Answer 'probably not'. I was watching the ABC quiz show 'Einstein Factor' this afternoon. On this show they have a 'brains trust' of three regular experts, plus three contestants. One of the questions both groups were asked was 'Which country is Borobudur in?' Choices were A Cambodia, B Indonesia, C Malaysia. Not one of the six got the correct answer.
On another aspect of ignorance, the Australian Government has just advertised its latest round of scholarships for languages teachers to undertake immersion programs. Chinese teachers go to China, Arabic teachers go to Jordon, but if anyone applies for the study of Indonesian, they get to go to Darwin. Many of you may not have thought that daily conversations on the streets of Darwin are in Indonesian, but apparently the Australian Education Foundation, on behalf of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations considers this to be the case. Yes, it's our old friend the Government travel warning, which rates Indonesia as more dangerous than Israel or South Africa (I heard that Johannesburg has the highest crime rate in the world, can anyone tell me if that's true?).
Comments
I do agree if it is said that a lot of Australians do not understand Indonesia thoroughly. Really, it is an irony. Meanwhile, Indonesia factually is the nearest largest Country of Australia.
In 2005 I had an experience living in Cairns, Queensland-Australia for 6 months. Over there, I got an awareness that many Australians don't recognize exactly what kind of Country Indonesia is.
Indonesia is the biggest archipelago in the world. It consists of 17.000 islands. There are so abundant traditional and modern events, cultures, religion rites, unique traditions, languages, delicious food and local costumes. This Country is a home of 240 million people of various ethnics and races.
Indonesia also has more than 12 metropolitan cities which population is over 1 million. According to City Mayors, Jakarta is the fourth largest city on earth after Seoul, Sao Paulo and Bombay. Nowadays, its population is around 10 million.
More and more the amount of middle class citizens grows significantly and steadily in this Country and, as well as, the high ones. Furthermore, the economy sector grows positively and prospectively.
Recently, it belongs to one of the largest economies among 20 in the world. That is why Indonesia becomes the member of G-20 association. Its GDP is recorded approximately $ 600.000 and its GDP per capita reach to over
$ 4000 by 2009 ( according to World Bank and IMF).
Indonesia is also used as the home base of so many multinational companies. There are a lot of international outstanding firms, companies and factories scaterring around this archipelago. Indonesia also has more than 1000 universities, academies and colleges. It is easy to find large and modern malls, plazas, shopping centres, hotels, hospitals and banks here, not only in big cities but also in smaller ones.
By the way, Indonesia is worthy and deserve to get a special attention from other Countries, especially Australia.
Wake up, Australians! Turn around at the north! Here, Indonesia is your worthy neighbour, right in front of you. We will always welcome you and be your nice neighbour.
Posted by: Ajie | September 6, 2009 03:56 PM
Considering the number of expat Australians living in Indonesia, I find it astonishing that the travel warnings still manage to scare people. I think it just further highlights the level of ignorance Australians have towards one of our closest neighbours.
In one of my former lives I taught Indonesian in state schools in Queensland and was awarded a scholarship to study in Indonesia (like those mentioned above). But that was 2002, and of course my trip was "postponed" (as the letter explained). More recently I worked in East Java for 18 months, and was amazed when friends of ours expressed some doubt about coming to visit. Funnily enough they had no reservations about going to Bali! I know where I felt safer!
Posted by: Louise | June 13, 2008 09:12 PM
Thanks to love Indonesia. I'm not sure if my love is as much as yours.
Posted by: Goestaf | May 9, 2008 03:03 PM
Yes, it was somewhat surprising that not one of the Australian contestants (or panel) came up with the correct answer. Obviously, a few had an idea that it was 'vaguely Khmer' ie Angkor Wat, but then their sense of direction let them down. Had they even glanced at 'A History of Modern Indonesia' (2005), they might have noted at least two references to Borobudur (pp 18,30). A task awaits Australian curriculum planners if such aspects of Javanese history and geography are so easily misplaced.
On immersion in Darwin, there are perhaps marginal benefits to the local economy. But a broader review of Australian travel advisory processes might be called for. No-one denies a responsibility for a democratically-elected government to strive to offer the best advice to its citizens on matters such as travel overseas, especially given the well-known events in Bali(2002, 2005) and Jakarta (2004) that had direct and tragic impact for Indonesians and Australians, and the persons of many other nationalities. I hope the day is not too distant when Australian government scholarships for language immersion in respect of the teaching of Indonesian language can and do, once again, take place 'in-country'.
Posted by: Ian Campbell | May 8, 2008 06:38 AM