anzaberita Australia and New Zealand Association Jakarta

Quarterly Magazine

Issue 1 2019

A Fresh Start For 2019 Featuring: - Australia & Waitangi Day BBQ - Bogan Bingo - Social Welfare Activities - 2019 ANZA Committee

Books aren't boring and neither are mothers So come along and party with all the others @ Raffles Writers Bar of course for some brunch, drinks and discourse.

Mothe ' Da Trea April 30 , 2019 from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm ANZA member 200,000 | Non-member: 250,000

To register, please contact ANZA: 0813 1535 7229 info@anzajakarta.com

contents

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22 14

24 5 editor's note 6 hot dates 7 president's message 8 anza spotlight 8 Introducing our new Committee 12 ANZA House Activities 14 Highlights 16 Getting Started in Jakarta with Colliers by Gene Sugandy

18 Asian Tigers contribute to Tsnuami Relief by Riesa Octavina

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28

34 destination

20 mainevent 20 Australia & Waitangi Day BBQ by Monica Smith

22 Bogan Bingo by Michelle McCarthy

24 socialwelfare

28 Yayasan Citra Baru by Ling Jin

29 Yayasan Griya Asih by Lynda Suryadi

31 aroundthedurian

24 ANZA Student Sponsorship Program

31 Staying Safe When It's Not

by Louise Kennedy & SSP team

32 Settling In To A New Country

26 Kampung Kids by Marjorie Rinckes

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by Monica Smith

by Erika Zechner

34 Celebrating Australia and New Zealand! by Monica Smith, Lauren Adams, Anna Cox, Leah Thompson, Weslyna Griffith

36 My Batak Adoption & Wedding by Leah Thompson

38 lastnote 38 Top 10 Fun Things to do in Jakarta by Monica Smith

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Australia and New Zealand Association Jakarta A not-for-profit organisation, welcoming people of all nationalities Patrons Mr Gary Quinlan Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Dr Trevor Matheson New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia Honorary Members Mrs Nuannit Matheson ANZA Committee President Kerryn Filmer president@anzajakarta.com Vice President vacant vicepresident@anzajakarta.com Treasurer Lenka Proskova treasury@anzajakarta.com Secretary Kim Polden anzajakarta@gmail.com Social Welfare Directors Zani Van Straden & Georgina Bremridge socialwelfare@anzajakarta.com

Past Officer Vacant info@anzajakarta.com

ANZA Berita Editor Monica Smith anzaberita@anzajakarta.com

Marketing & Communications Manager Niki Kaaij marketing@anzajakarta.com

Designer Leah Thompson

House Manager Renee Clarke info@anzajakarta.com

Proofreaders Kerryn Filmer Michelle McCarthy

Bazaar Coordinators bazaar@anzajakarta.com Annual Ball Coordinator ball@anzajakarta.com Melbourne Cup Coordinator melbcup@anzajakarta.com ANZA House Open Monday – Friday Non-members 9am – 12pm Members 9am – 4pm +62 (0) 813 1535 7229 ANZA Café Open Monday – Friday Non-members 9am – 12pm Members 9am – 4pm Volunteers There are many opportunities to get involved with ANZA Jakarta. We accept volunteers all year round. Whether you choose to join our ANZA House team or our Social Welfare team. Get in touch with us today. General enquiries info@anzajakarta.com +62 (0) 813 1535 7229

Contributors Lauren Adams Santi Arianti Weslyna Griffith Ling Jin Sylvia Joachim Louise Kennedy Michelle McCarthy Riesa Octavina Marjorie Rinckes Gene Sugandy Lynda Suryadi Leah Thompson Erika Zechner What's New Indonesia Online Issue issuu.com/anzaberita ANZA Berita is published quarterly. Advertise in Berita For information and rates on advertisements please contact anzaberita@anzajakarta.com Submissions ANZA Berita accepts stories and photo submissions by ANZA members.

Sponsorship Team Michelle McCarthy sponsorship@anzajakarta.com Membership Coordinator Mia Screpnek membership@anzajakarta.com

Views expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

editor'snote

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EDITOR'S NOTE Welcome back! Here we are, gearing up for another great year at the Anza house. In the previous issue, we mentioned new year’s resolutions, but now is the time to put those good intentions in motion and create new habits that achieve our goals. For that reason, the theme of this issue 1 is Fresh Starts. Now that we’ve had our vacations and have made it back, we can start anew. A new start may involve a move, a change of activities or even perspective. The early year activities are built around the summer-centric Australian calendar offering an Australia and Waitangi day barbecue and bogan bingo. These activities were so fun and start out our new year with some low-key fellowship without the rush of holiday fanfare.

Photo by Leah Thompson

We are always looking for new contributors to this magazine so if you have some ideas, please share. Being part of the Berita staff is a really fun activity and service to the community. Sincerely, Monica Smith ANZA Berita Editor

Cover: ANZA Australia & Waitangi Day BBQ Photo by: What's New Indonesia

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hotdates - April to September 2019

Save the following dates in your diary and remember our morning tea is scheduled every Friday morning from 9:30am - 12pm at ANZA House

Monday 15th April

Tuesday 30th April

Roemah Djawa Art Museum Tour

Mothers Day Treat

Time: 8:45am - 1:00pm

Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm

Location: Writers Bar, Raffles Hotel

Thursday 2nd May Tuesday 7th May

Painting Workshops - Exploring Patterns See back cover for details

Tuesday 14th May Tuesday 21st May

Saturday 18th May

Friday 13th September (tentative)

Painting Workshops - Iconic Paintings

Margarita Night

ANZA Charity Ball

Location: ANZA House Time: TBC

Location: TBC Time: TBC

See back cover for details

KINDERGARTEN | PRIMARY | SECONDARY

Building Brighter Futures ACG School Jakarta is an IB World School and Cambridge international centre where students progress through the IB Primary Years Programme, Cambridge (Lower and Upper Secondary), and the IB Diploma (Years 12 and 13). Please contact us for more information. Jl Warung Jati Barat (Taman Margasatwa) No. 19, Jati Padang, Pasar Minggu +62-21-2978 0200 | acgjkt@acgedu.com

jakarta.acgedu.com

For all event details, tickets and information please contact ANZA House between 9am 12pm Monday - Friday +62 (0)813 1535 7229

president'smessage

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT The position for President was going to vacant at the AGM (ANZA's Annual General Meeting) with Emmaleen, our extremely capable 2018 President, stepping down, and I very quickly said "well I'm not doing it". But in the few days preceding the AGM I realised that I truly believe in ANZA, and what it represented, and didn't want it to be something from the past. So, here I am! Over many years there have been some amazing ANZA Committees, led by extremely competent and enthusiastic Presidents. And now I am joining the esteemed group. But luckily I am not on my own, as there is this amazing team that I am proud and eager to work with. We head into 2019 with an experienced and worldly group of fabulous expats, some who are continuing from 2018, and others who are brand new, so a great balance. As with any fresh start, new ideas are floating around and challenges are appearing as we begin to work through early planning. This is where all our ANZA members come into play. We need to hear from you about ways that you can help, ideas for future events and activities, comments about changes you would like to see happen, things that you have really enjoyed or appreciated and of course things that didn't work for you. As a Committee we can try to do our best, especially if we have your support and assistance. We look forward to hearing your comments and working together to continue the great tradition of ANZA.

