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As the world’s largest archipelago, Indonesia comprises 17,508 islands that stretch across the equator. It is the most volcanic country on earth with 128 volcanoes. The world’s largest flower, Rafflesia Arnoldi and the world’s tallest flower, Titan Arum is found in Indonesia’s island of Sumatra.
More than 480 ethnic groups display a rich variety of customs, languages (about 583) and beliefs.
Yet, out of this complex diversity has emerged one nation, one flag, one language. Indonesia since 1945 has been once again an independent country whose freedom was regained by brave men who were willing to fight and die for their Fatherland. This history of patriotism continues till now, with the present generation of Indonesians fighting, no longer in the arena of war, but in those of economics , legislation, education and politics, to make Indonesia the great nation it is meant to be. Today, Indonesia is one of Asia’s strongest democracies.
Flashback 1
The young Indonesian student handed in his enrolment form with mixed emotions. He had recently graduated from high school and wanted to take up Medicine. But the matriculation fee was far too prohibitive.
And now, there he was at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta registering for a course he had not set his heart upon. Economics was a recent offering by that state university, and to attract students to the turf, the enrolment fee was way down the scale, just the thing for youths with a limited budget.
“What would life have in store for me?” wondered Irzan Tandjung, a teenager whose father had died when he was but a toddler. He had grown up in Medan, North Sumatra with his widowed mother who had worked very hard to keep him and his younger sister comfortable in life.
But now she, too, had left the world, leaving him and his sister orphans. He would cherish his mother’s memory for always. Little did young Irzan realize that in signing up for the Economics course, he was actually making an appointment with destiny.
The University Years
“Ambassador Tandjung, it must have been pretty tough being an orphan at an early age.,” I remark, scribbling notes on my What’s On & Expat notepad.
“Indeed,” he replies nostalgically. “But then, I went to live with my paternal uncle in Jakarta. That’s how I landed at the University of Indonesia.”
“Considering that Economics was not your dream course, did you eventually come to enjoy studying Economics?”
The Ambassador laughs. “I had no choice. But I’m happy to say that I got good grades. Then, in my junior year in college, a vacancy occurred at the university – that of student assistant whose job was to assist professors in various academic matters. I applied and got the job. It was a big help, financially. And it was a job that I retained even after I had graduated from college.”
“Ah! They must have been satisfied with your performance.”
The Ambassador smiles. “Shortly after, I became a college instructor in my alma mater. Later on, I became also a member of the research staff of the General Management Board, State Trading Corporations of the Ministry of Trade.
Flashback 2: New York
“Well, Uncle, do you think I ought to make a go for the Master of Arts scholarship at Syracuse University?”
“Irzan, I have absolutely no doubts about the matter,” replied the young man’s uncle. “You possess all the required qualifications.”
There were about a dozen other graduates from different Indonesian universities who had clinched the Syracuse University scholarship. On the day of their departure, Irzan’s high spirits were somehow mixed with a tinge of sadness and uncertainty. He was temporarily leaving all that was familiar and dear to him for something that was distant and unknown. Again, he pondered what lay in store for him. In the end, however, youthful exuberance had the upper hand.
When Irzan finally got onboard the plane and as the aircraft began to soar the skies, his excitement equally soared. It was his first experience on an airplane and whatever feelings he had before now all converged into that of exhilaration.
Syracuse University in Syracuse City, New York is a private research university set on a mostly residential campus, with buildings ranging from 19th century Romanesque to contemporary ones designed by leading architects. Its motto is “Knowledge Crowns Those Who Seek Her.”
“The Same”
Ambasador Tandjung smiles broadly as he recounts his initial encounter with American culture.
“Of course, we Indonesian students kept together, considering that at that time we knew little English. I clearly remember our first lunch breaks together at the university cafeteria. Everybody had to line up and order at the food counter. One in our group was better in English, so we always positioned him ahead. The fellow would order to his appetite’s content. Then the rest of us – about nine of us – would by turns give out our order by just uttering the two words, ‘the same.’ Well, the ploy camouflaged our limited English vocabulary.”
