Suryo Perkoso..
I assume that you are a resident of Jakarta and have a secure position, maid and driver etc?
Never assume anything, your assumption is totally wrong!
I promise you that down our way, the masyarakat are extremely tolerant and accomodating towards the religious and social beliefs of others, if not, we kick their teeth in.
Well that’s nice to know, but I think down your way you must be in the minority.
Actually, there is more trouble with errant bules, particularly those who have had it all taken out and a gas cooker put in.
And these errant bules, what trouble do you have with them?
The assumption is from your attitude, I wonder why you stay (in saying that, I have already reprimanded one other this week for the same “crime”) Do you real feel that Indo is so repressive? if so, try thailand or the phillippines, but do make sure you buy a flak jacket before you go.
Fortunately i don’t need the company of bules, therefore any errant bule is a troublesome distraction.
Try to get out more Schmerly
@Suryo Perkoso..
I wonder why you stay
Stay where? your assuming again.
Fortunately i don’t need the company of bules, therefore any errant bule is a troublesome distraction.
Perhaps bule’s feel the same about you, or is that beyond your limited comprehension?
Well, if you don’t then you are even worse than the many bule tourists who come, take a living and cannot be bothered to learn our language and culture.
I wonder why you would worry whether our worshipful chief of police has suggested that the girls may wish to use a Jilbab.
As for what bules think about me, well, I really couldn’t care that much, I watched them burn a trail to Solo airport 10 years back, and i’ll watch them do it again.
@ Suryo Perkoso..
Well, if you don’t then you are even worse than the many bule tourists who come, take a living and cannot be bothered to learn our language and culture.
Excuse me, but I do have a choice where I decide to live in the world, so I don’t need your stupid remarks, and do you mean the thousands bule tourists that spend millions of dollars in Indonesia every year?
Your obviously a xenophobic bule hater, but that’s your problem.
I wonder why you would worry whether our worshipful chief of police has suggested that the girls may wish to use a Jilbab.
Worshipful Yea that’s a good word for a moron LoL.
In javanese language we have a saying (loosely translated) which means “not quite so green as I am cabbage looking” – unfortunately there are still some who are just as green as they are cabbage looking.
Fortunately in Indonesia we hold our national pride very dear are close to our hearts, and as such, all immigrants are closely controlled, in fact there are only a handful of bules who have every received honourary citizenship, or who have renounced their own and received Indonesian citizenship in this manner (leaving aside those wives with “ikut suami” status).
You will note the many complaints in the UK about immigrants refusing to integrate, yet these same bules come to Indonesia as our guest and act in the same manner, refusing to integrate, mocking our culture, not learning our language, and iff all these things were not enough, most refuse to properly sholat.
So, in response to your “but I do have a choice where I decide to live” – in actual fact, you don’t when it comes to our “tanah air” – in good grace we allow you to enjoy our beautiful country, our fine victuals and viands, and even allow you to enjoy the company of our most beautiful Javanese princesses with any threat or hinderance, but please remember, this is all a priveledge, not a right that you enjoy, so dear guest, please enjoy our hospitality, but do not abuse the warm welcome which we give to you.
Tanah airku tidak kulupakan
Kan terkenang selama hidupku
Biarpun saya pergi jauh
Tidak kan hilang dari kalbu
Tanahku yang kucintai
Engkau kuhargai
Walaupun banyak negri kujalani
Yang masyur permai dikata orang
Tetapi kampung dan rumahku
Di sanalah kurasa senang
Tanahku tak kulupakan
Engkau kubanggakan
PROKLAMASI
Kami, bangsa Indonesia, dengan ini menjatakan kemerdekaan Indonesia.
Hal-hal jang mengenai pemindahan kekoeasaan d.l.l., diselenggarakan dengan tjara saksama dan dalam tempo jang sesingkat-singkatnja.
Djakarta, hari 17 boelan 8 tahoen 05
Atas nama bangsa Indonesia
MERDEKA!
