'I find it difficult to remember names'<\/p>\n
Sociologist Imam Budidarmawan Prasodjo is not only popular
\namong his students at the University of Indonesia (UI). He is
\nalso well-known among refugees in the Maluku islands and Aceh
\nprovince since his foundation, Nurani Dunia, regularly delivers
\naid to the strife-torn provinces. The 40-year-old husband of
\nGitayana and father of Rauf and Adilla got his masters degree at
\nKansas State University and earned his doctorate in urban studies
\nfrom Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. He talked about
\nmatters close to his life to The Jakarta Post's Emmy Fitri
\nHastuti on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Q: What would you be doing right now if you had the choice?<\/p>\n
A: I would like to be together with my family, fishing, camping
\nor just traveling to places which have rich historical values.
\nSince my children have their own activities in and outside of
\nschool we now have to sit together and discuss our vacation
\nplans.<\/p>\n
In most families, a father will decide which destination. But
\nnot here. My children will discuss and decide. They have to be
\nable to argue, providing reasons why we should take certain
\ndestinations.<\/p>\n
Q: What characteristics do you like about yourself?<\/p>\n
A: I am an extrovert, not the kind of person who hides or
\nrepresses his feeling or ideas. I always feel free to talk to
\nanyone about anything, from generals to laymen. I always treat
\npeople equally and do not bow to their social status or rank. I
\ninherited these characteristics from my father.<\/p>\n
I can't stand if I am not allowed to talk, to speak and to
\nshare ideas with others.<\/p>\n
In my house, my housemaid sometimes yell at me. I am an
\negalitarian guy. I think I also have good sense of humor since I
\ndon't like to be in tense and stiff situations.<\/p>\n
Q: And dislike?<\/p>\n
A: I am not really organized. I receive packages of newly
\npublished books once a month from Ohio. They are all in a mess up
\nbecause I just leave them (after reading them) somewhere in the
\nhouse. But my wife is a great help. She arranges the books that I
\nhave read. Another thing is, I also find it difficult to remember
\npeople's names.<\/p>\n
Q: What makes you cry?<\/p>\n
A: I cry mostly about matters that really touch me, which
\nhave something to do with me or my past. What I'm crying about is
\nthe accumulation of my past. My parents met in a refugee camp
\nbefore they got married. They worked hard to raise their
\nchildren. My parents died when I am already settled. My mother
\npassed away when picking me up at the airport on my return from
\nthe United States. She died of a stroke. My father passed away
\ntwo years later. When visiting the refugee camps in the Maluku
\nislands, I also cried and was angry at the same time.<\/p>\n
Q: What would you like to change about your appearance?<\/p>\n
A: No. I am just completing a diet program but this is for health
\nreasons.<\/p>\n
Q: Who do you think influences your life?<\/p>\n
A: That is a question I can never answer. It is a long journey in
\nlife that I have been through, in which many people around me
\nhave contributed a lot to make me what I am. Of course my parents
\nplayed a major role but I also appreciate anyone and anything
\nfrom my environment and village in Banjarnegara (a town in
\nCentral Java) for its influence over me.<\/p>\n
Q: What do you like to wear?<\/p>\n
A: Most of my shirts have striped motifs. It looks like I wear
\nthe same shirt from one seminar to another. But it is my habit.
\nIf I like a shirt then I will wear it every time I have to dress
\nup.<\/p>\n
Q: What is the last book you read?<\/p>\n
A: I can't remember the title. It is about humanitarian missions
\nand ethnic conflicts, a really good book. I also rarely read a
\nwhole book from cover to cover like a novel. At the moment, I
\nlike reading books on ethnic conflicts and humanitarian missions.
\nBut I also read a lot of books on children issues like The
\nVulnerable Child, because I chair the Parents Association in my
\nchildren's school, Al-Azhar.<\/p>\n
Q: What is the last movie you watched?<\/p>\n
A: An Iranian film, Children of Heaven. I watched that with my
\nwife and children. We plan to see Tom Hank's Cast Away this
\nweekend.<\/p>\n
Q: What are your favorite movies?<\/p>\n
A: Ones with a particular theme. I like films like Life is
\nBeautiful, American's classical films, John F. Kennedy, and
\nserial film Roots, a colossal and historical movie.<\/p>\n
Q: What are your favorite songs?<\/p>\n
A: I become my children's laughing stock if I start singing my
\nfavorite songs. They say I am an old-fashioned. I like oldies.
\nFor me they represent different memories, just like Killing Me
\nSoftly. When I was still a kid, I remembered my brother, who
\nshared a room with me, listening to that song when he was feeling
\nsad after failing to enter state university. I was also sad
\nbecause I didn't know what to do to ease his sadness.<\/p>\n
Q: What do you always carry with you?<\/p>\n
A: My cellular phone, a palm top computer, a pen and my notebook.
\nI still have to bring a notebook because sometimes, it is too
\ncomplicated to operate the palm top. I need that notebook to jot
\ndown any ideas that pop up for my talkshows or seminars.<\/p>\n
Q: What three things would you like to have with you if you were
\non a desert island?<\/p>\n
A: First, of course, communication tools that would reduce the
\nfeeling of isolation, but this depends on how remote the island's
\nsituation is. Then, survival equipment of any kind, probably a
\nknife, matches, jacket and a tent for shelter. And a set of
\nstationery for making a record of the experience.<\/p>\n
Q: What are your favorite foods?<\/p>\n
A: I like Bakso (meatballs) even if I know there is too much MSG
\n(monosodium glutamate) in it. Sushi, Peyek (Javanese crackers),
\nSumedang tofu and many more I think.<\/p>\n
Q: How do you want to be remembered?<\/p>\n
A: For my family and my friends, I want to be remembered as a
\nperson who is always warm and easy to talk to.... Just remember
\nme as a simple and ordinary guy that people can easily access.<\/p>",
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