It is the Real Indonesian’s Culture

By: Khoirul Rohman

INDONESIA, my beloved country is consisted of thousands beautiful islands, vary perspectives of citizens, delicious foods to eat, wonderful views to enjoy, and many others attractive things to see. Among them all, there is this one most exciting culture that already existed in this country from many years ago until now. That culture is known by the name of “NONGKRONG” which literally means sitting around and doing absolutely nothing. In other words, it actually has a meaning of hanging out with friends to talk about anything in a particular place with a feeling of “anyone can join without any fear”. Anyone can join when people do this Nongkrong. People across Indonesia should experience the same feeling when they do Nongkrong. They feel the unity, the equality among people, the feeling without any conflict, and the mutual feeling of peace.

What Indonesian does when they do Nongkrong?  Simple thing they have when they do Nongkrong is drinking a cup of coffee or tea with some snacks. During that time they talk about anything: their life or a little joke after they have a hard day in their office that eventually will become an amusing entertainment. This becomes a cheap tourism for people who need entertainment to refresh their mind. Their mind will be refreshed by the laughter and the relaxing atmosphere among their friends.

Inside those simple things during “NONGKRONG”, there is a deeper meaning behind this activity. It is the exchange, the sharing and gaining of knowledge. Here is the rule, “NONGKRONG” involves at least 2 until 4 people. Each person will bring a piece of information that they have got from their life and experience. They will share the information from one to another. Thus, the knowledge of each person will eventually be increased because of this activity of “NONGKRONG”.

People will think about the difference between “NONGKRONG” that Indonesian have and the hanging-out that other countries have. The big difference between them is the feeling of the participant of the activity. People do hang-out because they want to have something to eat or just to meet their friends. In contrary with this, Indonesian, when they are doing “NONGKRONG”, usually feel the dominant feeling of a closer relationship with people around them, which lead to a deeper unity. They usually laugh without fear and border. They are not thinking who they are laughing with. But they are thinking what a great things they will get from the “NONGKRONG”.

                 From this culture, Indonesian’s heroes like Ir. Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta started to bring Indonesia to its independence day in the past. They had “NONGKRONG” to discuss about this celebration. This is the evidence that this culture had already existed long time ago in Indonesia. From this we learnt that people can actually use “NONGKRONG” to create a great change. It is clearly seen from what Indonesian heroes has started years ago. This is due to the culture of “NONGKRONG”  that gives a greater power of unity inside. People in the past had also used “NONGKRONG”  to create other cultures in Indonesia that are famous worldwide such as Tari Pendet from Bali, Reog Ponorogo from Ponorogo, and Batik Tulis.

                From that example, the youth nowadays can use the Indonesia’s own style of hanging-out and the power of a good unity among them to bring world into peace. They can bring more peace when they have “NONGKRONG” and bring more equality among them. They can be the ones who spread the culture of “NONGKRONG” worldwide so that everyone can have the luxury of laughing without fear.

                What I am proud of Indonesian culture is not only the culture of “NONGKRONG”, but also the culture of Indonesian to have a good relationship with anyone inside and outside of this country, that can be seen from the culture of “NONGKRONG”. This culture should be continued by the young people of every single part of this world to have a more peaceful world of living. I am proud of Indonesia; I am proud of the smile of Indonesia.