Going to Europe really open my eyes about my country. The differences that I saw realized me as an Indonesian that I am so lucky born and grow up in Indonesia. In ISWI, my nationalism is more than I considered before :) Here also I found that even though Indonesia is not as modern as Europe, I still love my country so much…mmmmuuuaaahhhhh!!!!

International Brunch. Indonesia delegates and others

In ISWI 2009 that I attended last month in Ilmineau, Germany, there was an activity called International Brunch. It started in the morning til afternoon. That’s why we named it Brunch, breakfast and lunch. In this motion, all the ISWI participants were asked to perform something regarding their country’s culture. Besides, each country was given a space to make kind of exhibition of each nation culture or whatever.

I was so excited I could participate in International Brunch. It was fun and interesting since we can know other country’s culture. I could see how African dressed up with their traditional clothes and be surprised when I looked Egyptians wore their special dress that I thought they were Cleopatra’s family, heeheheh J

Indonesian participants, including me, believed that it was the right time to promote Indonesia as a beautiful country that’s very rich of culture. So, prior to come to ISWI, we had already arranged some traditional performances that we were going to carried out on the stage of ISWI, in the center of Ilemnau city, such as Saman dance (traditional dance from Aceh province), Sunda Dance (from West Java), Java Dance (from Central Java), and Angklung musical instrument (from West Java). Do you know what? When we performed those shows, everybody was like amazed (it’s according my opinion, aha) although we only practiced it all less than a week. So do the other delegates from another country. They performed their traditional dance (mostly dance with free style) even though I felt Indonesian dances were more interesting, heeheeh….

All Indonesian delegates wore traditional dress and clothes and so do the other participants from another country. I myself wore a traditional cloth from South Sulawesi, special hat with sarong and jas tutup, typical of Makassar). I was so proud and happy to wear that cloth because all people surrounding the area invited me to take picture together. “Can I take a picture with you?” that’s the people used to say to me (really, I don’t lie) lol :) Even in the next day, my picture was published in ISWI newspaper (it’s true!). But I don’t know exactly why they want to take a picture with me, whether they liked my style or they just looked me weird but wonderful with my outfit, hahahah!! (At least it can increase my nationalism and also my narcissism, lol) Anyway, you can assess it by looking at my picture below :)

It was published in ISWI Newspaper

Mean while in our Indonesian stand, we served up a lot of Indonesian snacks, such as dodol garut, cassava chips, pineapple chips, emping, manisan, banan chips, jackfruit chips, dempo durian, kacang telur, and various Indonesian souvenirs like wayang (Javanese puppets). We allowed the people taste it all and take the souvenir as a keepsake. Most of them asked what durian is and how we could take all these things. They were also astonished with Angklung, the musical instrument from bamboo. You can guess how our stand is! It was extremely crowded and it was like press conference since we had to answer a lot of question regarding Indonesian culture. By and large, what they found in our stand was something new for them. Indeed, we got a lot of compliments from the people who visit our stand, yeah! Bravo Indonesia :)

In the middle of the activity, I was curious to witness the other country’s stand. So I was out from my stand and walked around with my friend to glimpse the others. What I expected before was I could find something new from another part of world, such as the foods or beverages. Unfortunately what I wanted was too far. Mostly, another stands just served up the people with a wine or beer from their own country (that I guess the taste of wine is same wherever it comes from) and some biscuit and chocolates. Some of them also introduced their country through postcard and some pictures. Ya…ya…ya….I found it’s so-so because what I found was not something new. I could discover them even in my country actually. It would be very amazing if I could sip special beverages and munch typical snacks from another countries stand.

Another stand

After got back to my stand, I nodded while saying to myself, “Oh God, I am so lucky become Indonesia!!” I don’t scoff at another countries and I don’t say that they are awful. I just more aware that what I have in my country cannot be compared with another country. I am so thankful because what I have in Indonesia is not exist in other countries. I am proud that Indonesia has more than hundred beautiful dances, it has a lot of traditional foods that’s much more delicious and has unique taste, and it has very rich culture that’s much interesting. No wonder Indonesian stand was overwhelmed by the visitors!!!

Indonesian stand

Indeed, we realized that our home is much more comfortable when we visit our neighbor. Sometime, we will love our home when we are not there. Now I can strongly say (in my mouth and my heart) that I love my country ssssssoooooo muuuuuccchhhh!!!

Do you find the same with me? Or do you have other experiences that boast your nationalism? Let’s share!