Note : Maam kata2 yang saya bold itu kata2 yang masih saya ragu Maam, dicek ya Maam.

How should we promote our Indonesian Cultural Heritage to International World? By: Aldonna Jasa Prima In this first part of the speech, Id like to start with the definition of identity. What is identity? Identity means the characteristics, feelings, or beliefs that distinguish people from other. For further this unequivocally seems that every identity has its own unique. As an archipelago country, Indonesia surely has an identity. This united identity represents the whole part of Indonesia, prodigious and prosperous. Indonesia must have its own cultural identity that specialize the face of Indonesia among other countries. We already realize how important an identity for life. Lets see how an identity card used as the symbol of our citizenship, who we are, name, address, date of birth, occupation, status, and many others. When we traveled abroad we need passport as our identity, right? (Without identity card we probably find difficulty for interaction, job opportunity and many things) So, what about our cultural identity? How much is it very important to us and symbolizing the existence of ourselves? We know Indonesia consists of 33 provinces, from Sabang to Merauke. A (luas kepulauan Indo), (jumlah pulau), (jumlah ethnic), jumlah bahasa, jumpah laut dan pantai, jumlah music tradisional, rumah adat, dll. Can you imagine those marvelous? What an enormous aggregate of treasures we have. Each region has its own culture. I am a truly Bataknese girl, from North Sumatra. Do you know actually there are 3 types of Batak? They are Toba, Karo, and Simalungun. My mother is Batak Toba and my father is Batak Simalungun. For 17 years Ive grown up in these two ethnic. Although theyre from the same province but they are slightly different in language, food, traditional house, life principals, heritage and culture. What about the other provinces? One island consists of various ethnicities; it indicates there arising cultural heritages in variance. Finally it signifies an identity (Individuality) of each Indonesian. What if Indonesian loses their identity which eventually they also lose their cultural precious heritage? If it is so, (to me) it is a wholly pity, losing the history of our grand generation (generasi terdahulu).

We are now facing a competitive global life. One country competes against others almost in all fields, including in tourism. Cultural tourism of a country is officially essential for economic growth, leading each country to strengthen power, by preserving their cultures, exploring left heritage. The worst is if a country might claim the other countrys cultural heritage (For us, just like Malaysia claiming Indonesian cultural heritage). This claim appears as the effect of a weakness, a weakness becoming unaware to maintain our heritage. This weakness emerges since the desire for the sense of belonging to Indonesia diminishing (I think). When the heritage is being claimed and taken by other country, it seems Indonesian people are just awakened and then suddenly they start to argue. We do not realize its been long time to undervalue our Indonesian heritage. (I wont talk more about the Malaysia claim actually, but I just want to remind all of us here, that case utterly warn us right now to stand up, awaken, aware, and open our eyes to prevent the further effect if sense of belonging decreasing). We already know how rich Indonesian cultural heritage is. Certainly no one wants their precious wealth is stolen. Thats why we need to move now, f rom the simplest one to maintain our culture, by loving the culture. (The more we explore Indonesian cultural heritage, believe me, youll love it stiff) When we personally experience the affinity to Indonesia cultural heritage, naturally, the sense of belonging increase and no matter what, we will not want to get it lost, instead, we want other nation enjoy the beauty of the culture. What do you think guys? Do you agree with me? I believe all of us here surely love the Indonesian culture, right? (As what I told you) when we want other people (out of Indonesia) enjoy the beauty of our culture, we are then going to the question, how to invite people to enjoy it? How other people might be interested and amazed? Well, this perception finally is equal to the question, how could we promote our Indonesian culture? Isnt it? When were talking about promotion of Indonesian culture to international world, it means we promote our identity to millions of people out of this country. For some people, the words promotion to international world probably mentions a big serious official movement since when we act internationally it means we face the whole world, all nations from all countries, and we often need international institutions for the fulfillment of our aspiration. You probably see how UNESCO from United Nations has been a great media for the exploration, preservation, and promotion of worlds heritage. Big international institutions organize big events for

worlds cultural promotion and we realize not all people can directly participate in such kind of the worlds big event. That clearly means we should think the simpler ways to promote Indonesian cultural heritage. (I am standing here) Id like to share my ideas how we should promote our rich cultural heritage to international world. I am going to share my own experience, promoting our cultural heritage. As a Bataknese girl, I live with Bataknese principals of life (surely with the more modern ways than years ago). I accustom myself with all Bataknese traditions. I am always proud of my ethnic though I still need to learn deeper knowledge of my ethic. Im telling you this since I do realize that being a Bataknese is my identity and history. (Can you see my face? Truly North Sumatra. It is unlikely to change my blood to become a Javanese girl, right?). Who will respect me if I cant even respect my identity, if I cant even maintain it? Because of my pride, I am profoundly willing to promote, at least one of Bataknese heritage to the world. Two years ago, I failed in a student exchange selection. Actually that time I aimed to introduce Ulos (Bataknese traditional clothes) to foreign country if I succeeded the selection and lived overseas. That Ulos is the special one, it is truly my grandmothers hand-made (showing the Ulos). Luckily a friend of mine succeeded the program. In 2009 she went to United States and stayed there for a year. My failure did not undermine my desire, thus I asked my friend to bring the Ulos to United States and I want her to promote my Ulos to Americans and inform her foreign friends about Ulos. I also gave her another Ulos (orange one) and apparently she gave the Ulos I gave her as a keepsake (kenang-kenangan) for her host family (you can check this in my blog, insidethecumulus.wordpress.com if youd like to see the photo of her host family together with the Ulos). Isnt it what we call promotion? Finally, I do promote my grandmas hand-made Ulos to America! A Bataknese heritage. We can also start promoting Indonesian cultural heritage to foreigners, as what Ive done. Since January 2011 my friend and I have initiated to develop an annual program with some classmates, interviewing foreigners (it is not an ordinary interview, but we have topic/theme for each interview). In the first week of May, my friend and I hunted for foreign tourist in Bogor Botanical Garden. Our interviews theme is foreigners opinion of Indonesia. What a great day! We met an affable stranger. She is an American and her name is Rebekah Davis. We have one hour interview. For a more interesting (friendly way) approach, after the

