Families find the comfort zone in inviting world of apartments

Families find the comfort zone in inviting world of apartments

SURABAYA (JP): Jane Miles has been living at the Graha Residen apartment housing complex for two-and-a-half years. So far, she is happy. When she said she would like to live in a house in a real neighborhood rather than in an apartment complex, it was not because she did not enjoy living in her apartment. "I like mingling with people. I also want to live 'outside'," she said.

When she moved to Surabaya, it was the first time she visited an Asian country. It was also her first time for leaving her homeland, Australia. "I was worried of the unknown. Afraid of snakes, bad people, the weather, sickness, etc. But this place made it easy for me to adjust," said Jane, who loves Indonesian food and now has many Indonesia friends. She told The Jakarta Post that the apartment complex made the adjustment easy. "Everything we need is here, and frankly speaking, this is better than we had back home."

Jane lives with her husband, Stuart, and their two children. "Of course it is simpler than living in a house. We don't have to pay bills, for instance. There is also a bus to take our children to school." There is even a weekly housekeeping service. What she does miss is people. That is why she still dreams of living in a normal house within an Indonesian community. In 1997, she said, she had a lot of neighbors in the complex. It was fun. Now, the street is almost empty. For Jane, a person who loves meeting people, it is becoming a problem.

Asked what she liked most about where she lived, she said the facilities and security. There are two swimming pools in the complex. One Olympic-sized pool is for public use, and one smaller one for tenants/private. "I like it also because this is a 'landed apartment'. We have streets, parks, playgrounds, supermarkets, just like any normal housing community," Jane said.

If she can't stay in a "normal" house, she considers a "landed" apartment the best choice. She would not like to live in an apartment building or tower. In the complex, she enjoys seeing her son, Jake, 12, biking with his friends outdoors, minus the danger of traffic. Tenants can also have a poolside barbecue party. "We bring our food and gather at the pool. The management sends a cook for the barbecue. It is nice."

Her apartment-house has two bedrooms upstairs and a main bedroom downstairs. It is complete with kitchen, living room, dining room and maid's quarters.

But, she has had some complaints, too. "This house is beautiful but it lacks maintenance," she said, pointing out the damaged roof and walls, and rather unclean maid's quarters. She often goes to the manager to complain or just give suggestions.

"And what I like about the management here, they take our complaints and suggestions seriously. There are many little extra things they have done for me. They are very helpful." She showed the gate in the bottom of the stairs, added to prevent her baby from going up and down.

Most Graha Residen tenants have their own drivers and maids. Jane said there was a very good networking of drivers and maids here. If somebody needs a driver or a maid, the position is soon filled. If a maid or driver commits a wrongdoing, everybody will know and management does not allow that person to enter the job market at the complex again. If a tenant moves out, other tenants will happily help maids and drivers find a new job. "There is one maid who has worked around here for years. She is loyal to one family, but when that family moves out, she toes to work for another family. And so on," said Jane.

The majority of Graha tenants comprise families (50 percent), couples (33 percent), and singles (16 percent). Most stay for two years to five years.

Jane said that this kind of apartment is the best for foreigners arriving with children for the first time. "The kind of life here is no different from in our country. And it is not like living in a hotel."

Little town in Surabaya

Graha Residen is obsessed with being a "little town" in Surabaya. And it is, in a sense. It is a kampong-like designed complex with its own streets, complete with public facilities (swimming pool, restaurants, supermarket, children's playgrounds, etc.). Located in the west of Surabaya, in the Darmo Permai upper-class area, Graha Residen is strategic because it is near the Darmo toll gate, an easy access to the airport and surrounding cities.

Graha Residen's director, A. Adelie, said that some tenants like to complain. "But I like people who complain. It means they care. Then we can correct the problem. If they don't care, our facilities will be damaged." He understood that some newcomers are afraid of things like snakes, frogs, even cats and ants. While there are no snakes in the complex, Jane said there are "about 200" cats, which is all right because they keep the rats away from the houses. Graha takes good care of the landscaping. They plant Toga (Tanaman Obat Keluarga [Family Medicinal Plants]) like ginger, etc., as well as decorative plants. "The Toga keeps unwanted animals away," explained Adelie. They spray the complex regularly to keep the mosquito away, too.

One interesting aspect about Graha's "apartments" is that every house (varying from one bedroom to three bedrooms) is unique. There are no two apartments that look the same, except for the basic structure. Furnishings are standard, but this gives the tenants the freedom to be creative in interior designing and also for them to feel at home.

So, it could be a Japanese-style apartment, Western style, Javanese, or Balinese, depending on a tenant's taste and interest. "When they go back to their home country, they take all their furniture," said Adelie.

Many tenants take home containers of newly bought fine wooden furniture. "Especially when one dollar was Rp 14,000, tenants were like having a party buying furniture to take home with them." Adelie joked, "They come with two bags and go back with two containers." (Sirikit Syah)