Good lord, that would stun him/her for a while.
@ Perkoso the Bodoh…
So, in response to your “but I do have a choice where I decide to live” – in actual fact, you don’t when it comes to our “tanah air”
Listen you thick numpty your assuming again, fyi I’m not in Indonesia OK!
So climb back up on the turnip truck and head back to the village, where you may be able to find someone stupid enough to listen to the tripe you spout, because I’m not really interested, mengerti ?
Ya ma, wes mudheng.
Do you promise NOT to come to Indonesia?
That will be a relief.
And Schmerly – it’s “you’re”. Fancy having a pribumi correct you. tsk tsk tsk.
Good lord, that would stun him/her for a while.
Made me stand to attention, anyway.
@ Bodoh Perkoso…
Fancy having a pribumi correct you. tsk tsk tsk.
Pribumi or coolie? it’s nice to see another numpty joining the club, along with such other literary geniuses as Cukie, Assmad and AssmadsAngryBitch, WELCOME to the goon squad.
@ Bodoh Perkoso..
and do you mean the thousands bule tourists that spend millions of dollars in Indonesia every year?
You never did answer this did you??
and iff all these
Oops! but there is something you could do, and the second word is spelt with two “F”s.
refusing to integrate, mocking our culture, not learning our language, and iff all these things were not enough, most refuse to properly sholat.
Mmm.. Are you talking about Java or Indonesia here? How do you integrate with so many cultures and why would you want to?. Did you miss the bit on diversity?
Respect perhaps, but that of course is a two way street, something many have yet to understand both westerner and pri-bumi. However it would be fair to say the influence any “bule” has is inconsequential, unfortunately the same cannot be said of people like our commentator and the police chief who seem to think their little version of what is Indonesian Culture and tradition is the only one worth respecting.
Indonesia piece is interesting..although hijacked these days many would say replace “Indonesia” with “Java” would provide a better window on the reality
As for what bules think about me, well, I really couldn’t care that much, I watched them burn a trail to Solo airport 10 years back, and i’ll watch them do it again
Very nice indeed… How many Indonesians will get hurt this time then, I guess the nationalism only extends to ranting not actually caring about anyone else but your own little tribe. It will be nice day when statements like these and the people who make them are treated with contempt they deserve. At least you only watched..which I guess is marginally less cowardly than the two dollar thugs who ran around in mobs bravely assaulting and looting their fellow country men in the name of nationalism.
I assume that you are a resident of Jakarta and have a secure position, maid and driver
And I assume this was meant as an insult, when my experience is that a westerner on a reasonable package is “expected” to have those employees. Living anywhere near the Kampung, the RT will be around in a flash to see who can be employed from the village (and fair enough too).
One could ask what is wrong with education system that such positions as maids for westerner are in such high demand but thats another topic. Strangely, I would venture to suggest despite the rants n raves one is far better off in general working as help for the westerner than for local neo rich.
Don’t get me wrong, it is quite a nice lurk all this extra help but to paint it as some form of evil exploitation is more than a little misleading. It remains (unfortunately) one of the few ways some money can trickle down to the villages. The big question is whose fault is that?
Oigal, perhaps you might take the trouble to consider the meaning of certain statements before commenting? Yes? Excellent.
1) The comment regarding bules heading for the hills has nothing to do with the causation or effect of the riots at that time, but serves to illustrate that the bules who previously propped up the bar in the Novotel and excited us with stories of fast cars and Rolex watches, were the first to run to the airport – US dollars in their pockets. Forgive me, but we don’t need that sort of loyalty. There were quite a few expats who stayed though.
2) Actually I was illustrating a situation rather than a condition when I refered to pembantus. Of course you are quite right, employing a pembantu helps the economy, but does a little house need two or three of them? and should the poor girl have to wipe the kiddies arses while their great fat mother sits in front of the TV? Actually, I prefer the term “penolong”, it is really much more polite and fitting.
