II was presented to Winny as she was one of the workshop organizers in Bogor.
After some more odds and ends and it was time for our closing dinner. Little did I know they had all been working in secret to prepare a special surprise for me! I was late getting to the restaurant nearby as I was preparing the hotel bill. When I arrived everyone was already there and before I knew it, from behind the food service counter, the employees came out with instruments and everyone sang me the Happy Birthday song. My birthday was on June 22, and I nearly forgot it but my friends did not! They presented me with a Tumpeng – which is a traditional celebration symbol of a small mountain made of rice and it is surrounded by long beans, a chicken foot, sambal hijau (green chili sauce), egg, and tofu and tempe. The mountain is for glory, the long beans represent a long life, the egg is for happiness, the chicken leg is for prosperity, and the sambal for pleasure and excitement in life.
It was a lovely way to end our workshop!
Next year’s workshop will be in Jogjakarta and I am off to that city today to speak to the Vice Dean in charge of collaborations. More from Jogja in the coming days.
To learn more about the annual OC/OVAG Veterinary Workshops please click here.
The OC Blog is being written this month by Dr. Raffaella Commitante, OC Board Member and facilitator of the OC/OVAG Veterinary Workshop, which is being held in Bogor, Indonesia.
