My Love, Jakarta

When I close my eyes, I’m there
When I fly away, I’m there
I wish I were there, my Jakarta..

Then I close my eyes and pray
That soon I’ll find my way
to place that I call home, my Jakarta..

(A snippet of lyrics of my yet-to-be-finished song)

So. Last year brainwashed people attacked Mumbai far away in India and I was upset about it.

So imagine how I felt when I came to know that my own hometown, the town that cherished and brought me up, was bombed. Again.

To say that I’m upset is a terrible understatement.

 Fine. I know that bombings are really a “usual” thing in Indonesia. Like how worse can it get? I was in Jakarta when the first bombing of Marriott occurred (yes it wasn’t the first one). Also when there were several Christmas Eve bombings. Also when the Australia Embassy was bombed. Been there done that buddy.

I think it’s particularly bad because this happened after years of peace and great economy growth for Indonesia. And of course it’s bad because it happened just right after elections. Some people say it’s a rage from those defeated president hopefuls but hey.. Don’t point your fingers just yet.

So screw you, whoever planted that bomb and thought it was a great thing that you’re destined to do (I’ve received reports that they were suicide bombers but I can’t confirm just yet – please read the news). Because you know what? Indonesia unites and we will seriously screw you.

I am angered and full of hate, but I remember that hate was the thing that started it all in the first place. So come, let’s not scoop down to their level. Resist and they’ll be gone. Hopefully forever.

Stay away from my Jakarta, my Indonesia, because it rocks and it can be better again. We’ve come out stronger and stronger after a series of unfortunate events and there’s no reason that we can’t come out stronger again.

Oh and to you Jakarta citizens who only lamented that Manchester United cancelled their plan for a friendly match in Jakarta because of the bombings, screw you too. People died and some are badly injured and you only care for that? Just how egoistic can you be? Look I know it was a hard hard effort to even get the tickets but hello! People died! Can you imagine if that happened to your family? A person’s life wasted makes all your reasons for lamenting of cancelled MU match void.

So anyway.

Come on Jakarta. We can fight them together.

Where is home?

Home. One word, four letters. How big is a word that can make me confused and insecure? Only a four-letter word.

So which one should I call home? After 2 years in Singapore, I know I’m very comfortable living here. I miss Singapore when I’m back in Jakarta, and vice versa.

But somehow I think people that claim to be the “native” of places that I’ve lived in don’t really think I should live in the same place with them.

I remember vividly May 1998. How can I ever forget it. (read my reminiscence here) I was barely 9 years old but I can feel the hatred directed to me. To my people. We, the people with fairer skin that live in a fairly big house and go to private school. They say we’re stealing their welfare. They say we’re stealing their jobs. We’ve made them deprived of better life.

I remember how I was made to pay more for my food because of who I am. I remember uncovering a letter of “citizenship confirmation” with my dad’s name on it. Dad said he had to do it because it was compulsory that time. I remember being called names and being whistled at when I’m walking down a street.

Some still accuse us of being snobbish and arrogant because we’re not down-to-earth or in other words refusing to befriend so-called “native” people. Well here’s a shocking truth for you : we’re not. But considering what your so-called brothers in race did to us, it’s natural for us to stay cautious, right?

I moved to Singapore, and ha ha, guess what. I found out that the so-called locals don’t really like us either. “Us” now refers to people who moved to Singapore in search of better place to study, to work, to live. Well how lucky I am to be in the “unwanted” category again?

But ha ha ha. Guess what, Singaporeans. Your government has decided to give me a tuition grant that waived me 60 (that spells SIXTY) percent of my tuition fees, with only condition that requires me to work in any Singapore listed company for 3 years.

I posed this question to Mr. Peter Ho (a member of parliament – sorry I forgot what the exact title of his job is), who came to SMU to deliver a talk titled 4 myths of public service.

“What do you think of the current state, where there are so many migrants coming to Singapore? Do you think it will influence or maybe change public policy in the future?”

