By Emily Peterson ‘19, Syiah Kuala University Fellow

Navigation in Banda Aceh works differently than at home. Instead of maps and street names, most people navigate using other landmarks they already know. To get to our house I learned to turn right at Simpang Mesra, the intersection marked by large statue that looks like the tip of a ballpoint pen. Turn left at a different intersection with a large billboard displaying a woman in a white hijab to get to the mall. Keep going straight and you reach Simpang Lima, the intersection where five roads converge into one roundabout. Turn left and over the bridge to get to the gym and the supermarket.

By Emily Peterson ‘19, Syiah Kuala University Fellow

Navigation in Banda Aceh works differently than at home. Instead of maps and street names, most people navigate using other landmarks they already know. To get to our house I learned to turn right at Simpang Mesra, the intersection marked by large statue that looks like the tip of a ballpoint pen. Turn left at a different intersection with a large billboard displaying a woman in a white hijab to get to the mall. Keep going straight and you reach Simpang Lima, the intersection where five roads converge into one roundabout. Turn left and over the bridge to get to the gym and the supermarket.