How Indonesia Culture Is Highly Appreciated By International Communities

Indonesia is more than rich to consider as "Land of Paradise". Indonesia have everything in their land. Here's why:

1. Tropical climate which only have two season every year (summer and rainy)
2. The location which located between three continents Asia, Australia, and Oceania
3. The biggest island country in the world with more than 17,000 islands
4. Indonesia's natural resources is very rich. The soil is very fertile, very good for planting herbs. This because Indonesia have 400 mountains, 100 of them still active, and at least once a year there's explosion from one of those volcanoes. Under sea natural resources is also rich since Indonesia is maritime country with 2,500 fish species and 500 coral are living under sea of Indonesia.
5. Indonesia isn't only rich of natural resources, but also rich of ethnicity, languages, and religion. According to Indonesia Statistic Center (BPS) data, in 2013, the total of ethnicity in Indonesia is 633 ethnic groups. Each ethnic groups have their own uniqueness in their cultures, languages, and customs. It makes Indonesia is rich or art and culture such as traditional music, traditional dance, and religion.
6. Seven of Indonesia cultures are recognized by UNESCO as Intangible World Cultural Heritage. Those are:

• Wayang puppet show (2008) 

• Indonesia Kris (2008)

• Indonesia Batik (2009) 

• Indonesia Angklung (2010)

• Saman Dance from Gayo Tribe (2011)

• Noken multifuncitonal knotted or woven bag, handcraft of the people of Papua (2012)

• Three genres of traditional Bali dance (2015)

Barong and Keris Dance

Sanghyang Dance

Baris Upacara Dance

There are still more than what I mentioned above. With everything that Indonesia have, unfortunately, the Indonesian itself isn't really care. I don't even think they know that there are seven Indonesia culture which recognized by UNESCO as Intangible World Cultural Heritage. The natural resources is only use for making profit but only few Indonesian who care about sustainability of Indonesia natural resources.

Why this could be happen?

Honestly, I don't understand the answer. What I know and see is, most of Indonesian, especially young generation, is too crazy with other countries' culture, particularly Western and Eastern. Especially, nowadays, the massive growth of technology makes easier to catch up with foreign cultures. They think it's cool to follow foreign cultures. They think they're follow new era (or in Indonesia slank, it's said "kekinian" or "gaul").

Okay, let me tell you (Indonesian) what cool is! (See Gallery)

If Indonesia culture isn't really appreciated in Indonesia, let's see how Indonesia cultures in overseas.

This is only my personal experience during my study in Japan, in Ritsumeikan APU. I'm sure another Indonesian who study abroad like me have similar experience about how Indonesia culture give huge impact to International communities.

Ritsumeikan APU is International university owned by Ritsumeikan University Kyoto. The location is on the top of Jumonjibaru Hill, Beppu, Japan. According to APU Data Book, total there are 85 countries represented by current students, 49.5% is International students. So, it's enough to call APU as "Small World" because its multicultural environment.

Every year, there is a special event called Indonesian Week. It's part of APU event called Multicultural Week. So for one week, the chosen countries have opportunity to represent their cultures for one week and usually finished by Grand Show event. Indonesia is one of the chosen country who have opportunity to show their culture and make "Indonesia atmosphere" in APU campus.

From 2011 to 2015, I always participating in Indonesian week event, particularly in grand show and other performance team. This is the event where I realize that how rich my country and how Indonesia culture is highly appreciated by International community.

The participant of performers in Indonesian week event, whether it's daily or grand show event, are International students. Every year Indonesian week performance team is fully registered by Japanese and International students. It's surprising me at first, how International students are exciting to join Indonesian week. As Indonesian students, we teach participant from Japan and overseas students to dance or play or sing Indonesian culture. That's how we show the richness of Indonesia art and culture.

When Indonesian week start, Opening parade show is full of audiences. Indonesian corner is always full for one day, everybody keeps coming to the corner of APU cafeteria to taste Indonesia snacks, wear Indonesia traditional clothes and take a picture, and get souvenir from Indonesia for free. On the other side of APU cafeteria, Indonesia ethnic food is always sold out. Nasi Goreng is our main menu, and everybody wants to line up for Nasi Goreng even before ethnic food corner is open. Usually, it's already sold out before 1pm.

On Grand Show day, people already lined up from 2 pm even the show start at 6:30 pm. They keep line up, waiting for such a long time, and people keep coming until the line become very long. When the show start, I can hear the audiences' excitement from their applause and scream. This is why I love performing in Indonesian week grand show. After grand show, everybody is so happy, some of participants and audiences want to join next year, some of them wanna visit Indonesia someday, and some of them wanna be 'Indonesian' (they tried to speak Indonesian and act like Indonesian). 

Before I come to APU, I hate Indonesia because problems in everywhere, no solution, and nobody care about Indonesia. But after join Indonesian week in APU for 4 years, I realize that deep inside my heart, I love Indonesia so much. I never see and know that International communities in APU like Indonesia so much. 

I didn't expect that represent Indonesia culture IS COOL!!!! Call myself as Indonesian makes me proud. I didn't know people from Japan, Africa, Europe, and America, they appreciate our art and culture. It's totally different from what I see in Indonesia. They think INDONESIA CULTURE IS COOL!!!! It makes them wanna visit Indonesia and getting know more about Indonesia culture.

So, hey you Indonesia young generation, open your eyes! Wake up hey Wake up! Your country's culture is COOL MEN!!! And you still not so proud to be young generation from the most rich country in the world??? Are you still consider that foreign cultures that you like is SUPERIOR THAN INDONESIA CULTURE???? OH C'MON, THINK AGAIN MEN!!!

If International community is highly appreciate and respect Indonesia culture, HOW COME INDONESIA ITSELF DON'T APPRECIATE THEIR OWN CULTURE??? 

It's not too late now! Let's raise Indonesia art and culture to the top of the world. If we unite each other, I'm sure we can make it. Nothing Impossible. If APU Indonesian students can make International communities love Indonesia culture, then we can also do it in the real world.

For non-Indonesian reader, from now, you will see the real Indonesia in my blog page and YouTube Channel. There will be four category which are art and culture (seni), tourism cite (jalan-jalan), culinary (makan-makan), and society (orang-orang).

Let me close this article with song lyrics about Indonesia that I translate into English.

"It's not an ocean but Milk Pool. People said our land is "Land of Paradise"" (Koes Ploes - Kolam Susu)

"It's sweet like a sugar. Just like our land, Indonesia.There are so many tribes and cultures. There are Java, Sumatra, and Papua. Everything is here. Live in harmony and peace" (Pujiono - Manisnya Negeriku)

"The forest is dense like my hair, the mountain is high like my heart, the sea is large like my soul, the nature is friendly like my smile" (Koes Ploes - Nusantara)