Endearing Westerners<\/p>\n
In 1991, I happened to be overseas for a while. Around a dozen
\nof my friends back home were given my address, and I kept in
\ntouch with some of them, both Indonesians and foreigners. Imagine
\nmy surprise when on the same week as Idul Fitri a greeting card
\narrived from an American friend in Bandung. Underneath the
\nregular printed message, she had written: \"Eat your heart out! We
\nhave been having delicious ketupat and gulai over here!\" Ketupat
\nare traditional Indonesian packets of steamed rice, while gulai
\nis lamb stew). I was touched, pleased, and amused by getting a
\ncard from this unexpected source. She was not a Moslem but lived
\namong Islamic people in Bandung. Her card showed sensitivity and
\nthoughtfulness to an Indonesian friend.<\/p>\n
At a hotel dinner reception some time ago, I was standing in
\nline, empty plate in hand, along with other guests near the roast
\nbeef stand. The attendant was slicing pieces of meat with his
\nknife and placing them on guests' plates. When I got to the
\ntable, a westerner two steps behind me got served first. To the
\nwesterner's credit, he said to the hotel employee: \"This
\ngentleman was in front, you know,\" and demonstratively exchanged
\nhis plate of roast beef for my still-empty plate. The attendant
\nmeekly nodded, and even added an extra slice for me. What a
\nshame. At the next stand, I said to the westerner: \"Thanks for
\nthe gesture.\" To the attendant, I had said emphatically and
\npointedly: \"Terima kasih sekali, ya! (Thanks a lot, OK?!)\" after
\nthe somewhat forced extra helping.<\/p>\n
My final account involves an Englishman now residing in
\nIndonesia after living some years in Hong Kong. He stayed with
\nhis family for a time in a Jakarta hotel while waiting for a more
\npermanent place to live. While having a chat with him one night,
\nwe discussed a mutual friend we knew still living in Hong Kong.
\nActing on an urge, I said I would write the person a postcard and
\nbought one from the hotel drugstore. Rejoining my friend, I
\njotted down a few lines to our friend and addressed it (as is my
\nhabit): \"Hong Kong, B.C.C.\" My English friend said: \"You don't
\nhave to write 'British Crown Colony'. Hong Kong belongs to China
\njust as Jakarta belongs to Indonesians.\" To me, this was a very
\nsympathetic statement revealing a principled character.<\/p>\n
It is these types of Westerners that endear themselves to
\nIndonesian hearts.<\/p>\n
FARID BASKORO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/endearing-westerners-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }