I grew up in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. Jakarta is a miniature of Indonesia since you can find various Indonesia’s ethnic groups in this city. I am a product of mix-marriage ethnic background. Understanding my cultural background is my long ‘secret’ search for identity. In my elementary school, I have a teacher who liked to ask the students to raise their hands when responding to the same questions about our original ethnicity. “Who are Javanese? Who come from Padang? Whose parents from Batak?” Nearly of my schoolmates’ parents come from the same ethnic group that they can easily classify their original ethnicity by referring to their parents’ ethnic identity. I never raised my hand since I did not know who I am. One of my friends suggested me to choose one of two. “How about Manadonese? We already have many Javanese in our classroom. There is not a Manadonese yet. If you choose Manadonese, it would make our classroom complete”. It was a good suggestion, wasn’t it? But, I said I could not because it would be unfair for my parents. In addition, I am not both Javanese and Manadonese since I did not know their culture. I look like neither a Manadonese nor Javanese. I cannot even speak the languages. My parents never taught me their language. If language and physical features can be considered as visible ethnic identity, I did not have them. I look more Chinese and only speak Bahasa Indonesia. Since that, I tried to learn about my parents’ language by my own observation.
My identity search ended when my college friend gave me a new perspective. Instead of choosing one ethnic group, I am actually part of both Java and Manado. He said “I only know Sundanese culture since my parents are Sundanese and I grow up in Sundanese area. You are luckier than me because you have two cultural roots and live in a multicultural neighborhood. You have chance to learn and understand many cultures.”