Kerryn Filmer ANZA President 2019

Photo by Leah Thompson

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anzaspotlight - committee

Introducing our new Committee

by ANZA Committee Photos by Leah Thompson

This February, ANZA hosted its General Meeting. Members heard presentations regarding the ANZA budget and social welfare. Last, but not least, we held nominations and voting for our new committee members. The Berita is showcasing our new committee members so that all ANZA members have the chance to see the who behind the who is who.

PRESIDENT - Kerryn I am an Australian who brings patience and humour to the role of President, using skills that I have gained in 30 years as a Preschool Teacher and Director. I have been married to my favourite man, Mark, for 36 years, and I am lucky to have 2 beautiful and amazing daughters, Ashlea and Briana. I am very excited to add the title of Grandma to my CV, later this year...wow. I believe in ANZA as an environment of caring and support, and I embrace life, and love interaction with people, so I am looking forward to all the challenges and opportunities that being a President brings.

SECRETARY - Kim

president@anzajakarta.com

I am Tasmanian, but when not in Jakarta, home is in Kangaroo Point on the beautiful Brisbane River. I've had many different jobs throughout the years between bringing up my 2 kids and living overseas. I now have 4 grandchildren. I’ve been a Catering Manager, Travel coordinator, receptionist /PA in the Aviation Industry, and Ground Handling Manager for Corporate Air in Brisbane Airport. I also trained as a Load Controller for Alliance Air in Brisbane and Karratha. It was an amazing experience learning weights and balances for take off and landing on different aircraft and what it entails to actually get a plane into the air.

anzajakarta@gmail.com

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MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR - Mia Hi everyone! My name is Mia. I am a new expat in Jakarta all the way from Vancouver, Canada. I moved here 6 months ago with my husband, Jordan, and our two lovely daughters, Aliya (4) & Emmie (2)! I am really excited to be filling in the role of Membership Coordinator at ANZA and helping out with the marketing team. I come from an extensive background in administration and a love for creativity. Looking forward to meeting everyone in the near future!

TREASURER - Lenka

membership@anzajakarta.com

My name is Lenka, I'm from Czech Republic and I have been living in Jakarta for 3 years with my husband and two teenagers. I spent almost 20 years working on different positions in international banks and this is my second year in ANZA as Treasurer. I really enjoy being a part of such a lovely community of ladies and helping ANZA gives my life here another meaningful purpose.

HOUSE MANAGER - Renee I first arrived in Jakarta from Perth in 2014 and have been involved in ANZA since I arrived. I have mostly worked with the social committee orchestrating three ANZA balls. I am the mother of two boys attending the Australian Independent School. This year I'll be taking on role of house manager.

info@anzajakarta.com

treasury@anzajakarta.com

SOCIAL WELFARE CO-DIRECTOR Zani I’m from Johannesburg, South Africa, and moved to Jakarta in May 2018 with my husband. I love exploring all the beautiful places Indonesia has to offer, especially if there’s a tent and some hiking shoes involved. I also enjoy cycling around Kemang for my daily dose of adrenaline! At ANZA, I’m one of the Co-Directors for our Social Welfare Program, where we currently support 17 different projects around Jakarta. If you see me around, come have a chat and volunteer!

socialwelfare@anzajakarta.com

SOCIAL WELFARE CO-DIRECTOR - Georgina

socialwelfare@anzajakarta.com

Hello! I'm British and moved from London to Jakarta with my husband in 2018. My career background involves working as a lawyer, a charity COO, a gaucho(!) and I'm now a life/career coach. My favourite Sunday morning here is an early run round Ragunan Zoo followed by homemade brekkie on our veranda with warm bread, avo smash and yummy coffee (#honouraryAussie?!) I feel so grateful for this adventure in Indonesia and I'm really passionate about giving back to Jakarta. I’m excited about creating a new vision and strategy for Social Welfare to make sure the precious funds we have are spent in the most effective way.

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anzaspotlight - committee MARKETING & COMMUNICATION - Niki Hi there. My guy, Ben, and I just moved here from Greece a couple of months ago. So far we are loving it. The people are super friendly and the food here is the best ever. We found out about ANZA before we came here, hoping to be able to sponsor some children. I have now been recruited to do the Marketing and Communication part. I am very grateful to be a part of such a driven team. Everyone I have met so far has been wonderful. In my free time I like to workout, be creative (I am an artist), explore life. I am not much of a city girl, so moving here was quite challenging, but we try to get away to nature as much as we can. Ideas are always welcome.

SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR Michelle marketing@anzajakarta.com

I've been in Jakarta and volunteering since 2013 and continuing on as sponsorship coordinator. I am looking forward to building stronger relationships with our corporate partners this year! My youngest just started school this year, so am currently learning how to sew and to play bridge :-)

FRONT DESK COORDINATOR & ASSISTANT SECRETARY Rachael

sponsorship@anzajakarta.com

I am Front Desk coordinator and assistant secretary. I am very excited to meet and interact with all our lovely ANZA members. I'm looking forward to a fun and busy year ahead.

info@anzajakarta.com

BERITA DESIGNER - Leah I'm an Aussie that's permanently in Indonesia with my husband and 3 year old son. I've been an ANZA member for 2.5 years now, mostly involved with playgroup which has been a saving grace, and now I'm trying my hand at magazine editing! Hope this turns out well.

anzaberita@anzajakarta.com

BERITA EDITOR - Monica

anzaberita@anzajakarta.com

I am an American infiltrator at ANZA so naturally I found myself a suitable propaganda role. I’ve worked all my life doing research and have a lot of experience in technical writing—so I have a lot of fun with Berita because the format is so free. I live in Jakarta with my husband, Nick, and 3 children: Victor (10), Savannah (8) and William (2). Since starting, I’ve been surprised to learn of the great deal of stress and hardship many of our ANZA members feel when asked to write. I am happy to edit your work! So please, no worries, no stress; just send.

PLAYGROUP CO-COORDINATORS Enaz

Victoria

Catrin

Hi I'm Victoria, I am an Australian with American and British background. My husband and I have a 3 year old daughter, Elizabeth, and we have been living in Jakarta for a year now. I've met lots of other mums through ANZA's playgroup and am looking forward to meeting more as a playgroup co-coordinator this year.

My name is Catrin, I am from Carmarthenshire in Wales, UK. I moved to Jakarta from Dublin, Ireland in November 2016 with my husband. We have a little boy called Idris, who is 16 months old. Until I moved to Jakarta I worked for British Council, the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and education opportunities.

My name is Enaz. I am originally from Malaysia and have been living in Jakarta now for 3 years with my husband and 3 children. I have been attending playgroup in ANZA for 2.5 years. It has been a lifesaver as that was where I met so many wonderful mummy friends who have gotten me through the transition of life in Jakarta.

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anzaspotlight - activities

ANZA HOUSE ACTIVITIES For more information and to be added to group WhatsApp please contact ANZA House on 0813 1535 7229 or info@anzajakarta.com

Thursday

Bootcamp 8:30-9:30am Creative Crafts 10am-12pm Mahjong 12:15pm - 2:15pm

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Kids Swimming Lessons 9:30am onwards

Tennis 8am - 10am

Playgroup 9:30am - 12pm

Location: Complex 25

Golf Varying time & location.

