Indonesia: an Explosion of Colour and... Sweetness

           

   

       As my dream of travelling outside the old continent hasn't yet had the chance to come true (we could get into a debate about time and money, or a combination of the two, or about myself not being brave enough to travel alone as a girl and bla-bla-bla, but that is not the issue ;) ), as you may already know, whenever I have the occasion I attend cultural events from various countries which are, for the moment, unaccessible.

        Said and done: this week-end I popped by the Indonesian Embassy of Bucharest, where the event 'Piața Indonezia' (Indonesia Market) was taking place. It was a cultural event lasting a few hours, around lunchtime and early afternoon.

        Now, I admit that I didn't know much about Indonesia until the recent past. Well, apart from the fact that Bali is a very popular touristic destination. However, the company I work for has an office in Indonesia as well, and I got the chance to interact with colleagues from this country. And most surely, this played a major part in stirring my curiosity.

               

 

       The event itself, not being very long, contained short manifestations of various kinds, comprising different aspects of Indonesian culture. Traditional dances and music (and also pop music played by Indonesian musicians), martial arts demonstrations, clothes, handicrafts and souvenirs to buy, and, of course, local food and drinks. 

           What caught my attention especially has to do with the visual part, but also with... taste. And here are my first impressions as an outsider.

             First of all, Indonesia is about colour, flower patterns and gold. That can be noticed in their traditional costumes, and the ornaments and accessories. 

                    

           

             Indonesia is also ... a friendly country. Or, so it seems, because of the politeness of the people I met, and who always wear a smile. Besides, the way they involved the public in a traditional dance says it all. Plus, let's not forget the statues, masks and mythological creatures which are amusing in themselves. 

                   

                   

              Last but not least, Indonesia is very sweet. On a very hot day like it was last Saturday, cooling off with a (sweet) cucumber punch, or a very fruity drink called Es Teler. The coconut pancakes which I had heard about and which I was really tempted by had finished before I arrived to the food court, but I still managed to buy some tourquoise sponge cake, also with coconut flavour (talk about colours and sweetness).

                 

                The event was interesting, but it was also brief... and overcrowded. The back yard of the Embassy was not that big. Maybe they didn't foresee such high presence, but, on the other hand this demonstrates that people are curious when it comes to culture. For next year, I hope to see more and taste more of Indonesia! 

             

Europe: Unity vs. Utopia

         On Europe Day, I cannot help but wonder how many Europeans accross the continent are really celebrating.  I haven't lost my optimist attittude, but I see an increasing number of social, political and even safety issues that Europe is dealing with. I see more and more skepticism everywhere, amongst people I interact with in daily life.

           For the past two of years, we've seen economic crises, inflows of refugees from North African and Middle Eastern countries, as well as terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels. Countries are trying to reach a middle ground about almost everything, sometimes forgetting even about the national particularities on each country. Various European states are also turning towards extreme right political regimes, and the UK is contemplating exiting the EU.

          On the beautiful sign of the spectrum, however, we enjoy all the consequences of freedom of movement. Travelling in Europe became increasingly easy, as well as studying and working within the EU, leading people to experience the different cultures of the old continent. Friendships, cultural practices, languages, mixed families... Amongst young people in particular I still see a lot of enthusiasm, as if Europe and European identity were (or maybe they really are?) this wonderful, lifelong project, to cultivate in a wide variety of ways. 

       However, what should be done in order to still experience the beautiful part, but, at the same time, make sure we stay safe, and that modern European values are not jeopardized? Or do you think we'd be better off separating and each country minding its own problems and regulating their own societies, whilst re-creating borders for the outside world. 

        More often than not, we are tempted to link the mass migration of refugees to the terrorist attacks which recently took place. But there are also genuine cases of people fleeing dangerous situations in their home countries. How could we differentiate between the intentions of these immigrants? I recently heard some politician/opinion leader/don't remember exactly who, saying that excessive control or restriction is just as bad as excessive tollerance. In a way, I believe it's true, because when an individual or a community is getting the feeling of not being accepted, anger towards the host country tends to rise even more. On the other hand, if someone arrives already with dangerous intention, authorities not doing anything about it would only create fertile ground for more evil deeds. 

           My personal opinion would be about finding the right balance between clear immigration policies, applied firmly but not aggressively or in petty ways, and increasing the activities of cultural mediation, exerted by official institutions, and, why not, also by each individual. If faced with multiculturalism in any shape or form, we  also have the power to teach our 'outsider' aquaintances what is right and what is wrong on our territory. Or perhaps you think that somebody's individual contribution doesn't really count, and it is just a water drop in the ocean. Or you might also say that it should come from each state's institutions in authority, which at the moment are not doing enough, and they should be more strict about everything? 

                I invite you to think about it... and share with me! :)

          

How to Be an Un-official City Tour Guide

         

        One of the perks of having travelled substantially accross Europe (and imagine if that expanded to the entire world, but it is not my case yet), is that you get to make a large number of friends spread all over the map. Who, at their turn, will get to visit you or your city at some point in time. Are you ready to organize a city tour, and make your friends familiar with your city, in all seasons? You and I may not be qualified tour guides, who are non-stop walking-talking encyclopedias, but at least we can do the basics in a decent way. Well, I must admit that by now I have gained a fair share of experience, and here is what I learnt.

             

         ... inform yourself (or refresh your memory) on the most important touristic attractions, and if possible, group them in time and space slots. 

        ... choose the most interesting and pitoresque places, as well as places which highlight the national/local culture. In other words, shopping malls are present everywhere in the world and your friend has them at home too! :) 

        ... learn some factual information on those attractions, in order to present them correctly to your friends. A little bit of history, geography or architecture knowledge goes a long way.

                            

        ... only show and draw attention to what is positive about your city. Don't take your friend to ugly or dangerous places to show him something 'sensational'. That is, if you still want him to come back. So, be a good PR for your city.

        ... choose venues that are suitable for the season and for the weather. Maybe a long walk in the park on a freezing winter day or on a 40 degrees summer lunchtime is a bad idea, just like it is to spend most of the day in closed spaces on a day which is just perfect for outdoor activities.

          .... find out if there are any particular cultural events in town, and take your friend there if you believe they'd be interested. But beware: if there is local language involved, and your friend doesn't speak or understand it, that event wouldn't be your best bet.

      ... when it comes to food, again, choose traditional restaurants. There is no point taking your Italian friend to eat pizza in Romania: he will only find it a bad copy of his own national food. Plus, if you know a restaurant with a traditional artistic programme or atmosphere, that's even better!

          ... keep budget in mind, both when choosing the venues, and, if it is the case, also when you recommend a place to stay. A tourist who is still a student will not have the same budget as a professional of some top-notch company. 

          ... be prepared to be also a translator and an interpreter, if you get to a place where English is not spoken, or if your friend himself does not speak it. 

                          

        

    ... last but not least, make sure your friend is safe and comfortable all the time. For example, if he arrives alone in the middle of the night at the train station, don't let him find his way to your house by himself, amongst strange faces. Instead, pick him up by car or by taxi. Also, make sure you won't put their health and well-being at risk, and, in case of emergency, act as promptly as you can.

                As you can see, it is not very difficult. All it takes is some advance preparation, good will, consideration, and lots of energy. And of course, don't forget to enjoy your friend's company, and to enjoy the city through their eyes, as if you were experiencing it for the first time as well. The result? You will have fun and create wonderful memories together. And maybe who knows... maybe one day you decide to become a certified tour guide. ;)