Just Back From Indonesia

Just back from Indonesia ten days ago. Good for refreshing, away from my exhausting monotonous activities in the Netherlands. I’ve just been through hard times, not because of being under pressured, lot of work or others, but simply because of boring way of life that I had to go through. Yeah… that is the Netherlands. Life is easy to foretell. People (especially from Indonesia) think that living in here about freedom. But, as I can experience that life is actually well-arranged, structured, linier, and unquestionable. You don’t need to expect a surprise because it’s not the way people live here. Everything is well-informed, well-managed, and protected. It’s hard to take a breath in here (as I could agree with someone’s opinion), when every time I tried I couldn’t find any fresh air anymore. Yeah… because every breath has been calculated… The air I’ve taken in the Netherlands, it would never miss a moment of giving back again. Just check the bank account (I know everyone must have one), there the payment is already listed. What a life!!!

Back to Indonesia for few days was a worth of life stories. Reading Indonesian newspaper is less amazing than those true life experiences. How can it be not amazing to hear a story about a fight between an Indonesian housemaid and her majikan’s girlfriend? In fact, the majikan is a westerner and the girlfriend Indonesian. And, it happened also with other Indonesian housemaids of other westerners. Those housemaids seemed to show no respect to the girlfriends of their male Caucasian majikan-majikan. Seemingly, there is a social issue plays here. In my opinion, the housemaids see those Indonesian girlfriends do not deserve their respect and honor. The housemaids may think those girls are not worthier or positioned in higher level than they are. Or, perhaps they consider those girls as not more than prostitutes??? Oopss… Just guessing… I can’t ask to confirm.

Let’s Go to Indonesia

That’s what Indonesia tries to ask the world while promoting their country to be visited. The invitation is ready. Yeah… Visit Indonesia Year 2008! Let’s see what they have, says the world supposedly.



But hey, you remember the problems with their transportation facilities? Boats were sinking, airplanes were crashed… Ah… It’s a pity though. But the show must go on. Among the bad stories about Indonesia, there is still hope; although some still argue about the condition if Indonesia is well-prepared enough to send such invitation. But still, is Indonesia ready for the show? I think it’s better to leave the answer to the visitors. I can’t make changes on it anyway.

However, I never get bored of visiting Indonesia, to see my family and friends there. The warm weather I prefer better than six months suffering the coldness in the Netherlands. Foods are tasty. People are quite livable, love gossiping, less formal, diverse in psychics characters (some are dreamers, some can be down to earth, some are just curious, many just like to say: so what gitu lho...), and of course they just do what they like. Even worse, somehow I realized I feel freedom as well when I lived in Indonesia, coz it is less strict to the formal rules. Compare it with living in the Netherlands, things are controlled… almost everything… I guess… The Dutch people always say they live in free country, but it is free in terms of what other countries do not allow. Look, the bicycle has to run in own path, your house has to follow what the authority wants it look like, and all the safety issues…. Well… probably that’s their mentality, the free men wannabe.

Until I write this, I still think to go back to Indonesia again, more than a desire to visit other countries. It is still my homeland! Baek, tidak baek, tanah air Indonesia lebih baek… ;-)

Indonesians and Their Language(s)

A long discussion on the subject of Indonesian (the language) has been created on Indonesia Matters. Then, a new topic is opened: Learning Indonesian. Interestingly, there is an argument says that to master the language is a difficult job, while Indonesian people comment him/her already making good Indonesian sentences. Of course, it is good because the chosen words and grammars are correct according to Ejaan Yang Disempurnakan (EYD), and considered to be “baik dan benar”. But, please don’t ask Indonesian people to use this form for daily conversation. It is just ‘not to do’. Or, you will be considered to act too formal (hmmm… I don’t know other word to express it better).

In this case, the way Indonesians communicate to each other becomes more interesting to be discussed, than just talk about the unpopularity of the language among foreigners (Australians in particular). Who cares anyway?

As other nations, people in Indonesia tend to use Indonesian and adjust it to local dialect, that’s why it can be frustrating after learning the language, and still cannot communicate well in daily life. Only during formal speeches, Indonesians will be demanded to use proper words and grammars according to EYD. Even though, many times we still can find strange expressions are used in formal occasion. Soeharto is an example with his famous: '-ken' instead of '-kan'. Ah, it’s his stubbornness as Javanese I guess.

And hey… you know what? Among the transvestites, they also try to create their own language. It was funny when I heard they say words which mean differently, and I couldn’t understand what they were talking about. This kind of language has ever been discussed by Debby Sahertian (Indonesian celeb) in her book.

During my childhood, we also made our own language, and still based on Indonesian. We used it sometimes to avoid other people understand what we were talking about, especially the elderly. He he he… Not just that, we also created some codes with fingers that can be used when we had to communicate in a distance. And, that can be handy during school examination. ;-)

That’s language…

Sinterklaas atau Santa Claus

Cerita tentang Sinterklaas di negeri Belanda memiliki beberapa perbedaan dengan cerita Santa Claus yang sering di-film-kan oleh Hollywood. Tapi menurut beberapa pendapat, cerita tentang seorang kakek berjenggot putih panjang, mengenakan pakaian merah-putih, yang datang mengunjungi anak-anak untuk membagi-bagikan hadiah, aslinya berasal dari Belanda.