All activities held at ANZA House unless otherwise stated. Contact ANZA for address and more details.

We have time slots available on weekdays for members who want to use ANZA House for regular group activities - e.g. book club, photography, fitness.

Limited spots available

Friday Coffee Morning (weekly) 9:30am - 12pm Bridge 12:30pm - 2pm

ENRO

NOW L ! Enrol now for Early Years, Primary and Secondary. Please call to book your school tour and free trial! Information and Admissions Office Phone: +62 21 7183222, E-mail: info@nzsj.sch.id Jl. Kemang Selatan I #1A, Kemang, Jakarta

www.nzsj.sch.id

Contact president@ anzajakarta.com to discuss.

anzaspotlight - tennis

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Looking for a great ball earlier in the year? A strong group of women who make way too much racquet collect on the courts of Complex 25 each Tuesday. I don't mean to seem backhanded when I say that they are ace at leaving love behind. If you're interested in upping your game, inquire at ANZA front desk about being added to the WhatsApp group. They're eager to serve. No strings attached.

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anzaspotlight - highlights

ANZA Activity Highlights Pasar Murah: It was biannual rummage sale time once again at the ANZA house. Volunteers came to help sell goods that no longer sparked their joy to raise money for ANZA Social Welfare.

Dermalogica Skin Bar Party: Your skin is important and skin care is particularly important here in Jakarta where we literally face the air and water pollutants. Special thanks to Dermalogica that hosted a Skin Bar Party that helped members find great products.

International Women's Day Coffee Morning: Thank you to all the ladies who came to chat, shop, donate and support each other and the Sisterhood Charity. We managed to collect a large box of donated sanitary and hygiene products for women less fortunate and in need.

Annual Sponsors' Night: Our ANZA sponsors and volunteers came together over great food at ANZA house for our Annual Sponsors Night. We've appreciated all the love and support we have received from our Sponsors - big and small - over the last year and thank you for your continued support in 2019! Thanks to Two Islands Wines and Awtar by Hadramawt Palace for supporting the event

Newcomers Morning Tea: Our biannual Newcomers Morning Tea was attended by a small, but interested group of “newbies”. Sickness was lowering our attendance, but we went ahead. SOS Medika informed us of possible health issues living in Jakarta, and of the informed, experienced, dedicated and hard working medical team who can assist with everyday and emergency situations. Colliers explained about the value of local staff and our roles as employers. They shared useful information about grocery shopping, schools and housing options. We always appreciate the information shared by our gold & silver sponsors. If you haven’t been to one of these sessions, make sure you do next time, even if you are no longer a newbie.

We have a many great activities hosted at ANZA House and many social welfare projects that we love to share. Stay updated with us and follow us at facebook.com/anzajkt

Exceptional resources and facilities

British School Jakarta students benefit from exceptional resources and facilities to support their learning and development. We strive to inspire our students, staff and local community to stay active and to reach their potential in sport and fitness. With an 18 hectare campus, BSJ offers a wide range of sporting facilities. It boasts an all-year astroturf athletics fields, an Olympic-sized outdoor pool, a climbing wall, five multi-use tennis courts, a dance studio, a fitness centre and a specially designed play room for younger students. All facilities are freely available to students, meaning no matter what their sporting passion, BSJ has the ability to accommodate it.

For further information about the British School Jakarta, please contact the Admissions Office admissions@bsj.sch.id | (+62) (21) 745 1670 | www.bsj.sch.id

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anzaspotlight - sponsor look

Getting Started in Jakarta with Colliers International by Gene Sugandy, Colliers International Photos provided by Colliers International

1. In what ways does your organization partner with ANZA? Colliers has been a long-time sponsor of ANZA. ANZA’s former Lifetime member, Marilyn Adipradja, was also a Colliers employee prior to her retirement last year. Through her role in multiple aspects of the ANZA social welfare program, Colliers was very aware of the exceptional work that ANZA does and feels that the contribution that Colliers make towards sponsorship is well used to benefit the less fortunate communities in Indonesia 2. What is your favourite ANZA event and why? The ANZA ball is always a highlight of the expat social calendar. Although the other Ladie's Associations also hold balls, the costume element of the ANZA ball immediately puts a fun spin on the evening. The effort that many of the guests make to put together their costumes and even the detail that goes into the dÊcor and the table arrangements of the evening makes the evening a lot of fun. What makes it even better is knowing that proceeds of the evening are going towards a good cause. 3. Are there any special services that you would like our members to know about? Although Colliers International Indonesia is mainly known

to be a property company, it actually has 13 divisions, including the well-known office and industrial property divisions and many lesser known divisions. For example, the Advisory Division studies how a property could be best used. Our Research Division is constantly updating news and developments regarding the property market for not only office and apartment buildings, but also the hotel industry in Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali. In addition, the Research team produces topic-specific reports for many companies. We have a Real Estate Management (REM) division that provides the management teams in charge of running buildings. Our REM teams manage the vendors that are needed to operate buildings. These vendors include the teams needed for landscape, the cleaners, the maintenance, the security, the parking company, and we also provide the staff that is responsible for paying the water and electricity of the building. Currently we are managing over 65 buildings in Jakarta, Surabaya, and Balikpapan. Colliers Residential Division helps relocating families in finding housing and providing orientation services. These orientations include a professionally guided tour to help introduce to newcomers stores, services, and places of interest that will help make their relocation easier. Colliers also offers a one-day cultural training program that introduces Indonesian culture, behaviour and values to the working expats and explains

anzaspotlight - sponsor look

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the differences in their home culture and Indonesian culture. This training helps expats work better with Indonesian teams in the office and offers best practices for communication, motivation, and office culture. 4. What are the exceptional challenges and opportunities to providing services to Jakarta’s expat community?

necessarily interested in fixing problems correctly the first time, but more concerned about what the repair is going to cost and finding the cheapest way to resolve the problem.

"Jakarta has a lot of opportunities and priviledges to offer an expat"

Our biggest challenge is managing expats’ expectations. If a family has lived overseas before, they understand that a posting overseas will be very different from living in their home country. If Indonesia is their first overseas-post, curbing the expectations is more challenging. The normal “minimal requirement” of expats in Jakarta is already far above the standard of living for most Indonesians. Often expatriates do not realize this. Many things that expats assume to be “normal” or “standard” are in fact luxury items or situations that many households do not normally have. Hot running water in all faucets, standard kitchen counter height, inside ovens, and adequate electrical capacity are uncommon in Indonesian households and require a pre-check prior to showing a home. In some cases, the expectation of the quality of a home does not meet expat standards. Typical complaints include imperfectly straight walls, non-standard stair height, aged and scuffed marble floors, or insufficient maid’s quarters. House construction in Indonesia often relies on simple tools and unskilled tradesmen; building codes and inspection standards are not met with the same scrutiny as in developed countries. Thus, there is often a gap between the reality and expectations. Often we need to explain the discrepancy. We also face challenges when things go wrong and workmen are needed. Many times unqualified workmen are called with limited skills and few or poor tools. Because the payment for typical workmen in Jakarta is low, the ability of standard workmen to fix or repair problems is sometimes disappointing; they will often use a hit-or-miss approach. Slow response times, a work ethic that normally involves frequent cigarettes breaks, and the expats’ inability to easily communicate with workers can combine to create a frustrated and upset expat. Landlords are not

