Lontar Newsletter Email: [email protected] August 2020

Greetings from the RuminationsRuminations by by John John McGlynn: McGlynn Executive Director Compromise

Of the many unforeseen disruptions arising My sister, Eileen, has numerous skills and virtues but one of her traits is from the corona virus pandemic, none has more debatable: an uncompromising attitude. She has always held a clear been more devastating than the impact on opinion of what is right and wrong as well as what she likes and what she the nation’s education system. Both doesn’t. On the “no like” list is the smell of cigarette smoke. No matter the educators and students alike were totally brand of weed, even kretek, cigarette smoke is not a favored aromatic in her unprepared for the lockdown of schools and compendium of smells. The reason, she purports, is that when she was a universities, with little or no emergency teenager she was knocked out by a falling iron bar—which also knocked plans to deal with it. Initial efforts at online out her sense of smell. From that time onwards, there were for her no and remote teaching (via state television more wonderful fumes from Mother’s freshly-baked bread; the scent of station TVRI) seemed haphazard and lilacs in the spring; or even the slightly fetid odor of earthworms rising inadequate, especially in remote and from the loam after a warm rain. Strangely, though, there was one aroma impoverished areas of the country where the she could still detect: cigarette smoke, which not only irritated her olfactory internet remains largely inaccessible and glands but actually made her nauseous. hand phones and television sets are beyond the reach of many families. According to In December 1978, after spending three years toiling in the copper mines current data from the Ministry of Education of Indonesia, I returned to the United States for the purpose of going to and Culture, that meant about 18% of the graduate school at the University of Michigan (UM) in Ann Arbor (AA) 40,779 elementary and middle schools. where I enrolled in the spring of 1980. There were a number of reasons for Further, about three percent lack electricity me to go to UM-AA: 1) UM was the only school to which I had applied; 2) altogether. UM offered me a full scholarship; 3) I was able to squeeze my classroom Today, seven months on, as schools work into the days Monday through Thursday, thus leaving me free to go gear up to begin the new academic year, the to Detroit for a good time on weekends; and 4) Eileen and her husband, situation seems to have improved Bill, were living there. Obviously, it was because of the fourth reason, I somewhat. The government has allocated chose UM. Rp. 72 trillion (about US$ 5.5 billion) to At this juncture in my sister’s life, Eileen (who had given birth to subsidize the purchase of laptops, hand daughter Megan in July 1979) was juggling the demands of motherhood phones, and internet subscriptions for both with work at the AA Public Library while her husband Bill was commuting students teachers. The Ministry has also most days of the week to Lansing, where he had a job at the Michigan State initiated a Visiting Teacher (Guru Kunjung) Legislature. The two of them—or the “three,” I should say, as Megan was a program as part of the transition towards VERY BIG part of their life—were living in an apartment complex on the full re-opening of schools. Lessons will Pauline Boulevard which went by the highly original name of “Pauline be conducted twice a week, for two hours. Apartments.” Their unit was more spacious than the previous one they had Most encouraging, the pandemic has been a occupied, Nob Hill Apartments, located in the area of town known as— wakeup call to implement much-needed Guess what?—Nob Hill, but was modest, nonetheless, at least compared to changes in school curricula and associated the home I occupied at the time of this story: the fantastically modern programs. For example, educators are now home of a wealthy friend with four spacious bedrooms, cathedral ceilings, reviewing the number of subjects students hot tub, and sauna—the whole works!—set in a picturesque woodlot. must take on, which is higher than in Continued on page 2 neighboring countries. The aim is to reduce

Issue #: [Date] Dolor Sit Amet the number to just the basics, at least during I remark on the difference in living situations between myself and these difficult days. Whatever the changes, I Eileen only so that the reader may intuit the difference in our personalities: feel it essential that reading remains a Eileen being a down-to-earth type of person, able to make do, neither priority. demanding nor expecting more than she herself has earned, and I being hedonistic, concentrating on personal satisfaction, and ready to have others As a post-script, among the virtual do for him what he is averse to doing for himself. programs honoring the late, beloved poet The city of AA, though not without certain charms (if you happen to and teacher Sapardi Djoko Damono, was like football and beer) was for me a fairly boring place to live (especially the launch, earlier this month, of mBoel, a collection of 80 never-before-seen poems after my three years in ). Entertainment venues were sparse. Thank heavens, therefore, for Eileen and Bill! With them in AA, the city was a he wrote as a tribute to his wife, Sonya, much more bearable place in which to live. To their benefit, my presence whose nickname is the book’s title. Some of the poems were recited at a recent virtual gave them easy access to a babysitter whose services were free for the musical concert in his memory. asking. Stay safe and thank you for your continued support.

Yuli Ismartono [email protected]

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Watch our Writers Who’s Who on Lontar’s YouTube channel.

Kurnia Effendi http://bit.ly/keffendi

Dewi Kharisma Michelia My sister, Eileen, and niece, Megan, in 1981. http://bit.ly/DKMichelia A bearded Uncle John at around that same time.