Tiap bulan November (tapi resminya tiap tanggal 5 Desember), keluarga-keluarga di Belanda merayakan tradisi kedatangan Sinterklaas bersama Zwarte Piet ini dengan acara tukar-menukar hadiah. Yang terlibat ternyata bukan hanya anak-anak tapi juga para dewasa. Mereka melakukan semacam undian untuk menentukan siapa yang membeli hadiah buat siapa. Tak cuma itu, masing-masing juga harus membuat puisi tentang hadiah atau orang yang akan diberi hadiah. Ah, pusing juga kalau tidak punya pengalaman bikin puisi-puisi unik… (kecuali puisi cinta hehehe…)

So, gak bisa bikin puisi? Jangan kuatir, di jaman internet ini selalu ada jalan keluarnya. Di sini, ada contoh-contoh bikin puisi (dalam Bahasa Belanda).

Oost-Indisch Doof

What can be more surprising when you are about learning another culture but you find things related to your own culture? And, here is one of the expressions used by the Dutch: Oost-Indisch Doof (tuli ala Indonesia). What is that???

Here the term is used to describe how kids are disobedient.

Other version is to describe Indonesian habit, always (pretending) say ‘yes’ instead of ‘no'. Or:

Volgens een document uit 1853 van een inwoner van Batavia heeft de uitdrukking te maken ’met de gewoonte der inlandsche bedienden om hun werk, zoo veel mogelijk, op hunne kameraden af te schuiven’.

Hahaha...

But, one thing I can recognize it in Indonesia, we call it: kepala batu.
Another version which can be related to this term as well is a story written by an Old Dutch who had to get a headache caused by his Indonesian housemaid:

As a Dutch, he likes to eat a large piece of meat called biefstuk. So, he asked his maid to cook a biefstuk for him. What happened with his nice large piece of meat? It was chopped into small pieces. It happened not only once but several times... again and again...

Another story for me to laugh about.

When A Dutchman bombs A German Café

I like fun and easy conversation coz then I could laugh about things, no matter how serious the things are. Until once, one of my friends had to get angry at me, coz I made fun of his serious case. But, that’s what I like… And, that’s why I like this story:

I met a Dutch student in Indonesia when Bali was bombed. I told him that one of the cafés which was bombed, was meant exclusively only for Australian tourists, no Indonesian tourists were allowed to enter (at least, that’s what I ever heard). Without any hesitation he argued: “I would do the same, if the Germans placed their own exclusive café in The Netherlands and I weren’t allowed to enter it.”

May I laugh about it? Ha ha ha…

“What’s Going On?”

It is part of the lyric of my lifetime favorite song What’s Up. This song was introduced to me in the year 1993 by my schoolmate who can play guitar (love it!!!). He gave me the text and we sang the song together in the classroom if the teachers didn’t pay attention to us. Now, the lyric is fascinating me more because of the strange things I could find in this current situation, in my ‘neighborhood’. Well, I think… it is strange because I’m becoming more conscious and curious about what’s really going on with me and around me.

25 years of my life and still
Tryin' to to get up that great big hill of
Hope, for a destination.
I realized quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made up of this brotherhood of
Man, for whatever that means.

[Chorus]
And so I cry sometimes, when I'm lying in bed
just to get all out, what's in my head, then
I, I am feeling, a little peculiar.
And so I wake in the morning, and I step outside
And I take a deep breath, and I get real high, and
I, scream from the top of my lungs, "What's going on?"
And I say, "Hey yeah yeah hey, hey yeah yeah."
I said, "Hey, what's going on?"
And I say, "Hey yeah yeah hey, hey yeah yeah."
I said, "Hey, what's going on?"

And I try, oh my god, do I try
I try all the time, in this institution.
And I pray, oh my god, do I pray
I pray every single day, for a revolution.

[Verse 3]
25 years of my life and still
Tryin' to get up that great big hill of
Hope, for a destination.

I put some words in bold, the words that mean a lot to me. Many things had happened, are happening, are going to happen, but the question is: what’s life about? And, the most general reason perhaps: we live to die soon… (huh…?!?!) So… do something for your life!

But then, I found another exciting lyric from Cat Stevens, titled Father and Son.

Father
It’s not time to make a change,
Just relax, take it easy.
You’re still young, that’s your fault,
There’s so much you have to know.
Find a girl, settle down,
If you want you can marry.
Look at me, I am old, but I’m happy.
I was once like you are now, and I know that it’s not easy,
To be calm when you’ve found something going on.
But take your time, think a lot,
Why, think of everything you’ve got.
For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.

Son
How can I try to explain, when I do he turns away again.
It’s always been the same, same old story.
From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen.
Now there’s a way and I know that I have to go away.
I know I have to go.

Father
It’s not time to make a change,
Just sit down, take it slowly.
You’re still young, that’s your fault,
There’s so much you have to go through.
Find a girl, settle down,
If you want you can marry.
Look at me, I am old, but I’m happy.
(son-- away away away, I know I have to
Make this decision alone - no)

Son
All the times that I cried, keeping all the things I knew inside,
It’s hard, but it’s harder to ignore it.
If they were right, I’d agree, but it’s them you know not me.
Now there’s a way and I know that I have to go away.
I know I have to go.
(father-- stay stay stay, why must you go and
Make this decision alone?)

And, it is what it is, that we seem to live in this Cyclic Changes comprise Succession and Replacement. A pattern to die for?