3) Integration – well oigal, it is all about local integration, we cannot expect a bule from medan to fall straight into life in say Soerobojo can we? But we can expect that a new arrival will try and be part of the community (we don’t bite, and can have a joke over a beer or two you know?) – and it is not unreasonable to hope that a new guest will try to learn to speak at least some Indonesian.
In closing, I don’t think we can blame our police chief – he isn’t being malicious, and many girls see the jilbab as an occasional fashion accessory which comes and goes. Ihardly think the he is suggesting enforcing this, just thinking out loud – he is getting on a bit, and some of the oldies still wear their traditions with pride .
In brief reply to Shmerly – we aren’t talking about tourists, we are talking about residents, if you are some sort of tourist bule, then stick with the sandcastles and ojo macam-macam sama urusan Prijaji. You will also get on much better if you avoid direct confrontation with the Javanese, it’s part of our lives to be polite – sopan santun and wirang.
Suryo,
Your comment remains contemptable at best and needs little further explanation.
The fact that the majoity of foreigners left at first opportunity during that time is not surprising, what did you expect? As you so clearly pointed out, the Indonesian Government in its wisdom rarely grants citizenship to foreigners nor can they own any assets in any realistic way so where would you expect this loyality to spring from.
What would you expect the ones that stay to do ..pick sides? What Sanctimonious claptrap.
Speaking of claptrap…
Actually I was illustrating a situation rather than a condition when I refered to pembantus. Of course you are quite right, employing a pembantu helps the economy, but does a little house need two or three of them? and should the poor girl have to wipe the kiddies arses while their great fat mother sits in front of the TV?
No you were not, you were using the issue to attempt to gain points in your little xenophobic debate with schemerly. Unfortunately a poor effort because the situation you describe above more frequently applies to the newly kaya national (KKB – Kampung Kaya Baru) than to the foreigner.
Integration – Spare me the holier than thou rubbish, when was the last time the ruling majority made any attempt to integrate into any of the provinces having a different (although still Indonesian) culture. So stop pretending its us 1%ers who are the issue.
Integration is a xenophobic myth best you can hope for is acceptance by both parties based on mutual respect and as i said before though, this is a two way street.. (i.e continually referring to “Bule” is going to get you about as much respect as if I refer to Indonesians as a group as chocolates). Respect should not be a difficult concept, although some seem to think it is granted by birthright rather than earned
@ Bodoh Perkoso..
In brief reply to Shmerly – we aren’t talking about tourists,
Well who wrote this then:
Well, if you don’t then you are even worse than the many bule tourists who come, take a living and cannot be bothered to learn our language and culture.
Duh!!!
@Oigal, whilst I understand that Melayu is not so refined as our languages, please note “Kampungan Baru Kaya” is much more fitting. You have probably heard of the term ABG – anak baru gede – you can use it as a little reminder for word order. Would the term “londo” be more appropriate? Forgive me, save for my course with the “Open University” my contact with westeners has been minimal, save for the job I had as a driver/satpam for an American family.
@Schmerly you clearly failed comprehension miserably – those bule who fail to integrate are just tourists, no more , no less.
@ Bodoh Perkoso..
If you really want to post on IM, you should try and get yourself on a Simple English Language course, then perhaps you may be able to express yourself a little more eloquently, instead of that strange honkie java that you speak in.
Schmerly, forgive me me, I believed that the “@” sign when used in conjunction with a name meant that the information following the “@” sign and the name was directed to the person thus named. You’ll note that the Indonesian language in the above post was therefore directed towards Oigal, who while a Malaysian, can understand our much purer form of bahasa Malaysia.
In the case of your pidgin Bahasa Indonesia used in your opening to me, why not try:-
“Si Perkoso yang bodoh” ?
Hormat saya – Suryo Perkoso yg bodoh
Eeehh, schmerly,
Firstly, who are you to determine who can comment on IM and who can’t? I believe only Patung has that right.
