"Alam Takambang manjadi Guru" is one of the proverbs that are well known in My country,

West Sumatra, Indonesia. Proverb which means to make nature as a teacher who gives lessons on the
meaning of life. West Sumatra is one of the provinces in Indonesia are very beautiful, does not like other
big cities such as Jakarta, New York, or London, but for us our village is the best, simply the best. Our
tribe is the Minangkabau. One of the tribes of the 250 tribes that lived in the State of the Indonesian
Archipelago, we are still very strong in holding the custom because it will always be in accordance with
the state of the times. Our culture is very well known by almost people of Indonesia at this time is
"Merantau", a culture which every teenager will continue the lesson of their life through a series of life
experiences through travel and the struggle of life at an entirely new place. Proverb to make very nature
as a teacher we hold dear. Cultures that have been handed down has been very ingrained for us, so that
if a boy does not "Merantau", so he cannot be considered as an adult male. Reliabilities that we had,
really we got during the overseas trip. Difficulties and tribulations we have encountered frequently at
the beginning of our journey, but our predecessors, our grandfathers, our fathers, our uncles had done
this culture and they succeeded. They become one of founding father of Indonesia, they colour this
country such as Moh. Hatta, Sutan Syahrir, even Tan Malaka. Indeed, there is no definite model to
measure the success of this trip, but certainly we've become a grown man if it has been through it,
without we consider before, how to think and solve problems and deal with problem better than before
because it is through forging a very well by nature. Regardless of the outcome that's life, because
naturally we are always able to find the best position in the lead role in this earth.

This culture does not just done without any prior preparation before. Like a building foundation
is always there that it is based. The better foundation, the higher buildings can be built . So did we, in
preparing for this life journey of every child get the basic knowledge stock that has always been a grip
on the journey through this life, especially when there are no parents who watch and remind what they
do. A proverb that is very profound for us has always been a reminder to prepare a good foundation.
"Adat basandi Sara, Sara Basandi Kitabullah" has always been the handle for us, this seemed to have
become a judge can help us to decide what decisions should be made, good or bad, right and wrong
always based on it. Our closeness’s rate with “kitabullah” that makes us ready to “merantau” or not.
Everything is there, from the arrangement when we wake up to will close their eyes at night. This guard
is so perfect hereditary also revealed to us and we will also hand down to our children and
grandchildrens someday. During “merantau” there are many words give to us from nature, our
character is formed to never give up and always learn to be an advantage that makes us able to survive
until the time comes. This is proof from our presence in almost every region in Indonesia. Each lesson
we received start from the “angel” to the darkness of human. All decisions submitted to us, parents no
longer can be a place to ask. Nature is where we ask, and God's Book into the scales of our best.

Slowly but sure we are more mature, more and more life experience, the better we passed our
consideration. This situation indicates a situation where we are ready to inaugurate that we've become
a grown man. When this time comes, a great longing to soon have a companion living rising, we will
immediately return to the village to find a beloved woman. That with her we'll live till the end of life.
Return is only temporary, just to run half of the teachings of our religion that is married. Marriage is very
sacred to us, therefore, must choose the best. When we found the best and marry there in front of our
parents, soon we will return to life overseas with our wife. Now we are with our spouse, life cycles
continue to give the best values we've got since we were kids until we become what we are today. Then
we continue the cycle of this culture to our children. That's how we continue to uphold this culture
strongly.

When we are old, this is a sign for us to come back, most of us usually spend to dissolve in the
simplicity and worship in our beloved village. This missing is huge, so we were willing to leave the hustle
and bustle of the ground overseas and share experiences and prepare our successor in the forwarding
relay culture "Merantau" to the next generation. This is the beauty of life, what we can do, do that for
the best. This culture will we keep until we are able to keep it, let nature decide what is best. Some day
we believe it will going to change, but we believe that is the best for that time. But for now "Merantau"
is the pride of our culture.

Culture is so deeply embedded up to now, if you see the distribution of populations in

Indonesia, you will see distribution which centered on the island of Java. While on the other islands such
as Sumatra, where ethnic Minang are there only 100 people per hectare. Compare with the island of
Java that every 1 km square there are 100 people that we will meet. The situation is very influential in
our lives all the good that the place deserted or crowded. Our life was going so different, the contrast is
like night and day. In Java, you will not find a quiet night, there are always people milling around all the
time, night light bright like the mini sun and stalled vehicles roaring sound like a watered glue ants,
moving slowly but sometimes just screams that sounded its horn. Try to compare it with our area of
minimal light, just oil lamps as lights, the darkness of night is a sign to go home and sleep until dawn and
then towards the same activity over and over again. There was no sound of noisy vehicles, there are
only crickets sound that fills the void of the night. Occasionally the sound of wild dogs howling that
sounded pathetic. My family in Sumatra have been through it since they were born. I have a distinct
opportunity to meet and see also compare between them. That's what I see here, the shoreline is filled
with a million colors. Fool me once if I only dwell in the village and spent the beauty with the other side
here. How could ban people who throughout his life lived with the same routine when we were ordered
to make nature as a teacher. Is just a lesson members around the village can more or with more can
wander. Of course we agree if the wander is that so much to teach more.
Put simply we can open up more life experience to go abroad, with a more colorful life chances will be
very wide open, more friends who can be a source of inspiration, know many people with a variety of
unique, opportunity to learn more about themselves and reveal the extraordinary potential. Are you
willing to let go of that precious opportunity, ore over only live once. There is a proverb that you've
probably heard or read before, or you never hear before but I’m sure that you'll soon get the point
"Where there is sugar, there will be no ants." That is perhaps to be said about the wandering, sugar is so
tempting, could you refuse it. Will the ants are hungry you banned over sugar so sweet. Or you may not
be the ant who likes sugar. Or maybe you were the ants who know the sweetness of sugar and do not
want to share with the village ants who came to town. It's very sad if that's the reason.
Let the learners come to town to learn the other side of life, it will make them have an incredible ability
to be well in the future make his small village into a new sugar lading. A classic solution to solve it is by
making small villages into cultural centers with a new advanced range of accessories. So the first thing to
do is to let the foreigners get the science as much as possible so they can develop their village in the
future, because as far as herons fly, he would return to the puddle. The focus is not blocking the nomads
but provide the best science to them. Maybe now you think to limit it because it will be a bit annoying
that the full street, under bridges an increasingly crowded by homes of cardboard, it was only
temporary. I'm sure it will end up with better if you give the best for these nomads.