5. What is needed to be successful in Jakarta?

In order to have a successful posting in Jakarta, you need a positive mindset, a sense of humour, patience and an adventurous attitude. It can be very easy to focus on all the negative things that exist in Jakarta. If that is what you see, then most likely you will hate your time here and want to go back to your home country as soon as possible. If, however, you realize that Jakarta has a lot of opportunities and privileges to offer an expat, then you can take full advantage of your situation. In many of the home countries that Jakarta’s expat come from, they would not have the option of drivers, household staff, ample free time for trailing spouses to do activities other than domestic chores, private tutors for lessons the hobbies at very reasonable rates, or access to homes, hotels and schools far above their home country’s standard. Being located in the Asia Pacific you have the ability to explore other parts of Indonesia and the neighbouring countries over a weekend or within reasonable flying times. Be adventurous and try things that otherwise would not be possible or far too expensive to really consider. On top of that, most Indonesians that you come in contact with are genuinely pleasant and welcoming. Being in the privileged expat community opens so many doors that you may not have otherwise experienced. Will things always go the way that you were expecting? No. For those times, you will need your sense of humour and patience. But, despite all the challenges of a posting in Jakarta presents, most of the families that Colliers helps to relocate to Jakarta, are sad to leave. I do hope you take advantage of your time here and build positive memories that you will remember long after you return to your home countries. ¿

is an ANZA GOLD SPONSOR. Visit https://www2.colliers.com/en for more info

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anzaspotlight - sponsor look

by Riesa Octavina, Asian Tigers Photos provided by Asian Tigers A tsunami struck the west coast of Java on Dec 22, 2018, at approximately 9pm after the eruption of the volcano Krakatoa. To date, 281 have been recorded as perished, 1,061 injured and 57 persons still missing. More than 600 homes, 69 hotels, 60 shops and some 420 boats were also damaged, along with dozens of cars and other vehicles. It was the largest eruption of the volcano since 1883, when it devastated the same coast line wiping away more than 36,000 Indonesians living on this Banten coast line. This stretch of coast is less then 2 hours from Asian Tigers Jakarta offices! Partnering with Habitat for Humanity Indonesia on Dec 30th, Asian Tigers were able to mobilize emergency shelter kits to evacuation camps to support immediate relief of the region. Many of our own team are from, and still have family, in this region. Reaching out and helping was truly looking after our own neighbours, families and friends and it was an honour to be in the position to offer a helping hand. Our rewarding relief effort also included listening to family victims and helping wherever we could, including repositioning items salvaged after the disaster. Smiles from victims that brought to life Habitat for Humanity’s slogan that, “Every Hand Makes a Difference”, which sisters truthfully to our own slogan that, “The Difference is that We Care”. ¿

is an ANZA GOLD SPONSOR. Visit https://www.asiantigers-mobility.com/ for more info

THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW ARE NOT BORN, THEY ARE MADE At TUTOR TIME, we continually review and update our curriculum that meets children aged 6 months to 6 years old’s needs, according to the latest educational research. Our teachers use it as a starting point to adapt the lessons to suit each child’s interest. By varying the lessons, children learn there are multiple ways to accomplish a goal, so when our children are stuck with something they have never encountered before, they choose to THINK instead of REMEMBER. Find out more about TUTOR TIME’s curriculum: www.tutortime.co.id

Tutor Time Centers: JAKARTA: Kemang, Ph: 7179 3139 • Pondok Indah, Ph: 7279 8185 • Kelapa Gading, Ph: 4587 7312, 4584 2795 • Pluit, Ph: 669 2513 • Intercon, Ph: 586 8544. TANGERANG Gading Serpong, Ph: 2222 2235. BANDUNG: (022) 250 0031. SURABAYA: (031) 731 6736. WORLDWIDE : Hong Kong, USA • www.tutortime.co.id, info@tutortime.co.id : tutortimeindonesia f : Tutor Time Indonesia

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mainevent

by Monica Smith, ANZA Berita Editor Photos provided by What's New Indonesia It was Waitangi and Australia Day so ANZA house did what any true blue Aussie would do—had some mates over for "sweet as barbie" and frothies. It was the first event of the year so members shared their new year’s greetings and recounted tales from great travel far and wide. The lack of beach was no challenge to our seasoned Jakarta set. The kids threw on their togs and played water games in the ANZA house pool. Flag waving and Strayan wine swilling were also among favorite activities of the day.

Thank you to our Event Sponsors!

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mainevent

by Michelle McCarthy, ANZA Sponsorship Coorindator Photos by Michelle McCarthy & Renee Clarke

On 14th February ANZA held a Valentine's Day Bogan Bingo. Decorated in purple and pink, beer bottle flower center pieces and flannel wearing participants, our revellers spent a few fun hours getting their game faces on at ANZA House.

Bailey's infused brownies donated by Sprinkles

We were lucky enough to find volunteers at ANZA Bronze Sponsor, Australian Independent School, to act as our Bogan Hosts and what a prize-worthy job they did in leading our pack of Bingo players through 6 rounds of Bingo, as well as air guitar and bogan dancing competitions. Thanks to Rosalie Cheese and Sprinkles for donating us a cheese platter and delicious Bailey’s infused brownies. Yum! A fun night for all and hope to see more players at our next games night! ¿

Cheese platter donated by Rosalie Cheese

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socialwelfare

At Taqwa Elementary School JAKARTA AQUARIUM ADVENTURE! By Louise Kennedy, Sylvia Joachim & Santi Arianti , ANZA Student Sponsorship Coordinator & Team Photos by Louise Kennedy & Jakarta Aquarium Images by canva.com

Year 5 & Year 6 students at Jakarta Aquarium

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the ANZA Student Sponsorship Program, the Year 5 & Year 6 students of At Taqwa Elementary School were treated to the school trip of a lifetime—a visit to the Jakarta Aquarium in Neo Soho Mall. The Jakarta Aquarium is part of the Taman Safari group and is presented in collaboration with Aquaria KLCC Malaysia. It offers an amazing family attraction, including the first indoor wildlife conservation facility, right in the centre of Jakarta. With many thanks yet again to the Blue Bird Group for their help with transportation, the students arrived at the Mall. They were greeted by the Aquarium staff, who took them around the Aquarium in small groups. Everyone had the chance to see and enjoy all the attractions, including the Touch Pool, the Pearl of the South Sea show and the 5D Theater Sea Explorer. The boys and girls had a fabulous time, learning about ecosystems and biodiversity, and getting up close to all the fish and animals. We know this will be a memory they will cherish forever! The Aquarium team then joined us back at the school a month later for our final "Magic & Mayhem" event—a big party to celebrate our anniversary. Josh the Magic Man was there and performed for the students, and the Aquarium team organised and ran some "edutainment" activities.

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The children were able to meet the Diver and try on Scuba gear. They had a go at using a blow dart for tranquilising animals that may need veterinary care, and met a huge Water Monitor Lizard and Madagascar Hissing Cockroach. There was even a wet-touch pool with starfish and sea cucumber for the children to see and touch.

