INDONESIA !
Everybody is wearing red and white outfit and ready to join and fight for their
group in the events. A lot of their counterparts are watching and rooting for
them even if it is prickly hot around the place. That is just a small picture
that I can capture every single August 17th in my school and all the
education institution around the country. Sometimes even in the neighbourhood you
will see most family gathers on the road to share the joy and happiness. They
will spend several days to decorate their surroundings with flags, and all
red-white theme accessories, painting the complex’s gate with our nation’s
colour and the famous number, e.g. 1945-2016 (71th Anniversary of our
Independence). The whole nation is
pumped and crazy about it like any other places around the world.
In the last couple
of years, I have mostly been away from my lovely home nation, either in Belgium
or in China. And the weird thing is that, I feel it the most during that period
of time. The main goal of my exchange program in Western Europe is to represent
my country and at the same time trying to understand their way of thinking and
doing things. So many people do not know what’s happening in the other part of
the world. When I first came to Belgium, some people might recognize it when I
say I am from Indonesia, and others asking where that is, or the worst one is
asking me “Is that even a name of a country? “. I did not see it as an insult or bad thing,
but on the other hand it makes me even more motivated to do what I come here for.
By the way, I was not alone, there were two other crazy (yet) amazing Indonesian girls
with me, they are Tata and Ara (pictured down below), and we are trying our
best to be our nation’s ambassador during our stay here. We started explaining
what Indonesia is all about through some presentation and performances. Some of
those were dancing in front of my classmates (although it was not that great),
or maybe singing ‘Indonesia Raya’ at the top of London Eye watched by my teachers
and friends.
So that was my experience in Belgium, but it is totally different here in
China. Most of the people here thought that we are Chinese, just like them. Some of them even
thought that we are from Korea, or maybe Japan because of our language. But
luckily, we have the Indonesian Student Association (PPI Tiongkok) here, trying
to strengthen the bond among Indonesian students and also representing our country here in
China.
Those things are great and amazing, but the most important thing is actually
the way we behaved around them on daily basis. The guys in my school were often
asking me “Why are you smiling all the time?”, and that just got me thinking
right away “Why am I doing it?”. The answer is simple, that is how we are, we always
want other people to feel the warm and love for them. And we always want to
help others in need, doing things together ( normally we call it ‘gotong
royong’ ). Some of you might be wondering, “well, that is how we were five or ten
years ago but nowadays, we do not have the time to help or even greet and smile to
others”.
Taking a step back and starts looking at our fine history, how we fought
for our freedom and stand up for what we believe, for me, that is what the
celebration of Independence day for! Learning by example from our former
leaders and national heroes, holding hands and going for one ultimate goal
based on pride and humility. There are lots of problem and differences all over this
country, but by combining those things with advance technology and wide
knowledge that we have today, we can move forward as a country, as one proud
nation, for a better future, not just for our own, but for the whole world.
Last but not least, I want to talk about football. This is one of the most
powerful thing that we have. It brings people together, rooting for our national
team, and enjoying the spectacle itself. AFF Championship is coming up ! (By the way, for those who does not know about this, it is
the South East Asian football championship when the like of Indonesia,
Thailand, Malaysia, and other nations in this region are facing each other). I
know that we have had a lot of problem with the federation (PSSI : Indonesian’s
Football Association), whether if it is corruption, bribes, and other things,
this is the right time for a CHANGE, for a better organisation, a better way
for kids to develop their talent, a better life for the footballers, and a
better show and game for passionate football lovers. That is my dream in terms
of our football world.
In the end, SELAMAT HARI KEMERDEKAAN ke-71, DIRGAHAYU INDONESIA-ku TERCINTA
!
#pursue your dream and always be nice to people
