La Vita Nuova
I've always known that my visit to Jakarta was going to be short but I didn't expect that it would be so memorable. The three days I spent there are full of insights, experiences, and even a bit of childhood nostalgia.
The first thing I felt in Jakarta was uneasiness. Life in Jakarta was so much different than life in Singapore. I felt some kind of a culture shock adapting to Jakarta. In Singapore, I've always been in control of things. As long as I have the cash, I can always go anywhere and do anything. Facilities in Singapore are so organized, structured and predictable that I can easily plan out my days. In Jakarta, however, things are more dynamic, more unpredictable. Even when I do have the cash, I still depend on a lot of other factors to get things done. I need the car to be available. I need someone to drive me (I haven't been driving for the past 3 years, I simply have no clue what the streets in Jakarta are like). Then of course there's the traffic. With buses and minivans and any other vehicle stopping whenever and where ever they please, it's not surprising that the traffic "can be significantly improved".
Bad traffic and unpredictable facilities aren't the only things that contribute to the culture shock. I've also realized how too care-free and independent I've been in Singapore. In the Lion City, I'm practically away from family. In Jakarta, however, I'm right smack in the middle of my family, and I find myself struggling to carry the weight of the robes of responsibilities that come with living in a family, there's the robe of the oldest son, the robe of the oldest grandson, and many other robes that I took off when I left for Singapore.
I was fortunate enough to come home to attend my cousin's wedding. It was at church that I saw the glow of happiness in the eyes of my ageing grandmother. The stroke grandma suffered and recovered from a few months back have taken a lot out of grandma. She has lost a lot of weight, and was forced to reduce her activities; but the stroke couldn't hide the happiness grandma felt as she witnessed her granddaughter walking down the isle, saying her vow, and entering a new chapter of life with the love of her life.
The event reminds me of the time when I first came home to Jakarta after leaving for Singapore. My grandma from my father's side, had recently went through an operation, and when I came to see her, she rushed up to give me a big warm hug and cried in my arms. She was happy to see me home, and most of all happy because her grandson has all grown up. With all the events, I can't help realizing that we play a big role in the happiness of our parents and grandparents. Despite the significance of this responsibility, I do not see it as a burden. Instead, I see it as bringing happiness to the ones I love, and I consider this as fulfillment of life.
Coming home to Jakarta have also given me the chance to take a closer look at the lives of my friends. I am proud to hear that some are embarking on great adventures, looking for their dream jobs, starting businesses, or even pursuing higher degrees abroad. It is always nice to see how God works in the lives of different people. Meeting them made me ask myself whether I really know what God wants out of my life. I've had a semi-traumatic time growing up in Indonesia, and for quite some time, my idea of a comfort-zone is actually living in any other country other than Indonesia. Despite that, I can't help feeling wanting to come back. It's interesting how every homecoming makes me love my country even more. I've heard all about the corruption and the politics and how bad the economy is, but not all of Indonesia are like that. My good friend told me an analogy: Indonesia is like tonnes of gold burried under tonnes of dirt. Some see the dirt while others see the gold. I know seeing one without seeing the other is useless, but I really want to come back to do something significant for my country. (Note: Significant is a keyword here. To invest much in something that results little is a definite misuse of the resources that God gives us. It is a duty to be smart in deciding what to do and not do, in deciding what we should be and shouldn't be spending resources on. I guess this is why the whole business of deciding where we go in life is complicated :) )
One other unique event that happened in the three days I spent in Jakarta is me meeting a childhood friend. When I was very young, about 6 years of age, my mom was actively involved in organizing a sketch for a Christmas celeberation. In that sketech I played the role of Joseph. My friend, the daughter of a friend of mom's, played Mary. It turned out this friend of mom's was also invited to my cousin's wedding, and she brought my friend along. I've never really talked to anyone that I haven't seen for so long, so I was kinda thrilled. The four of us (she, her mom, my mom and I) talked for a few minutes, recalling those old times. Her mom mentioned how I used to be very shy while my friend was very courageous, and that I've grown up to be a sweet looking guy.. (I couldn't really take flattering comments, so I had to use the standard reply "I got my looks from my mom" ... then mom also said how my friend have grown to be so pretty :P ) .. Unfortunately, with all that thrill and excitement I forgot to ask my friend for her email address.. and when I realized that I haven't asked, she has left. *sigh* .. what a cinderally-like story.. The next day I asked mom whether she has any phone numbers that I can use to contact my friend's mom. Unfortunately, mom doesn't have the number... I'm thinking of using other resources to find her contact.. It's not that I'm hooked or something, but I think it's a shame if I get to meet a long lost friend only to lose her again.
