The day when my Indonesianality level is on its peak!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
One big day is finally coming! The 21st Annual San Antonio Asian Festival – Year of Rats is held today. Despite the name of it, the event is not just celebrating the Chinese New Year but is also held as a cultural exhibition for all Asian countries who want to participate. Since I know from the website 2 months prior to the events that there is no exhibitor for Indonesian culture yet, I was trying to apply as an exhibitor and traditional dancer. The result: the event’s crew unexpectedly were very welcome for my enthusiasm to volunteer in this event. Well, I think it is a nice simple thing I can do for my country while I am away. Next, I was so excited and trying to prepare everything the best as I could not just for the events, but especially to promote the beauty of Indonesia J
As an exhibitor, I feel like a travel agent when trying to explain the location of Indonesia on the map, and also trying to show them how beautiful it really is. Even one man that is really a travel agent try to get as many information as he could from me about Indonesia. I mention the program, visit Indonesia 2008, and give people the Indonesian cultural website that they could go into. People who come to my booth are basically very enthusiastic. One of the reason probably because I said that I’m an exchange student that actually come from Indonesia. I feel like a real authentic evidence of Indonesian people. I’m unique and special there (oh well, I think I’m just as special as any world citizen) J
The experience of being away from home makes me appreciate more my home country. I am trying to be more aware about its own beauty because I have to present it to some people who have no clue of Indonesia’s existence. Once I was asking to myself, “If I, my self, don’t love and aware of Indonesia’s beauty, how could this people believe me that Indonesia really is a beautiful country with (still) a lot of good people inside it?”. Then, I convinced myself that Indonesia is really BEAUTIFUL and have a lot of potential. Some people who have some clue about Indonesia, always praise me about the beauty of Indonesia. That makes me believe that not all American have bad opinion about Indonesia.
And the last thing that I do there was dancing ‘Tari Bajidor Kahot’. It was pretty amazing for me that I could have enough brave to go up on the stage and dance there, because I am really not a professional dancer; I’m just an exchange student who learn the dance before the program sent me to America. I was also able to give a little speech about the dance and Indonesia before I perform.
Hmm, that day really gives me something. It is the confidence and the proud of being Indonesian. As John F. Kennedy said, “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Small things could mean big for your country when you did it because you love and proud of it. The simple thing that I did actually means something for Indonesia on the events, and makes Merah Putih is present on the events.
So, right now is your chance. Ask yourself, what really you can do for your home country? You could be either a good citizen just by not littering, or be a good student for your school. Every small good thing will add up and result in something great. Don’t second guess yourself. Because we, the kids, are the future for Indonesia tomorrow J