Secondly, there’s nothing wrong with Mas Suryo’s English. Actually it’s rather good, better than some native English speakers here…
Achmad and I have always tried very hard to use good english construction – i’ve always studied very hard from my mentor Achmad who is well known in cultural circles for his proper use of his grandma.
I sometimes do make little slips, and because of my “perasaan malu” (though some may call it “gengsi”), I occasionally slip into the farts, burps, moos and cooes that are boso jowo nggoko. I do apologise and hope that Mr Schmerly will help me to speak his Queen’s english properly.
I do try to comment without causing offense ( i do get that confused with “pagarisasi”) – after all, we are all gentleman aren’t we?
Apart from the ladies, yes.
@Lairedion…
Good enough to be a native speaker kan? Perhaps Mas Achmad and Mas Suryo have more in common than we may ever know
@SP…
It is interesting that Oigal is Malaysian. I have never met the fella personally, but based on his to and fro with one PN some months back I would have pegged the man as Australian (perhaps an Australian of Malay descent).
Here’s the thing on the cultural and language points that you make. I have always found that the majority of Indonesians that I have had cause to interact with are polite, courteous, respectful, and all-in-all good people. But, like any country there is always the one bad apple that can spoil a bunch. I guess this thread may be testament to that as well with some of the comments made in it.
I have been in Indonesia a long time. I speak the language, I am culturally aware (across many of the diverse cultures present in this fine land), and I do not see the need to assimilate or integrate. I figure I can and I should be respected for what I am as I respect others for what they are and not what I would hope them to be.
Nah, in spite of my efforts I will always be white and I will always be distinguished by the colour of my skin while I live in Indonesia more often than I would be distinguished for the quality of my deeds. That, when it is all said and done, is the nature of the game here. You deal with it or you don’t.
It is always interesting to hear Indonesians describing what the “bule” experience must be like here in Indonesia. Most will never know and will never have any idea. In many respects it is much like the rants of AAB and his descriptions of Australia as an overtly racist country where he is often distinguished by the color of his skin and not by the contributions he has made to the broader Australian community. I do not know the fella, so I can not definitively state what those contributions are but I can only base this on his postings (and he has posted often that he has made such contributions).
The point being, I might not understand his experience in Australia but having had the opportunity to live in Indonesia I can honestly say that I can appreciate what he writes about that experience as there are many similarities in our experiences in each other’s homelands.
@Schmerly…
Assumptions are a two-way street. There seems to be a few assumptions that you make about some of the other posters as well.
The anonymity of the internet allows us to be far more blunt (some might say rude) than we would ever be if this discussion was taking place face-to-face.
@ Bodoh..
Achmad and I have always tried very hard to use good english construction – i’ve always studied very hard from my mentor Achmad who is well known in cultural circles for his proper use of his grandma.
Very funny I didn’t know you were a comedian, I especially like the one about, proper use of his grandma !!!
Nuff said.
Lairedion..
Firstly, who are you to determine who can comment on IM and who can’t?
Read what I wrote numpty, and if you don’t understand it ask a responsible adult.
Schmerly, you are to mental dexterity what Myra Hyndley was to childminding. Stick to whinging expat blogs where any Indonesian male is called “Agus Fuckwit” and is a compulsive thief, and every Indonesian female is for sale – you’ll be much more at home there.
Rob, yes, pretty close on – I’m glad also to not that you speak “the language” – but just for reference, which language is “the” language? Your comments regarding integration are interesting – do have have a lokal wife, or did you import your own? Just a little study that I am carrying out, I have noted that even amongst those who are married to Indo girls, there are two distinct flavours, the ones who see Indonesia as home, and those just passing through.
Oigal
Integration is a xenophobic myth best you can hope for is acceptance by both parties based on mutual respect and as i said before though, this is a two way street.. (i.e continually referring to “Bule” is going to get you about as much respect as if I refer to Indonesians as a group as chocolates). Respect should not be a difficult concept, although some seem to think it is granted by birthright rather than earned
Couldn’t have said it any better.
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