I can’t remember for certain the day or month it was they asked me to Reda Gaudiamo babysit for Megan but it must have been January or February of 1981 http://bit.ly/RGaudiamo because the day was as cold a one as it ever gets in Michigan, when church

mice sleep near votive candles and cheerleaders carry their pompoms

between their thighs. Maybe it was Valentine’s Day—which would give this

story a heart-warming touch. Yes, let’s say it was February 14 and Bill and Eileen were going out for a rare dinner-out and film. At any rate, it was so cold that when Bill ran into the flower shop on Main Street to buy a dozen roses for Eileen he had to double park the car and keep the engine running so that the internal temperature of the sedan didn’t turn the bouquet he’d purchased into a clump of blackened blooms before he returned to Pauline Apartments on Pauline Boulevard to present them to his doe-eyed wife. As I did not own a car, Bill would have come over to my manse on Kearny Court. When he arrived I might have been soothing my academically weary bones in the hot tub or sitting in front of the fireplace

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Issue #: [Date]Author of the Month Dolor Sit Amet with a cocktail in one hand and a cigarette in the other while listing to a Boz Scaggs album on the Bose stereo but I know for sure that when leaving the house and the frigid air attacked my every pore I would have sworn under my breath that only love of family would force me to go out on an evening so cold. With the clock ticking away and show time drawing near, by the time Bill and I arrived at Pauline Apartments, Eileen was bundled up and ready to go. Little Megan was already dressed for bed and, remarkably pleasant child that she was, was making no fuss about being abandoned by her heartless parents to her bearded uncle. (The beard, which I sported during Korrie Layun Rampan the winter months in AA, was a point in my favor for my niece who Korrie Layun Rampan (, East seemed to find nearly endless, probably sadistic, joy in pulling on it.) Kalimantan, August 17, 1953 – Jakarta, “Here’s the keys; there’s food in the fridge; Megan’s been feed and is November 19, 2015) wrote poetry, short ready for bed, we’ll be back after the movie,” were Eileen’s hurried words stories, novels, children’s stories and literary as she rushed toward the door, before dropping the more distinctly reviews. He finished his studies at the enunciated phrase, “AND NO SMOKING IN THE HOUSE!” Academy for Finance and Banking (Akademi “Hmm,” I thought, “how many hours would it be before I could Keuangan dan Perbankan) in . He have my next nicotine fix?” And even before Eileen and Bill were out the worked as an editor for Cypress Press, Sinar door, I called to Megan, “Come to Uncle John! We’re going outside to Harapan newspaper & Sarinah magazine. His play!” short story collections include Perhiasan Eileen stopped in her tracks. “You can’t take Megan outside in this Matahari (1991), Ratapan (1993) and Rawa weather!” (2000). His novels are Upacara (1978) and Api Awan Asap (2002). His several collections of “It won’t be long, just time enough for a cig,” I remarked. poetry include Suara Kesunyian (1981) and Eileen’s voice became a loud plea: “But you can’t! Megan will freeze Nyanyian Kekasih (1981). His studies of to death.” literature have been published in Jejak Langkah “Oh, what’s a little frostbite?” was my flippant reply. Sastra Indonesia (1986), Wanita Penyair Indonesia Eileen raced into the kitchen, turned on the exhaust fan above the (1997) and Angkatan 2000 dalam Sastra Indonesia stove and cracked the window above the sink. “Here’s what you can do,” (2000). His novel Upacara won an award in the she said. “If you must smoke, stick your hand out the window and put Jakarta Arts Council Novel Competition in your face to the exhaust but first put Megan in her room!” 1976, and his children’s story Cuaca di Atas Gunung dan Lembah won an award for Best “Okay…” I clicked my tongue to cinch the deal and send Eileen and Book in 1987. His novel Api Awan Asap won Bill on their way. third prize in the Jakarta Arts Council Novel Competition in 1998. I can’t say for sure but I don’t think I smoked that night. Just having Book of the Month witnessed Eileen, the vehement anti-smoker, break her own inviolate rule in order ensure her daughter’s comfort, made me, too, want to put Ceremony Megan’s safety first, which brings me to the one small point I’m trying to By Korrie Layun make here: that love for others often requires the ability to compromise Rampan and that to compromise is a sign of compassion and empathy, not failure. Translated by George A. Fowler John McGlynn [email protected]

