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)