interview we also give her a souvenir, for e.g. (the simplest one) a book ? (pembatas buku) (showing). In the interview, we questioned Rebekah about Indonesian culture, tourism, food, people, transportation, and many things. In the midst of the interview we recommended her places to visit in Indonesia. Since I come from North Sumatra then I informed her about Lake Toba, Tor-tor dance and Sigale-gale statue in Samosir island (promotion again). Rebekah told us that she knew Indonesia from Travel Book Series in www.lonelyplanet.com. Almost all American travelers assisted by the web for their travel plans (when I check the web, lonelyplanet provides attractive professional photograph of Indonesia heritage, esp from Indonesian unheard-of village such as Mayura Water Palace, Ratan Gard Tombstone, also the beauty of nature like Milky Turquoise Crater Lake, Segara Anak Lake,). Unfortunately Rebekah said she found lack specific description of Indonesia in the web. Besides she compared Indonesia with Thailand. She explained that many tourists preferred visiting Thailand to Indonesia because Thailand could provide information in two languages for tourists, in Thai and English, quite different from Indonesia, most information delivered in Indonesia. Rebekah knew that she should understand Bahasa but for her, living just for view months, tourists cant simply understand Bahasa and then caused them not to stay any longer for exploration. She explained that Indonesia is very potential thus she suggested us to deliver more English written information of Indonesia From Rebekahs suggestion, I think we can promote Indonesia and its cultural heritage to international world through internet. If we have a group of friends we can create a website, or we can also create a blog for acquainting foreign tourist to Indonesian cultural heritage (blog is not only a place to write your personal stories), we can write information for recommended cultural tourism destination, unique description of the cultural heritage, detailed transport information to travel, insert links of travel agent for the tourist, photos of cultural uniqueness. We should write all information in English in order to impress foreign readers to visit Indonesia. Isnt it also a promotion, guys? We should be optimistic for the promotion since in fact our cultural heritage has already been alluring to international world. In Museum fr Volkerknde, Wina, Austria, our Indonesian Giant Angklung successfully auctioned for 160 euro. Angklung performance has

captivated European. At the Indonesian Cultural Festival held in Trencianske Teplice Slovakia Gamelan also have enchanted Slovakia people. Slovakia youths from Academy of Performing Arts perform the Indonesian traditional dance like tari Rantak from West Sumatera. Together with Indonesians in Slovakia they also perform Indonesian folk songs Gambang Suling from Central Java, Janger and Bapang Selisir from Bali, and fantastically the play Tota Helpa song from Slovakia by Gamelan. They has collaborated gamelan music with modern music instrument and it attracts more than 650 visitors. As senior high school students what can we do to promote Indonesian cultural heritage? After graduation probably many of us are keen on studying at foreign university. When you choose a foreign university and stay abroad, itll be potential to promote Indonesian heritage. Many Indonesian students in foreign countries have successfully promoted Indonesian cultural heritage. In Germany, Angklung Music Performance attracts 600 students and teachers in Technische Universitat Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH) to greet all new international students around the world for winter semester (The name of the festival is Feierliche Semestereroffnung an der TUHH). Since the 90s Indonesian community in Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana, USA) and since 1996 in Indiana University (Bloomington USA) have carried out an annual program Cultural Night Festival attended by all students and teachers of the college as a promotion of Indonesia to people of Indiana and Bloomington. Alumni scholars of Darmasiswa Scholarship in Praha, Ceko, they promote Indonesian culture at the multi cultural festival called Refufest Festival in Kampa Park. From those stories I suggest you when you study abroad, as an International student you can participate to promote Indonesian heritage by enrolling Cultural Students Community. College cultural community usually conducts festival and then when you join the community you must be active, especially if youre interested and capable in music and dance, you can also present and speech about Indonesian cultural heritage to promote Indonesian cultural heritage. You should dare perform the Indonesian cultural heritage, the easiest way you can also wear Indonesian heritage-Batik (announced as Indonesian heritage by UNESCO in 2003) and introduce Indonesian Batik to foreigners while you stay abroad. In the end of the speech I personally persuade all of us to firstly encourage ourselves to have the sense of belonging to Indonesian marvelous heritage by exploring Indonesia, then we can profoundly aspire to promote the Indonesian cultural heritage. As a student I have

my own simple ideas, my own experience to do for Indonesian cultural promotion to international world as what Ive informed you. Lets love Indonesia! I hope my speech can inspire you all. Thank You very much for your attention.