It is pretty much a yes-no question, but he answered like this: (paraphrased)

“Well you must remember that Singapore has always been a migrant community. That’s what we’re built upon. So, no, there will be no change whatsoever because Singapore is already a migrant community. I guess Singaporeans must put their emotions aside and accept foreign talents”

So when will Singaporeans, the people born in Singapore, think like Mr Peter Ho? Accept that I, like many other people here, am here not to steal the bowl of rice, but to share it. After all, I believe I and many other people like me are not that evil. We’re thankful of what Singapore has given us. Like, of course, our 60% cut of tuition fees. haha. But really. If I’m asked to give back something to Singapore, I will. It’s not that I’m betraying my country. It’s just being gracious.

I’m pleased to say, though, that I see my current generation is becoming more and more “bonded” together regardless of race or whatever things that differentiate us. I’m glad to say that I mingle easily with Singaporeans, and I have no problem whatsoever communicating to so-called “native” of Indonesia.

Will we see a big change as my current generation grows older? We shall see.. What do you think?

And meanwhile, I’m still confused on which to call home. Maybe I should just call both home. That’d be fair.

Singapore has a world class transport system – I agree

I really can’t understand why people in Singapore keep complaining about their transportation system. Even after Singapore won the international award.

I mean, true, I sometimes complain too. Why does it take so long for the bus to come? Why does the bus driver drive so uncomfortably? But really, my complains haven’t got that far that I don’t agree why Singapore really deserves to win the award.

I think the people in Singapore (who are constantly nagging and complaining.. See this website for more info and proof) are just too used to the comfort and the good facilities that they have grown used to it, and consider them as an ordinary feature.

What are these ordinary features?
First, knowing where to go, on a particular bus.
Every bus has a route. The route is pasted somewhere in the bus stop and even when they don’t have it, you can always buy the book that lists all the bus routes. I have one. And it’s been extremely useful.

Now you’re thinking how the hell buses or trains don’t have an exact route. Well, it happens. In Jakarta (I know it’s not fair to compare it just to Jakarta but I’m sure it’s one of the worst transport system in the world), there are many buses. Like, many. Apart from the government’s buses, there are plenty of private buses and angkots (angkutan kota-city transport), plus many private cars that are “rented” by the owners to be an angkot to get some extra money.

And well… They don’t have the route information. Well some do have but no exact stops. So yeah, you don’t know where it stops. Oh well. They stop everywhere anyway. Yes that’s true. Everyone stops everywhere. Even when there’s no bus stop. Simply shout to the driver that you want to stop and it will stop. Simply flag everywhere to get a bus and the bus will stop to pick you up. Nice? Well, messy at the same time.

I have a true story if you want proof that it is indeed messy. My cousin, whose university is at Banten (another province, just slightly at the west of Jakarta), took a bus intending to go home (her house is at West Jakarta). Lo and behold.. She ended up in Blok M, which is at South Jakarta. And Jakarta is big, you know. Bigger than Singapore. Eventually we gotta send a driver to pick my poor cousin up.

The second thing. The comfort inside buses/trains.

Admit it, it IS comfortable. Well except when you have to stand. I know. But at least you have a place to stand. You won’t be like those ones..

Sitting on the ROOF of the train. Yeah there have been cases of dead people.

And..
There are no distractions in the buses/trains. (except that stupid tv mobile with equally stupid tv series. seriously???)
Some of the things you can encounter in buses/trains in Jakarta (or Indonesia)…

This is pengamen. Or street singer? More like bus/train singer.
Well, sometimes they sing nicely though. I once encounter a couple of pengamens that sang “Paint My Love” by Michael Learns to Rock.

Some others..

This is pedagang asongan. They are basically people that sell little and petty things like cigarettes, candies, and stuff. Yes you will encounter them in buses, asking you whether you want to buy. Tell me how you’ll feel if you have such people in Singapore’s buses and trains.

The point is.. Those good things have been used a lot that you (yes you naggers and complainers) think that it’s considered to be an ordinary feature.

Singapore does have a good transport system. Stop complaining.