Umi Pujiyanti
Tell us about yourself!
Hi, I am Umi and currently in the third year of my candidature on Translation at the School of Humanities and Communication Arts, Western Sydney University. I am from Selo, a dry village, around three-hour- drive north from Solo (Surakarta, Central Java). I am interested in looking at how Javanese folk songs are translated into English. The discussion is not merely about the mechanical elements of the translation process, but also, about the identities embedded on the songs. In a simpler way: “Is the Javanese identity still there once the song is translated?”
What is the nature of your engagement with Indonesia – are you an academic, a professional, an alumni…
Well, I am all of them! I am from Javanese, my degrees are from Indonesia institutions, and I serve as a lecturer at Sastra Inggris, UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta, one of the universities under the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia. My scholarship scheme is also from the same ministry in collaboration with the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (MORA-LPDP). Yes, I am everything Indonesia. 😊
Have you ever been to an Indonesia Council Open Conference and if so, what is your fondest memory?
Belum! The good news is I am now one of the PG representatives for ICOC 2023. The fondest thing I feel about this is that I get their iconic and compelling logo as a signature for my email. Isn’t that awesome?! Hopefully I could contribute to make a more vibrant ICOC next year. I am looking forward to meeting you all at the conference, 26-27 September 2023.
How do you think organisations like Indonesia Council can improve Australia-Indonesia relations?
Ups and downs are two definite elements of any relations, including Indonesia-Australia. We witness how this relation changed especially after Bali bombing in 2002. This unfortunate incident had contributed to widen the gap between the nations. I strongly believe that intensive conversations, in any shape—including education, between us will generate a better understanding among the countries. Indonesia Council has been on the right tract by not only giving opportunities for both parties to learn and gain knowledge from each other, but also, showcasing how this close relationship grows and shapes every party involved. Podcasts, social medias—including TikTok may also be used as a means to promote bilateral understanding among the generation Z.
What are some of the challenges and opportunities in the Indonesia-Australia relationship?
Nobody can neglect how multicultural are Indonesia and Australia. This, in my consideration, is a challenge as well as an opportunity for future bilateral relations. In a narrower scope, languages function differently within this multiculturalism framework between Indonesia and Australia. It is not uncommon to witness Australian youth fluently speak their mother tongues for everyday life. That is not something popular in Indonesia as I observe. Thus, I see a wide-open opportunity to work together, hand-in-hand, to find a better way in keeping our traditional languages alive, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ languages.
Tell us about your favourite Indonesian food experience
Like other Indonesians who study abroad, finding our native-tasted foods is such a challenge. Once we find them, the distance to the shop and the price add up! Local foods at Western Sydney are varied, but my taste buds reject them. My survival instinct then takes control resulting in my ability to cook Indonesian cuisines I never cooked before, such as bakso, soto, tongseng, rawon, and even rendang. Klepon is our family favourite snack lately.
What’s your favourite Indonesian food and why?
Sambel tempe is my favourite of all the time. This condiment is made from fried or grilled tempeh (a traditional food made from fermented soybean) which is smashed then mixed with onion, garlic, chili, and shredded coconut. It is so simple in making but the festivity of eating it with hot rice is unbeatable. On more romantics note, this food reminds me of my childhood when life was simple, rhythmic, and quiet.
What’s your favourite Indonesian music/song/writer?
I did not really grow up with musical instruments or songs. But I remember during my junior high, I joined gamelan assembly at school. We learnt how to perform certain Javanese traditional songs –most of the time was macapat. The teacher held a placement test to better position every student to specific instruments within the assemble. I aimed for gong—a flat, circular metal disc that is typically struck with a mallet. The teacher, however, said it was too big compared to my body shape, so I ended up with kethuk—small, boxed gong-chime.
What’s your favourite Indonesian idiom?
I should nominate ‘pusing tujuh keliling’ as my favourite Indonesian idiom. Paraphrasing the idiom, it is a dizziness (pusing) resulted from circling around (keliling) for seven (tujuh) times. In other word, it is called light-headedness. This is the representative of us taking path as a PhD student. It is so pusing tujuh keliling, but at the end of the day, it is also rewarding.
[Last month’s PAY IT FORWARD question]: What is your favourite Indonesian animal?
Interesting! My childhood was spent as typically Javanese rural life where we have chickens, goats, rabbits, and cats. They obviously were our pets; we named them. Bejo and Trimbil were my chicken’s name. My favourite is Dika, my goat which was born during Eid al Adha (from Adha to Dika). I would herd him every day after school near the villagers’ rice fields. Technically, he was my primary school ‘buddy’.
?PAY IT FORWARD: Finally, it’s YOUR turn to ask a question… Please suggest a question we can ask our next member!
Of the (approximately) 718 traditional languages recorded in Indonesia, which one you would be interested in learning?