Josh the Magic Man

Magic & Mayhem event to celebrate 30th anniversary of ANZA student sponsorship program

Thank you so much to Will Owens and his fantastic team at Jakarta Aquarium for bringing so much joy into the lives of so many children. If you haven't been to the Aquarium in Neo Soho Mall yet, we highly recommend it and suggest you go during the week or in the morning at the weekend (top tip: eat at the Pingoo restaurant and ask to feed the penguins!). It is a wonderful experience and we are sure you will want to go back again and again! Âż

Touch pool

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socialwelfare

Breakfast and Learning with Heart at...

Kampung Kids

Students enjoying lunch in Kampung Kids classroom

By Marjorie Rinckes, ANZA Social Weflare Team Photos by Marjorie Rinckes Yayasan Kampung Kids is an organisation formed by a group of expats and Indonesian citizens in South Jakarta in November 1999. The idea sprang from the expats and an aid worker who started the school in a house in South Jakarta in 1997. In addition to education, the school was offering free soup and fruit. Soon after its start, the number of children there escalated. In 1999, the school legally became Yayasan Kampung kids.

"The Kampung Kids mission is to give poor families a real chance to create a better future"

The philosophy of Kampung Kids is that it is necessary to do much more than feed hungry people to help them beat the poverty cycle. For example, the school educates parents on health and hygiene and providing education as well as nutrition to the neediest children. The Kampung Kids mission is to give poor families a real chance to create a better future. Four ANZA members, Rini, Gabriela, Indu and Marjorie volunteer at this small school, (in the pre-school) located in the middle of the Kampung in Kemang. We work alongside an Indonesian teacher Nawan, providing a morning programme of songs, alphabet recognition, worksheets relating to the morning’s mat time, either number work, shapes or alphabet/word work. We plan and provide resources for the hour-long lesson each Monday or Thursday, including songs in Bahasa and English,

Marjorie with Kampung Kids students

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words in Bahasa and English and some form of craft activity. It’s a lot to try and pack in an hour but so far, all the students enjoy it, and we enjoy working alongside Nawan also. We do have lots of fun!!!! We know all the mothers who come along with their children and either wait outside the classroom or are involved in assisting their children—this is a real bonus because they are all so friendly. We also provide small milk boxes and biscuits for the students as they leave after their session. Through the ANZA Social Welfare Committee, we have secured 10.3 million IDR for Kampung Kids over a six-month period. This money has been targeted for the feeding programme at Kampung Kids. David Adams, through the Priscilla Hall foundation has matched ANZA’s donation, further leveraging our social welfare funds. I launched a fundraising effort at my previous school in New Zealand,

where the students there raised an additional 7.3 million IDR for Kampung Kids. The Kampung school was grateful for the financial contribution, but also a donation of toys, games and play equipment donated by Alison Gee before she left to return to Australia. Kampung Kids has a big place in our hearts. We all love our mornings there and look forward to the small smiling faces greeting us as we arrive! They are always needing new volunteers to teach pre-school classes, so if you are interested and would like to come and have a look to see what the programme entails, please let me know. You would be most welcome to come and visit, Mondays at 9am to 10 am. Please contact socialwelfare@anzajakarta.com for additional information. ¿

"Through the ANZA Social Welfare Committee, we have secured 10.3 million IDR for Kampung Kids over a six-month period"

Students with toys donated by Alison Gee

Rini with Kampung Kids students

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socialwelfare

ANZA Medical Sponsorship Program

Yayasan Citra Baru by Ling Jin - ANZA Social Welfare Team Photos by Ling Jin & Yayasan Citra Baru The primary project of the ANZA’s Medical Sponsorship Program is Yayasan Citra Baru (YCB) - a local charity founded 30 years ago dedicated to help Indonesian children who suffer from cranio-facial malformations, tumours, and burns to receive needed reconstructive surgeries. Cranio-facial malformations is one of the most common birth defects in children. In Indonesia, those who were born with such conditions are often ostracised by their own communities due to their appearances and deprived of the opportunity to become high functioning members of the society. YCB has worked closely with a small team of experienced local surgeons to provide free medical assessments and surgeries to those in need. Since its founding in 1989, YCB has also developed a professional relationship with the Australian Craniofacial Foundation and the Australian Craniofacial Unit in Adelaide.

Waiting to be examined

Australian doctors and surgeons routinely visit Indonesia to assess the surgical requirements of the children. They regularly

identify children with more complex surgical needs that cannot be provided in Jakarta to be completed in Australia, which they do on a pro-bono basis. The ANZA has supported YCB for more than 15 years because YCB has demonstrated a high level of competence and professionalism. During that time, through our Medical Sponsorship Program (MSP), we have been matching individual donors to children that require life-changing cranio-facial surgeries. In addition, the ANZA has also provided direct donations to YCB over the years. 33 surgeries were paid by ANZA’s direct funds in 2018 alone. The ANZA Social Welfare Committee has also played an instrumental part in securing Australian government’s Direct Aid Program funding for YCB in 2018. This program will allow four patients with complex cranio-facial conditions to receive needed surgeries in Australia in 2019. With the funds that ANZA has provided to date, YCB has been able to not only perform the surgeries, but also provide follow- up care, travel expenses, and accommodation for both the patients and their carers. ¿ One of the patients sponsored by ANZA

Dr Bisono attending a patient at YCB

socialwelfare

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Yayasan Griya Asih Playground renovation supported by ANZA

by Lynda Suryadi, ANZA Social Welfare Team Photos by Lynda Suryadi & Yayasan Griya Asih

Kids warming up for exercise on their newly renovated court

Yayasan Griya Asih, situated in Cempaka Putih Barat, Central Jakarta, is a foundation that raises and empowers abandoned and street children. It is the home of 52 children, aged between 6-18 years old, who come from different parts of Indonesia, of different ethnic groups and of different religious beliefs.

Additionally, ANZA has also sponsored 52 umbrellas for the children. Now, we can all rest assured, knowing that the children will not be walking home from school soaking wet during this rainy season. Every child has an umbrella to carry.Âż

However, each of them shares a similar situation of having been abandoned. The children receive adequate shelter, meals, education, other daily necessities and more importantly, much-needed enrichment for their future. Lead by Bapak Alex Suwardi, the chairperson, they are nurtured in various aspects of life, including physical exercise to stay healthy, and to develop their passion for playing sports. ANZA, together with Priscilla Hall Memorial Foundation, was very happy to have been able to provide a newly renovated court for the children to exercise, play on, and practice for their games in a safer setting. The court now has a smooth freshly coloured surface, safety fences on two sides where needed, line markings for basketball, futsal, and badminton, new basketball ring poles, and also a levelled surface area surrounding it. The construction of this co-funded project commenced in early December 2018 and took two weeks to complete, making it a perfect Christmas present for the residents, just in time for them to enjoy it during the school break. Special thanks to Bapak Suwarjo, the builder, for his generosity in doing extra work to perfect the project at no extra charge. Two children with their new umbrellas sponsored by ANZA

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socialwelfare

Before Renovation of Yayasan Griya Asih Playground...

During Renovation....

After Renovation!

