TRANSLATING THE CHEAPEST WAY TO BALI

Three weeks off from the blog makes me like a swallow yearning for the sea. Indeed, my tourism students and I went to Bali through unusual backpacker package tourism spending only IDR 475.000 for transportation, accommodation and meals from Bogor to Bali. It is really amazing that the stereotypically expensive Bali tour, changed into Bali for everybody. It means that by saving a fifty thousand a week, Bali could be reached within one period of study. This is very amazing for our students in Bogor. In fact, the way to go there is quite unsual. First, we went by economy class train from Pasar Senen to Kediri to join the package group from the English course over there. In Kediri, in Pare precisely, we visited the English village. Actually it is only a small village where the young people speak English in their every day encounters. Taking two days and two nights from Jakarta to Bali was actually very tiring journey, however, all participants seemed to be happy all way along. It is my next dream that all Bogorienz could go to Bali both for leisure and for business. It is expected that with only 300.000 all people could go to Bali to enjoy Tanah Lot, sand and smile in Sanur, or to enjoy the breeze and bras in Kuta beach.

STOP BEING BOSSY, TRANSLATE THE HOPE OF ASIA

The first journey of Hillary Rodham Clinton to Asian countries, instead of the European, is a journey of modesty. The American stereotype to be arrogant should be replaced with humbleness and appreciation of other culture. Elizabeth Karen, the Chicago born “Sinden” (Singer in Javanese Orchestra) is very popular among the Javanese as popular as Claire Selgin (formerly married to Paul Wolfowitz) was very popular among the Yogyanese. It is because of her willingness to learn Javanese dance.

Actually, if the US wants to win over the Asian, the easiest one is to win her heart. Asian is very feminine. She needs to be praised and to be appreciated. She requires to be understood what, why and how she behaves. Conflict resolution can be settled by sitting together and having a morning coffee, instead of with guns and bombs. Image creation is the most important.

The image is that the US should put himself as a considerate daddy facing his growing up daughter. Rose and beautiful poem before giving a pocket money is enough to improve his relationship with his brooding daughter.

TRANSLATING THE MOTHER'S LOVE

The Javanese proverbs "Ngujiwating Biyung, Eseming Gusti Allah" means that "the smile of mother is the smile of God. " This is the Javanese proverbs which emphasize on the obligation of the children to respect to their mother. The way to make our mother smile is just to avoid to something make her angry. It is sometimes complicated. For example, when I returned home last month. Because she thought that I was still like her other children, she insisted on me bringing some soybean, corn, and cassava harvested on that day. It is really very burdening because I have to move from one bus to the other. However, she will be very disappointed unless I accept her agricultural gift. "Son, this is not a matter of bringing the stuff, this is the symbol of love of your very old mother", she pleaded. After a long time, I found solution. "Mom," I said "because what I expect is your love and your blessing to my life, so let me bring just a heap of everything." She then understand me and let me bring only a heap of rice to be mixed with the home supply. She smiled sweetly and I lightly left the house which grew me up to return to my family.

BATAK PHILOSOPHY: ANAKKOKI DO HAMORAON DIAHU

This morning I took my second daughter to Aikido course. She is 17 and still in the second grade of Senior High School. I want her to master this kind of martial arts. Actually she prefers Karate or nothing, but I suggest that Aikido is better for girls because of its softness and effectiveness. "Woman, first, should be able to defend oneself. The she is obliged to defend others from harassment or male violation." Therefore, Aikido martial arts is a good idea. It teaches us self control and defense. And for the training, I have to spend more money, in addition to her daily expense and pocket money.

Well, money is no problem as long is it is for the sake of education. I am a Javanese, but I learn from my Batak neighbor, Anakkokido Hamoraon Diahu. "My child is my wealth". The Batak people, one ethnic group in Sumatra, is stereotyped as people who always speak loudly which sound to be hars. However, they sacrifice everything for their children in order that the children have better life than their predecessors. Love to children is the most precious love. Therefore, I hope that my two female children are more ready to live in the more complicated enviroment. They can adjust and develop themselves for the success in the future. (tguh,

JAVA PHILOSOPHY; WANI NGALAH LUHUR WEKASANE"

World's crisis of love comes from the individual egotism. One's love others but just to positon other as a complement of his own need. It is like the capitalistic system which put others merely as clients or customers. Relationship is established not for the sake of togetherness but for the sake of oneself. Therefore, in the US strategic management, the first think to do is to consider other as a rival to be subdued. Man is divided into I and You, instead of We or Us; or else human is unavoidably divided into "believer" and "unbeliever", "friend and foe", "samaritans" and "terorrist" . Instead of beating others for the sake of victory, javanese philosophy tells us that: If we are brave enough to loose for the sake of others, we will gain our victory later. or in the Javanese terms means: "WANI NGALAH LUHUR WEKASANE". Of course, if it is practiced by both parties in battle, such thing will save a lot of useless casualties.

BATAK, PADANG , JAVA AND THEIR STEREOTYPE

The three ethnic groups dominantly occupy the governmental post in Java. We can say that Sunda from west Java or Maduranese in East Java is dominant, but together with the people using Javanese language, they have almost similar philosophy. Meanwhile, Batak and Padang are both from Sumatra but they have different religion and way of life. The Batak ethnic group commonly work as drivers and in the field of law, such as judge and prosecutors, while the Padang people is stereotyped as the ethnic of traders. The Javanese are both as a farmer and ruller. They have their own philosophy and if they are blended into one, they become one national philosophy.

TRANSLATION, THE BRIDGE OF UNDERSTANDING

World is now in the crisis of love, and the crisis is the lack of understanding. The example of dreadful battle between Hamas and Israel, the Iraqi destruction of war, the African hunger and poverty show lack of love. It starts from egotism and misunderstanding. Without any effort of understanding other people and the way other people think and act, one cannot understand oneself either. It is because one exist among the appreciation of others, the appreciation of others appear when there is no prejudice among them. The relationship between one and the other create a process of translation of other people's want and need. Therefore, the solution of love is when other people try to understand and appreciate other people need and want. We have to see something not only on our own point of view but also on the other's. Here, learning of others, understanding of other philosophy becomes crucial in our own daily life. In my position as Indonesian, I would like to present several philosophy of the tribes exist in Indonesia. While philosophy is a cristalization of the community experiences for a long time, we can learn deeply and love deeply to other people about how to get in touch with them for a long time. We can learn their way of thinking as presented in their language and ideas.