Rp.150,000

3 Issue #: [Date] Dolor Sit Amet SuratBecome dari a FriendPejompongan of Lontar oleh Zen HaeSurat dari Pejompongan

Pandemi In this time of Covd-19, when financial assistance from corporations has dwindled, Lontar is all the more Jakarta adalah kota yang sibuk, tentu saja. Ketika pandemi Corona mulai dependent on contributions from individuals. Below are the menjadi masalah nasional sejak pertengahan Maret tahun ini, warga names of individual donors to Lontar for the period 2015- Jakarta dibuat ketakutan. Ada virus pembunuh: tidak kelihatan, tetapi 2020 (arranged in alphabetical order by first name). serangannya sungguh mematikan. Tapi, pemerintah Indonesia tidak mau Lontar would like to express its heartfelt thanks to these menerapkan penggerendelan (lockdown). Ekonomi bisa keok. Setelah individuals. You make Lontar’s work possible! If your terganjal izin dari Pusat, pemerintah DKI Jakarta akhirnya menerapkan name isn’t on the list, please consider giving to Lontar at Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar (PSBB). the earliest possible date either through a direct bank Warga Jakarta selanjutnya hidup di tengah penjarakan sosial. Hidup transfer or through Give2Asia. Apologies to anyone’s mereka seakan lumpuh. Beberapa gang dan kompleks perumahan name we might have inadvertently missed! menutup pintu gerbang mereka. Orang-orang berduit memborong makanan untuk persediaan. Kantor-kantor tutup. Sejumlah kerani Amir Abadi Jusuf, Anangga Roosdiono, Anne kehilangan pekerjaan. Jalan-jalan sepi. Orang-orang mulai memakai Veronica Ambler, Anya Robinson, Arief T. masker dan gemar mencuci tangan dengan sabun. Surowidjoyo, Ben Rauch, Bernard Sellato, Bondan Tetapi, ada orang-orang yang mulai berkebun di belakang rumah. Winarno, Clayton Bond, Craig Campbell, Dan Atau, berdagang kecil-kecilan. Adik saya menjual vas kayu, yang lain Thomas, Dave Flanagan, David Salman , Detlef mengusahakan orak-arik kentang. Ada pembelinya. Di kalangan ibu-ibu Gericke, Eileen McGlynn, Eugene K. Galbraith, wali murid TK anak saya, perdagangan kecil-kecilan sudah lebih dulu G.G. Weix , George A. Fowler, Harry Aveling, muncul. Dengan serta-merta perdagangan daring, dalam skala kecil dan Ian Campbell, Isna Marifa Soedjatmoko, John H. besar, meningkat. Takut keluar rumah, orang berbelanja daring. Kini, McGlynn, Karin Johnson, Kestity apa saja bisa dibeli lewat toko daring. Pengemudi ojek daring jadi tulang Pringgohardjono, Makarim Family, Margaret punggungnya. Scott, Mark Hanusz, Mary McGlynn, Mary Di dunia maya dunia kesenian juga menggeliat. Pada mulanya rasa Zurbuchen, Matthew Daley, Maureen McGlynn, jenuh dan tertekan oleh pembatasan sosial, tetapi kemudian adalah Nancy Peluso, Patricia Henry, Paul Wolfowitz, kreativitas. Ketika toko-toko buku ditutup, akses terhadap buku-buku Rachel Cooper, Rohmad Hadiwijoyo, Samuel digital (ebook) meluas. Beberapa orang/komunitas membagikan ebook Wealty, Sheelach Killen, Sidney Jones, Sofia Fifi gratis—entah dari membeli atau bajakan. Juga film-film yang bisa Mansoor, Stephen H. Grant, Stephen J. Epstein, ditonton di kanal YouTube. Dari luar, orang bisa menonton pameran Syakib Bafaqih, Terance Bigalke, Thomas Hudak, seni rupa secara daring. Tina McCoy, Toeti Heraty, Troy Wray, Wendy Gaylord, Wynne Cougill, Yoke Panchawardan. Dunia makin tanpa batas, justru ketika pandemi mengganas. Diskusi daring, terutama di kanal Zoom dan Instagram, tumbuh seperti cendawan di musim hujan. Saya mengikuti hampir semua diskusi daring yang diselenggarakan oleh sejumlah komunitas. Terlebih-lebih Account Name: Yayasan Lontar Nusantara bikinan penerbit Teroka Press. Sesungguhnya, kita patut bersyukur Bank Name: CIMB Niaga Tbk. karena pembatasan sosial ini. Kreativitas kita jadi meledak, kian banyak Bank address: Jl. Raya Penjernihan, Jakarta ragam-macamnya. 10210 Pandemi memang belum akan berakhir. Kegiatan diskusi daring Account number: 8001-1442-3640 juga masih jauh dari kata sudah. Beberapa buku sastra terbit melalui Swift code: BNI AI DJA penjualan daring. Kata seorang teman, dalam sebulan novel Burung Kayu karya Niduparas Erlang tebitan Teroka Press terjual 600 eksemplar. Satu omset yang lumayan bagus, yang belum tentu bica dicapai jika novel itu dipajang di rak toko buku konvensional. https://give2asia.org/lontarfoundation/ Kita cemas oleh kematian yang mendunia, tetapi masih menaruh harapan pada kreativitas terbaik. Kita belum lagi akan menyerah. Hari

belum lagi akan malam—meyadap larik puisi Chairil Anwar.

Zen Hae ([email protected])

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