"ANZA, together with Priscilla Hall Memorial Foundation, was very happy to have been able to provide a newly renovated court for the children"

aroundthedurian

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STAYING SAFE WHEN IT'S NOT by Monica Smith, ANZA Berita Editor Images from canva.com

Last year in Jakarta, I experienced my first ever earthquake. I recall the window shaking and thinking the wind was unusually strong. When the floor warped, I thought, “now wait, wind doesn’t move the floor!!” My experience was pretty tame compared to my friends who lived in high rises whose homes started swinging around wildly in the sky. Since moving here in 2017, my first earthquake was only one of a handful of natural disasters—volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and landslides— that have hit Indonesia. In the wake of the Anak Krakatau tsunami, I wondered how we as expat travelers can manage and avoid these crises. I spoke with security experts and compiled a short list of tips:

118 110

113

All Services

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1. Always have a plan. Know how to meet your family or get home. Cell phones can be unreliable in remote areas, during crises, and in foreign countries. 2. Memorize your spouse and/or emergency contact’s number. Keeping a list of printed contacts in your wallet can be a god-send. PSA: put your driver’s number in your wallet; yes, the vacation driver too. 3. Keep your supplies up! That is, don’t run your cell phone battery all the way down; keep a charger on hand; keep a snack and some water on hand; and don’t spend out all of your cash before getting more. 4. Know where the closest police stations and hospitals are. 5. Know where YOU are. Know the major cross streets and landmarks near your villa or hotel. Print out small google maps with your itinerary, which will save Internet headaches and be on hand in case of emergency. 6. Always check news in your destination before traveling. I’ve known people stuck in traffic for many hours because landslides that took place the day before. 7. Check with your hotel about local emergency phone numbers and keep your hotel number on hand. The Indonesian integrated emergency services number is 112. Police can be reached at 110. You can also contact your home country’s embassy for assistance. 8. Learn emergency Bahasa. The ANZA beginner Bahasa classes are a great place to start. ¿

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aroundthedurian

SETTLING IN to a new country

by Erika Zechner - ANZA member image from canva.com and give your body all the support it needs.

After moving from an 11-year stay in the UK to Malaysia, and now on to Jakarta, I felt the need to share some tips around my experience so that these may help anyone who is planning to move country.

Before you Move Visit first: Visit your new country before deciding to move. Many large corporations these days insist that, when a job offer in a foreign country has been accepted; both husband and wife are flown in for an “inspection tour.” Many companies wish to avoid employees quitting their jobs prematurely. A visit can give you both an indication on whether you will be happy to live and work in the new country. It can also save you months of misery because of unfulfilled expectations and possibly your marriage/relationship which can rupture under the strain of one partner loving the new home whilst the other would even swim home to get away. Cultural Awareness: Attend a cultural awareness session or do some research on the culture of your destination. Talk to people who are based out there or who have recently lived there. Be aware of the negatives, but don’t let these cloud your own judgement. People’s perceptions and experiences in a place can be so misleading at times so listen to their advice, but go with an open mind. Enjoy the process: If you are lucky enough to have professional movers helping you with your beloved belongings, then leave the packing to them. If you are like me and you can’t help but get involved, then go ahead, roll up your sleeves and get into it. I found it somewhat therapeutic packing certain items away and labelling the boxes. Immune System: De-stress, meditate, stock up on multivitamins. Do everything you can to keep your immune system working at optimal levels. For most people, moving and change are extremely stressful—especially moving to a new country. This is a huge experience crammed with worries and surprises. It doesn’t mean that things have to go wrong for the stress to manifest. The simple upheaval of packing and moving to a new and strange environment is sufficient. Therefore, find healthy ways to release the built up tension

Leaving people behind: Moves are also extremely exciting and full of adventure. They can be just what you need if you feel your life has fallen into a dissatisfactory routine. If you happen to be moving to an exotic country, you will be envied by your friends and family. Some of your family may be full of warnings about how dangerous your new home is. Others may have visited the place in the past (like 20 years ago!) and will describe things to you that may no longer exist. Others will share in your excitement and others may become cool towards you because of a mix of envy and sadness that they won’t have you nearby anymore. Take all of this as a given, part and parcel, for when it comes to leaving others behind. Knowing this will help you with your transition.

Arrival Don’t judge yourself: We all can be too harsh on ourselves at times. If your move is supposed to be exciting and full of adventure and you find yourself feeling low and depressed; don’t worry. This can be one of the emotions you experience. You are in a foreign place, with few or no friends, unfamiliar surroundings, possibly a language is spoken that you don’t understand. I struggled with this myself. Our move was to an exotic country, warm weather, blue skies, modern condominium with a luxurious pool, all the mod cons of modern living, English spoken and tropical, lush vegetation mixed with modern skyscrapers. Our dreams had literally come true. After I arrived, self criticism reared its head for two reasons: I had a lot of more free time as I was no longer working and was trying to live up to an obviously flawed expectation that my new life should equal continuous joy and happiness. As with all dream destinations there are pluses and minuses so take these in your stride. Relationships: Moving abroad can often mean spouses or families have to spend time apart when one of the family moves first to the new destination. This time apart can strengthen relationships or can cause others to break up. Some relationships fall prey to “Asian Syndrome” — when western men are continuously approached and propositioned by single Asian women regardless of whether the man is married or not. Communication is key; talk to each other and if need be hire a relationship coach. Do all you can to save what you have. If that fails, then maybe the move simply uncovered a relationship that wasn’t solid after all, and you both are better off apart. Either way get professional help, as an outsider can bring some real clarity and solution to a very emotional situation. Life coaches are a great help! Health: A new climate brings with it new bacteria and viruses therefore, it is imperative that you keep up your immune system and health in tip top condition. Children tend to catch things at school as is normal in every country, but you can give yours a helping hand by giving them cod liver oil.

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Women can also get infections in humid climate easier than back home where the winter tends to kill of most bacteria. Don’t be embarrassed if you suddenly get thrush or a urinary infection. These are apparently quite common in the expat community in tropical climates, and they are not linked to sexually transmitted diseases. Be careful of mosquitoes and take precautions to avoid getting bitten. Mosquitoes carry malaria or dengue fever. Be gentle on your stomachs and don’t be too adventurous in the beginning with local food. On arrival, register with a good and recommended doctor. These can be found via an international company called International SOS. They also provide emergency medical cover as well as evacuation services in case of a severe emergency. Fung Shui: If you practice Fung Shui, then you will know that energies of a certain place and of certain configurations can mean prosperity or doom. Moving house and country will unsettle all energies, so you need to ride the anxiety and excitement of being in limbo and allow the energies to settle once you have un-packed and re-created your home. Be patient and kind to yourself during the whole process and know that any change unsettles the ego. When the ego is unsettled, you feel vulnerable and your emotions act like an elevator: going up and then down. Feeling homesick and craving certain foods from back home are just reminders that you are out of your comfort zone and long to be back where you were last comfortable. Know that this is normal and that you are not the only one who is going through this. Beware of Idle Time: If you are or become a “trailing wife” beware of idle time! Excuse the expression but “trailing wife” is the name given to wives who give up their career to follow their husbands abroad. Some spouse-dependent visas do not allow the other partner to work in the new country. Therefore trailing wives have to become creative in learning ways to fill in time. Idle time is particularly menacing for people like me, who were career women, with regular, cutthroat routines and without any kids. Going from a stressful career that consumes your waking hours (and sometimes your sleeping hours as well) to having time to do absolutely anything you want, is total bliss at first! Yet after some time it can lead to boredom and surprisingly feelings of inadequacy. This is of course not true for the highly organised, goal focused, fearless women out there who plan exactly what they will be doing with “their spare time.” But for those of you who took an initial break and just wanted to see what came up, I have jotted down some ideas below of things you could try.