Anyway, right now I have tonnes of things to do since I'm back in Singapore. My colleagues in the ALiCE research group have been calling me up to discuss work, my thesis defence is 21st July and I need to meet my supervisor to discuss the slides. I have to tidy up my CV and Resumes and offer myself to potential employers ... :D and I got to regain the life I've lost in the past 18 months.. starting from regaining a healthy life, physically, intellectually, and spiritually. :)
The first thing I felt in Jakarta was uneasiness. Life in Jakarta was so much different than life in Singapore. I felt some kind of a culture shock adapting to Jakarta. In Singapore, I've always been in control of things. As long as I have the cash, I can always go anywhere and do anything. Facilities in Singapore are so organized, structured and predictable that I can easily plan out my days. In Jakarta, however, things are more dynamic, more unpredictable. Even when I do have the cash, I still depend on a lot of other factors to get things done. I need the car to be available. I need someone to drive me (I haven't been driving for the past 3 years, I simply have no clue what the streets in Jakarta are like). Then of course there's the traffic. With buses and minivans and any other vehicle stopping whenever and where ever they please, it's not surprising that the traffic "can be significantly improved".
Bad traffic and unpredictable facilities aren't the only things that contribute to the culture shock. I've also realized how too care-free and independent I've been in Singapore. In the Lion City, I'm practically away from family. In Jakarta, however, I'm right smack in the middle of my family, and I find myself struggling to carry the weight of the robes of responsibilities that come with living in a family, there's the robe of the oldest son, the robe of the oldest grandson, and many other robes that I took off when I left for Singapore.
I was fortunate enough to come home to attend my cousin's wedding. It was at church that I saw the glow of happiness in the eyes of my ageing grandmother. The stroke grandma suffered and recovered from a few months back have taken a lot out of grandma. She has lost a lot of weight, and was forced to reduce her activities; but the stroke couldn't hide the happiness grandma felt as she witnessed her granddaughter walking down the isle, saying her vow, and entering a new chapter of life with the love of her life.
The event reminds me of the time when I first came home to Jakarta after leaving for Singapore. My grandma from my father's side, had recently went through an operation, and when I came to see her, she rushed up to give me a big warm hug and cried in my arms. She was happy to see me home, and most of all happy because her grandson has all grown up. With all the events, I can't help realizing that we play a big role in the happiness of our parents and grandparents. Despite the significance of this responsibility, I do not see it as a burden. Instead, I see it as bringing happiness to the ones I love, and I consider this as fulfillment of life.
Coming home to Jakarta have also given me the chance to take a closer look at the lives of my friends. I am proud to hear that some are embarking on great adventures, looking for their dream jobs, starting businesses, or even pursuing higher degrees abroad. It is always nice to see how God works in the lives of different people. Meeting them made me ask myself whether I really know what God wants out of my life. I've had a semi-traumatic time growing up in Indonesia, and for quite some time, my idea of a comfort-zone is actually living in any other country other than Indonesia. Despite that, I can't help feeling wanting to come back. It's interesting how every homecoming makes me love my country even more. I've heard all about the corruption and the politics and how bad the economy is, but not all of Indonesia are like that. My good friend told me an analogy: Indonesia is like tonnes of gold burried under tonnes of dirt. Some see the dirt while others see the gold. I know seeing one without seeing the other is useless, but I really want to come back to do something significant for my country. (Note: Significant is a keyword here. To invest much in something that results little is a definite misuse of the resources that God gives us. It is a duty to be smart in deciding what to do and not do, in deciding what we should be and shouldn't be spending resources on. I guess this is why the whole business of deciding where we go in life is complicated :) )
One other unique event that happened in the three days I spent in Jakarta is me meeting a childhood friend. When I was very young, about 6 years of age, my mom was actively involved in organizing a sketch for a Christmas celeberation. In that sketech I played the role of Joseph. My friend, the daughter of a friend of mom's, played Mary. It turned out this friend of mom's was also invited to my cousin's wedding, and she brought my friend along. I've never really talked to anyone that I haven't seen for so long, so I was kinda thrilled. The four of us (she, her mom, my mom and I) talked for a few minutes, recalling those old times. Her mom mentioned how I used to be very shy while my friend was very courageous, and that I've grown up to be a sweet looking guy.. (I couldn't really take flattering comments, so I had to use the standard reply "I got my looks from my mom" ... then mom also said how my friend have grown to be so pretty :P ) .. Unfortunately, with all that thrill and excitement I forgot to ask my friend for her email address.. and when I realized that I haven't asked, she has left. *sigh* .. what a cinderally-like story.. The next day I asked mom whether she has any phone numbers that I can use to contact my friend's mom. Unfortunately, mom doesn't have the number... I'm thinking of using other resources to find her contact.. It's not that I'm hooked or something, but I think it's a shame if I get to meet a long lost friend only to lose her again.
Anyway, right now I have tonnes of things to do since I'm back in Singapore. My colleagues in the ALiCE research group have been calling me up to discuss work, my thesis defence is 21st July and I need to meet my supervisor to discuss the slides. I have to tidy up my CV and Resumes and offer myself to potential employers ... :D and I got to regain the life I've lost in the past 18 months.. starting from regaining a healthy life, physically, intellectually, and spiritually. :)
posted by JPG at
14:34
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