You've been searching for the answer. You've been wondering. It's ok, we all have. We all want to know just what really represents the cultural heritage of Indonesia for the rest of the world. Is it a game like hockey or baseball? Is it a fashion statement like the kimono or the kilt? Maybe it is a food . . . a kimchi, a lasagna, or warenecki? What really sets Indonesia apart from the rest of the huddled masses? Well . . .
. . . you guessed it: its shadow puppets. You might be asking yourself: how is it that a nation built on shadow puppetry has not yet managed to rule the world? It's a mystery my friend, but one me and my philosophy class tried to unlock on our field trip to the Wayang Museum of Indonesia last Friday [wayang is the Indonesian word for shadow puppet]. I can definitely say that I have never been to a museum quite like this before. The wayang here is either Arjuna or Bima. I can say that with confidence because, judging from what I picked up from our legitimately awesome and knowledgeable guide Didit, pretty much every wayang is either Arjuna or Bima . . . or a member of Team America World Police [yup, these are authentic Indonesian cultural treasures].
Anyway, we had a great class trip and enjoyed the museum. One the way, we stopped at 7-11 [there are only 6 in Indonesia, so it makes a cool stop] and Kari gave me a stern look when I said to one of my students: "Boy, let's you and me hop out here and get the Slurpees." She said that it was really rude to address him like that; but then I told her that his name actually is 'Boy'. Take that Kari. Here is Kari's hair and Boy, staring lovingly at his first ever Slurpee. He said it 'almost makes him forget his home town'. If they had a sweet potato flavoured one I think I could get him to move to Canada.
So, long story short, next week in class we are going to be talking about how Plato's allegory of the cave in the Republic is basically just Indonesian wayang set in a Greek context. The only difference might be that Plato says we spend our whole lives watching the wayang instead of trying to discover what is really real; the wayang show itself actually only lasts ten hours [!!]. Oh, and we also got gamelan lessons, and Blaise was a natural. Keep in mind that the gamelan playing also lasts ten hours (Didit only let us mess around for 15 minutes) but at the end I think you get to see Arjuna fight Bima.
Also this weekend was graduation. We had a joint graduation between my school (Jaffray Seminary Jakarta) and our sister school (The Foundation for Christian Counselling). It was really cool to see all the grads come through and get their diploma, especially so now that I have had so many in class and got to know them a little bit. I am really proud of our grads, and really proud to be a part of a school that is committed to shaping leaders, teachers, pastors, and counsellors in their work here in Indonesia. Being a part of an event like this is a great reminder of how really worthwhile (hopefully) all that theological class prep and grading really is. Great job grads and great job organising committee! [ . . . and next time can I get one of those killer medals?]
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