Things to try 1. Network and make new friends. Get out there and say yes to every invitation you get in the beginning. Everybody needs support so get out there and meet some incredible people. You may even make friends for life in your new country. 2. Explore your new city, new country. Really enjoy your new surroundings. Pace yourself though. I went into overdrive and did all the city sites in my second week whilst undergoing root canal treatment in 2 of my teeth. By week 6,

I was ill in bed. 3. Pursue forgotten desires. Use the time to do all of those things you always wanted to do, such as learning new hobbies or skills, bucket list items, studying, starting a business, pursuing fitness goals, traveling, volunteering or starting a blog. 4. Pamper yourself. Massages, manicures, shopping and sunbathing spring to mind. For most women this is a dream come true. Others however, be warned. There are only so many massages and shopping sprees you can do before your mind screams: “What next? There must be more to life than this?!” 5. Start a family. This is a route many people take especially in countries where a maid is part and parcel of the culture and living costs and school fees are more affordable or are sometimes included in the contract of employment. In addition, housing tends to be more spacious than back home, so a spare bedroom or 2 is standard. I have heard that cities like Bangkok offer such excellent maternity services that people return there to deliver each of their children. 6. Meditation. Start practicing regularly. Even if you think meditation isn’t for you, this may be one of the best times to give it a try. All who do swear by it.

Expat life Once you have settled in, enjoy the expat lifestyle. You will find all sorts of networks and magazines that offer expats information and opportunities for social events. If you Google the word expatriate you will find a host of sites offering all sorts of information specific to your country. Moving country is a great opportunity, one which many do not get to experience. You may even get hooked like some friends of mine and move country every 2 years! The 1st move may be the most unsettling one for you. Once you have the hang of it though and start to enjoy what the different countries can offer you in experience, lifestyle, career and business opportunities, you may never look back again. You may even start to wonder why some people stay in the same country for years and never leave. They really don’t know what they are missing! Enjoy and good luck! ¿ Erika Zechner Blueprint Five Ltd Culture Consultant and Executive Coach Erika is a Kenyan-Austrian who has had the privilege of living and working in 5 countries. This unique experience coupled with her diverse cultural background has given Erika many insights into living and working with different cultures. "I really love empowering people to not only be successful in what they do but to also encourage in them a different approach and a different perspective to life and work by discovering their true blueprint!”. As a certified NLP Master Practitioner by the ITS in London, Erika has found her vehicle for doing what she loves best: helping individuals and companies achieve their goals in a holistic and sustainable manner.

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destination

Celebrating Australia and New Zealand! A COLLECTION OF GREAT DESTINATIONS

Photos by Lauren Adams, Leah Thompson, canva.com and backpackerguide.nz Australia has so much to offer: endless beaches, long treks, clean and well-planned cities and long drives through beautiful countryside. To distill the country into just a few highlighted destinations is nearly impossible. Even at each of the major regions, it’s difficult to narrow down to just one particular noteworthy site, because Australia is choc a bloc with dardy spots.

Denmark, Western Australia by Lauren Adams Perth is said to be the most isolated city in the world, but can be reached in less than 5 hours from Jakarta. Go beyond the usual tourist destinations of Margaret River, Dunsborough and Busselton and explore the beautiful offerings of Western Australia’s South Coast – Denmark in particular – located 4.5 hours drive from Perth. It is a stunning location to spend a few days with a young or growing family. Known for its spectacular coastline – Elephant Rock and Greens Pool (perfect for little swimmers as it is actually a shallow natural pool surrounding by plenty of smooth large rocks for those that love to climb) - Denmark’s mild climate, laid back pace and various attractions make for a relaxing holiday in the great outdoors. There are a number of local parks and cycling paths, canoeing or paddling along Denmark river, an outbound course and horse riding as well as a cuddly animal farm where little ones can get up close and feed baby kangaroos (joeys). Not to mention a number of delicious award winning wineries and restaurants, local preserves, handcrafted artisan chocolate and numerous berry farms. We found many of the wineries to be absolutely kid friendly (with our 18 month old in tow), with the Boston Brewing Co specifically catering to families with an outdoor and indoor playground on site.

Tasmania, Australia by Monica Smith Tasmania is covered in gorgeous and unique landscapes and cultural offerings. There are many ferries available around the island that can take you to even more remote and beautiful islands, such as Bruney or Maria (pronounced Mar-eye-a) Islands. There are even ferries available to the Museum of Old and New Art—a very unique and provocative museum that looks like the sinister brainchild of Salvador Dali and Batman. And of course, there’s the food. It’s so good. And to go to a farmer’s market to buy berries and honey feels like such a luxury after our overly urbanized lives in Jakarta.

destination - indonesia

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Brisbane, Australia by Anna Cox With several days to explore Brisbane, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary was at the top of my list. It was a joy to see the adorable koalas resting, eating, and playing in the fresh eucalyptus branches. Informative talks are held throughout the day. The sanctuary also cares for other animals, with kangaroos, wombats, platypuses and Tasmanian devils being highlights for me.

Sydney, Australia by Leah Thompson My favourite part about Sydney is that there’s so much natural beauty within a bustling city. A perfect day in Sydney for me would start with shopping in the CBD, whilst enjoying the street performances and delicious food. From there it’s only a short walk over to the stunning Botanic Gardens which leads straight through to the Sydney Opera House. There you can enjoy a drink at the Opera Bar with the best view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and even take a scenic ferry ride over to the Taronga Zoo or Luna Park. If you’re really adventurous you can sign up for the Harbour Bridge Climb, too. Darling Harbour is within walking distance and is popular as a lunch and dinner spot but also has an aquarium, Madame Tussaud’s, Powerhouse Museum and a wonderful outdoor kids playground. Sydney also has so many beautiful beaches, the most popular of which is Bondi. Nearby is Bronte Beach which is better suited to young kids. Tourists and locals alike love the famous ‘Bondi to Bronte walk’ which is a 3.5km scenic coastal walk between these two beaches.

Waitamo, New Zealand

Taupo, New Zealand

by Weslyna Griffith

by Weslyna Griffith

Under the green hills of Waitomo lies a labyrinth of caves, sinkholes and underground rivers. The area's name comes from the Maori words wai (water) and tomo (hole). The magnet of this area are the glowworms that make these caves their homes.

In Taupo lies the infamous lake that is the size of Singapore, going around the lake itself will allow you to immerse in ancient Maori carvings and while you’re doing that, you might as well take a cool dip in the lake. The water in the lake is fresh enough to drink from but Taupo is near so many other attractions in and around.

It’s a spectacular sight and has visitors mesmerised in their wonder. There are a wide range of tours available to go view these special worms from a tranquil family boat ride to spelunking through underground rivers and caves.

Visit a traditional Maori village just a 15 min drive away and learn about Maori traditions, indulge in their traditional way of cooking by the hangi method. Rotorua is also only an hour away and has several beautiful hot springs. ¿

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destination

My Batak Adoption and Wedding by Leah Thompson - ANZA Berita designer

I married my husband, Luthfi, a Batak Indonesian man, three and a half years ago in an Australian civil service followed by a bigger ceremony in Bali. Not long after, we had our son Marcus (3 years old) and then moved here to Jakarta. Since then, we have travelled to my husband’s family’s “kampung” (home village) in Lake Toba, Sumatra, several times and we were encouraged to have our traditional wedding in the village.