“Clever! But you were forced to eat what perhaps you did not like.”
“Sometimes,” the Ambassador replies, amused. Soon, however, we all added English to Bahasa Indonesia as a language we were familiar with.
“How did the Indonesians find university campus life?”
“Oh, there were many Indonesian students, both men and women, who were enrolled not only at Syracuse but in nearby educational institutions as well. We would invite them over to Syracuse for special programs and celebrations, especially “Indonesia Night.” They would participate in featuring Indonesian songs and dances. Syracuse University has a vast campus and a spacious auditorium.”
“Was Economics also your major at Syracuse”?
“Yes, I graduated with a Master of Arts in Economics in 1965.”
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Ambassador Irzan Tandjung
Flashback 3: Romance
The young Irzan met the lovely Juliana Carolina during one busy day when the Syracuse students were preparing for an Indonesian program. They had invited over several students from nearby colleges to help them prepare a fitting program that would showcase Indonesian culture. Carolina’s part was an Indonesian dance number, which was much applauded by the audience.
Romance beckoned, love bloomed.
Juliana Carolina was into Education and aspired to be a teacher, molding young minds in her homeland. Like Irzan, she too wanted to use her knowledge and talents to serve her country. Being a dedicated teacher was undoubtedly one way to do so.
Irzan proposed marriage and a wedding date was set.
Juliana Carolina had wanted the nuptials to take place in their country, but a practical Irzan reckoned that getting married in New York would be far more economical. Indonesian tradition, as in the majority of Oriental countries, requires weddings to be grand events with all relatives, neighbors, friends and associates in attendance.
Upon returning to their homeland in 1965 and armed with an American master’s degree, Irzan resumed his teaching career at the University of Indonesia. The couple would be blessed with four children: three girls, Sandra, Helen and Trina, and the youngest, a boy named Edwin.
Abraham Lincoln’s Act
“Mr. Ambassador, when did you again become involved in the affairs of government?”
“From 1967 to 1979 I was Secretary to the Director General of Domestic Monetary Affairs of the Ministry of Finance. I was involved in assisting in drawing up and reviewing the government’s budget. It was a tough job. My desire to equip myself better to serve my country in the field of economics led me to seek further knowledge in the university. I decided to enroll at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the U.S.A. I brought my family with me. I wanted to earn a doctorate but since I had earned my master’s degree more than 15 years behind, the university required me to pursue a fresh M.A. in Economic Sciences. That I did, and afterwards went on to earn a Ph.D. in Economic Sciences in the same university, graduating in 1987.”
“How different or similar was the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with Syracuse University, Mr. Ambassador?”
“The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is Illinois’ flagship state university, located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana in east central Illinois. It is one of the original 37 public land-grant institutions created after Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act in 1862. It is considered one of the top ten public universities in the U.S.A. and its library has the largest public university collection in the world.”
Career as Economist
Now equipped with two Master’s degrees and a Doctor’s degree, all in the science of Economics, Dr. Tandjung returned to Indonesia.
From 1988 to 1997 he was Assistant to the Coordinating Minister for Economic and Financial Economic Graduates Association. From 1998 to 2000, he was Secretary in the Indonesian Private Companies Debt Restructuring Team. He had a brief stint as Member of the House of Representatives in 2004-2005.
Dr. Tandjung was appointed Ambassador of Indonesia to the Philippines in January 2006 by President Susilo Bambang Yudyohono. He is concurrently Non-Resident Ambassador to the Marshall Islands Republic.
“I am happy to be here in the Philippines, a country that has plenty of similarities with my own,” says the Ambassador. “I therefore feel at home here. I have known a lot of Filipinos in Indonesia. Many of them work in top management positions because of their knowledge and talents. Their fluency in English is also a plus factor.”
What Next?
“Mr. Ambassador, you have certainly served your country in many capacities. What plans do you have after finishing your tour of duty in the Philippines?”
As if in deep thought, he answers: “Que será, será (What will be will be). The Lord says, ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways My ways.’”
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