Wokheii . . . !
It’s been a really serious while since my last chitchat post.
Today I bring up a kinda sensitive topic. I came to this
topic after my weeks watching Crazy Rich Asians, and then went on with reading
the second and third book. When I was reading the second book, I did some
reading about the “Yellow” thing that had been mentioned over and over in
articles relating to Crazy Rich Asians, did some so-called research about it in
websites just to calm my curiosity down. And I was so satisfied! I fed myself with
new food J. As additional, I watched some interviews of the
actors. The interesting thing is that there would always be questions about how
it was to be an Asian-half-blood, living in the-other-half-blood country, of
how it is to be born and even grew up there, but still couldn’t be seen
completely as “part of the nation”. They did admit that there would always be
barrier; being seen differently and alienated from the “pure-blood”.
This doesn’t just happen at the-other-half-blood country. In
Asia, back to their Asian-half-blood country, where they are not accustomed to the
language, norms, and habits, they surely are easy to be pointed out from an
all-asian crowd; seen as “not part of the nation”, again.
The same thing happens to me and other parties that are
similar to me in the perspective I’m going to picture later on.
I was born in Indonesia, and of a Chinese descent. Lots of
story can be found about this Indonesian of Chinese descent. Okay back to the initial topic of
being seen “half-blood”, Indonesian of Chinese descent got the indistinguishable issue as the
Asian-American did. I, myself, identify myself as an Indonesian since I was
born in Indonesia, from Indonesia citizen parents, I’ve got Indonesian Identity
Card, Indonesian passport, what else? I am a completely registered citizen of
Indonesia, dude.
My own experience, and may be of some other Indonesian of
Chinese descent too, is a bit disappointing. I meant, because I am Indonesian
and I have Chinese ancestor, I got this story to tell (No offense please). I
was mocked of being Chinese descent with the call “Cina”. Well, in case you are
new to this, the word “Cina” in Indonesia has pejorative meaning which corners
the Indonesian of Chinese descent of not being “pure” Indonesian, being
distinguished from the indigenous. There was a couple occurrence where some
random not-yet-enlightened guys yelled at us “Cina! Kelen cuma numpang!” (whew,
sounds so rude) or the other yelling, “Go back to your country!”, and I was
like Wait, what? I’m still in Indonesia, aren’t I? I’m in my home country,
and in my hometown, dude! I should have shown him my identity card
#hiuuhhh. Those people are so far left behind that they still see Indonesian of
foreign origin as “mudblood”, come on~~.
Having Chinese ancestors doesn’t mean that I am not
Indonesian, and that I should be seen as “different kind of animal”. In fact, it
has been said that being born from Indonesian citizen (and even for my case it
is from the both-Indonesia-citizen couple), despite of their race, ethnicity or
religious background will include you as Indonesian. Well, not just Indonesian
with Chinese ancestry, it also happen to those with India and other race
ancestry. I’m telling about the Chinese just because I am the Chinese version
sample.
Indonesian of foreign descent and American of Asian descent
are surely having this feeling of confusion: I was born here but I am not fully
accepted here. Look back to my descent, I can't count myself in to them too
since I am neither born nor live with the custom. I speak in language of my
motherland even more fluently than language of my descent.
And, as Indonesian, I believe our youngsters are more
well-educated and have learnt to see Indonesia as a diversed and colourful
country that no longer differentiating “pribumi” and “non-pribumi”. I am happy
that generation of my peer is now aware of the multicultural beings and even
bring them up in more positive ways to make sure that this diversity will strengthen our unity.
Lastly, I’m closing this chitchat by saying: I am not staying
in Indonesia. I live in Indonesia.