"Ulos" being wrapped around me by my adoptive parents

Now, something important to note is that the traditional village rules only allow a Batak person to marry another Batak person. The modern way around this is for a non-Batak to be “adopted” (in a traditional sense) into a Batak family. So, the first step in this process was to find a family willing to “adopt” me. The Batak do not take this lightly and really treat their new child as family and often even include them in their will. I met my new adoptive parents and instantly we were like family. We spent some time getting to know them and meeting their relatives whilst my husband’s family and other people in the village planned out the ceremonies.

Guests greeting us with offerings of rice on their heads

Along with taking my new family’s last name, I was also given a Batak first name. So now in the village I go by Rotua Boru Siahaan. I didn’t realise how seriously this would be taken until all of the flower boards and signs had only that name on it! Typically, there would be an adoption ceremony taking one day, a wedding taking up to a week and another ceremony

Our son fell asleep just before he received his "ulos"

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to celebrate the grandchild. Instead, we made this all into a one-day ceremony. When the day arrived, this past January, I went into it blindly, but excited. I got up at 3:30am for some extravagant hair and makeup, put on my beautiful, but very uncomfortable skirt and kebaya, and shuffled my way over to the ceremony location with my son, my mum and my dad (who had flown in for this day). The adoption ceremony included my new “uncles” handfeeding me fish and rice as well as sprinkling uncooked rice in their and my hair. This was followed by my adoptive parents wrapping me in a special blanket called an “ulos” and giving out money and food to everyone that attended. My real parents also got a little moment to shine with a mini speech and a special ulos for them too. After this, we continued on to the wedding ceremony. Whilst the adoption ceremony had only around 50 attendees, the wedding had a thousand. We shook hands with each and every one of the guests as they entered with bags of rice on their head, and then we all sat to watch some dance performances. As is custom, the husband’s side of the family sits facing the wife’s side of family to demonstrate their service and gratitude to them. The seating is an intricate hierarchy, and it can be easy to offend someone by not respecting them with the proper seating arrangement.

One of the most special moments was having each family group wrap my husband and me in an “ulos” (blanket) that they had bought for us. This is a really special symbol that demonstrates our unity as a couple, as well as expressing the family’s approval of our marriage and well wishes to us. Our son, Marcus, was also given a mini ulos, but he was asleep in my arms for it! I also had to carry an offering of cash over my head to give to my adoptive father, and at the end of the ceremony, we again shook hands and/or kissed the cheeks of all of the guests. As Australians, it was very interesting for myself, my mum and my dad to learn all about the Batak culture that I'm now a part of, and although exhausting, it was a really special day that in the moment felt even more important and monumental than our actual wedding day. ¿

My parents and us at the end of the celebration

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS Get involved with ANZA Social Welfare We are currently looking for Project Coordinators and Volunteer Teachers KNOW SOMEONE  WHO'S INTERESTED? Contact socialwelfare@anzajakarta.com

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lastnote

TOP 10

Fun things to do in Jakarta !

by Monica Smith Images from canva.com

cheap. There are fancy blended drinks available. Popcorn and candy don’t feature the movie mark-up. If you’re lucky, you can even go to the “Premiere” theatre featuring lounging seats and blankets. The usher also carries your food and drink order to your personal table.

4. Take a hike in the mangrove forest

1. Join ANZA! Of course this should go without saying, but truly the activities, events and friends that you can find at ANZA make every day more fun.

2. Car Free Sundays

Every Sunday from 6 to 11 a.m., Jalan Sudirman and Jalan Thamrin are closed to all drivers. Bikers, runners, and walkers are welcome and the air quality is much, much better than usual. There are sometimes other streets that are open on occasion and last year, car-free Sunday was cancelled during Idul Fitri. So it never hurts to double-check that the event is still on for your weekend of choice. The walk at Sudirman starts from the Youth Advancement Monument (aka the pizza man statue at Senayan). Parking is available at the Panin Bank Building and under the McDonald’s across from Plaza Senayan.

3.Go to the movies

Perhaps an obvious suggestion, but going to the movies in Jakarta is really fun. Tickets are

There are many hikes in Bogor featuring waterfalls and long arduous drives home. While that kind of trip is worth doing during your stay in Jakarta, there is a gorgeous place inside the city limits—Taman Wisata Alam at Angke Kaput. This park has a minimal entry fee, but there is a high fee for photography given the number of couples who go there for wedding photography. There are paved trails and many small “boardwalks” (planks on the water) that make for fun adventures weaving through the mangroves.

5. Make some pottery There are many pottery places within the Jakarta city limits, but the Widayanto Cermanic House in Depok City is worth the trip. There is a Widayanto within Jakarta as well, but the place in Depok City is such a departure. Once you enter the place, you feel like you’re in Bali with lush green gardens, a waterfall and beautiful architecture on the grounds. The pottery for purchase is beautiful as well. They offer moulds that enable you to make some very nice pottery in a short period of time. There is also a very good restaurant on site. Lunch and pottery are only 235,000 per person.

6.Taman Mini Indonesia Don’t be fooled by the name. There is nothing “Mini” about this place. While many of the attractions are in disrepair, there are hidden gems here if you know where to look. Many of the museums such as the transport museum and botanical garden are quite fun. There are life-size replicas of many cultural homes with activities and performances. You can check online in advance to see when and where the programs will be held. Tip: Don’t think that the train is a viable option for getting around the park. Many of the stations are defunct, and the train is in disrepair. The cable car is round-trip only. The park is large enough that driving is needed to reach many of the places there. So if you don’t have a car, you may want to ask your cab driver to stay on hand for you.

7.Visit Old Batavia In an area called Kota Tua or Old Town, there are definitely fun excursions to be had. There are brightly painted bikes decorated with flowers that you can rent to ride around Fatahillah Square. Within the square is the Wayang Museum. You can request a tour guide at the entrance, which is worthwhile because there is little interpretation throughout the museum and less-so in English. I went off to a puppet workshop around the corner, Makutharama Puppet Studio, to see puppet making and a short performance; however, I’d only do this if you’re looking to purchase a puppet. Eating at Cafe Batavia is expensive, but it is good and makes you feel like an extra in Rick’s Cafe in the movie Casablanca.

8. Luxury experiences

There are so many luxurious experiences available in Jakarta that are available at a fraction of the price we would pay back home. Spas, very nice restaurants, and five star hotels are abundant in central Jakarta. Some hotels offer spacious gardens and pool areas that you can enjoy all weekend for booking a Saturday night.

9.Mall Plazas Is it ever possible to do Jakarta without the mall? The malls have great activities in them that change frequently. I personally have stumbled across a free batik class, a live Mary Poppins performance, many live music performances, snow play areas and many other surprises as part of many malls’ weekend offerings. Going to the mall is much more than going shopping.

10. Pondok Indah Water Park

Living in South Jakarta, I find this park quite convenient. I also find its small size quite a blessing. There are no lines. You and your kids can ride everything in less than 2 hours. Tip: if it's a sunny day, the ground gets steaming hot and they don’t permit swim shoes—so go early and have lunch at the mall. ¿

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