Do you happen to know Cindy Crawford?
By Simon Marcus Gower
JAKARTA (JP): It is easy to become jaded, cynical and even dismayed at our materialistic age. Children of the modern world are bombarded with television imagery and quickly learn to become consumers. The MacDonalds, Coca-Colas and Nikes of our time pervade the youth culture of Indonesia and indeed most of the world. MTV and Hollywood movies exert a huge influence upon the ways in which the "next generation" thinks and acts. Children soon become "street-wise" and willing participants in an era of consumption.
They want and pursue ownership of quite adult things - from mobile phones to designer label jeans and perfumes. Kids today seem to know what is what and what they want. They seem, in short, to grow up too fast leaving little room in their lives for child-like play and learning. Imaginative game playing and pretending seems to be something many children only occasionally enter into. Computer games, movies and western music take up much of their time.
It was, therefore, nice to recently see that this trend does not completely dominate the children of Indonesia. Childish innocence and enjoyment of the world can still be witnessed. In a tropical beach setting, some of that increasingly illusive and joyful childish innocence was witnessed and appreciated; even if television, consumerism and Hollywood has tinged this innocence.
Sitting down on a beach to admire the distant view of an isolated tropical island, I was soon surrounded by a group of six local children, each of them willing me to buy their kenang- kenangan souvenir photographs of this secluded and attractive spot. I told them that I would buy one or two of their photos but first I wanted to sit, relax, admire the view and chat.
Soon the children, ranging in age from six to 13 years, were practicing their knowledge of the English language.
We counted one through to 10. We ran through the usual questions "What's your name?", "Where are you from?", "Are you married?" Then a cat strolled by and quickly the call went up "kucing that's cat". Animal questions soon followed. We learnt fish and dog and horse, then we came to gajah and instead of elephant they proposed "Fumakilla". I pondered this word, mystified. Then they showed me the packaging to an anti-mosquito product and I understood. The product features the image of an elephant seemingly stepping out of the box. They had innocently assumed that the name of the product was the name for this large, gray, big eared and tusked animal. Soon we established that the English name is, in fact, elephant.
The most talkative of the group, an 11 year old whose hair was almost auburn from the sea and sun, and who goes by the name of Irwan, sat thoughtfully for a moment and finally asked "Oh yeah, do you know Thomas?"
I replied, reasonably enough, "Thomas who?" To which Irwan said, "He's from Australia." He clearly thought that being white and speaking English instantly qualified me to know "Thomas from Australia". When I said "No, sorry, I don't know Thomas"; my beach-based interviewer seemed a little disappointed.
He sat for a further moment, concentration playing across his face as he searched for his next question.
His lips shut tight, his eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed until with a smile he asked, "OK, do you know Indy Crofor?" Now this was a tough one. After a moments thought I realized the name being searched for was Cindy Crawford. But now as I looked at Irwan I was struck by the look of hopeful expectation on his face.
So this time, not wanting to disappoint I said "Oh yes, I meet with her quite often. She's beautiful, isn't she." With a look of sheer joy he agreed - she is very beautiful.
For Irwan to have some connection with a "supermodel" he has perhaps seen in a magazine or newspaper or on television, obviously brings him much satisfaction. One can see the excitement that he is experiencing and it can be seen that he is enjoying an innocent pleasure from the experience.
After sitting talking for over an hour I decided to move on to another location on this beautiful and quiet tropical spot. As promised, I gladly bought a couple of their kenang-kenangan photos. I may be able to look at those photos, now and in the future, and remember the location but I suspect I will remember that small group of fun children rather more than just the location.
The joy of encountering such childish innocence is one that we are prone to losing as our children grow up so fast. Some might say that the group of boys showed childish ignorance of the modern world. But their innocent enjoyment of the world they see is greater than any lack of knowledge they may have been showing. Indeed there may be a lesson for us. They may not be particularly "world-wise" but they are just children. They have, and children generally need, time to grow and learn. Their innocence is refreshing and has the power to make one feel a little less jaded and cynical - seeing the world in a new and more hopeful light.