BTW: A North-South romance
for our times
This column touches issues deep and personal – an account of
our courtship which one day might lead to marriage. Have tissues handy.
We met by chance when I was attracted by the size of her lovely
resources. Of course as next door neighbors it was inevitable we’d bump into
each other, which we did in East Timor back in ‘99. It wasn’t love at first sight because the
differences at that time seemed greater than the similarities.
For example, we had conflicting religious beliefs, histories,
knowledge of the world and the way we see democracy. Our tastes are also
strikingly unalike. Dewi Sri is a rice
and chicken woman; I’m a wheat and sheep man. She’s chilli hot – I’m cold beer.
Despite these problems the relationship warmed along with
our language. I said: “Let’s strengthen
ties.” She expressed hopes for closer cooperation.
She claimed that improved support would be mutually beneficial. I added that the bonds of shared interests
could overcome any perceived difficulties.
We agreed that there’d be highs and lows but the future
retained significant possibilities.
“Our prosperity will be built on a successful and enduring partnership,”
she said. I said: “Working together will provide opportunities to gain greater
access to value chains for our needs, particularly if we stay in the ASEAN
region.”
Clichés sweeter than wine.
Words so bland the heart beat faster. We were getting closer.
We swapped gifts – meaning I gave and she received. Although I’m not well off by Chinese
standards she said she had even less, though her friends’ Mercedes and their Menteng
mansions suggested otherwise. Some
things have to be overlooked for love to prosper.
Her extended family needed help. We called this an ‘aid package’. It became our little joke.
Suddenly all went wrong.
Mistranslations, once laughed aside, became serious obstacles. For example, what she called ‘eliminating drug
traffickers’ I labelled ‘judicial murder’.
Her family got nasty saying I had territorial and proselytistic
ambitions, and only wanted to get my hands on her assets. She sent me some overseas visitors by boat. I
turned them back. “Keep out of my
sovereign space,” she snapped.
“How can such two vastly mismatched people get on, let alone
become intimate?” asked my Great Aunt Britannia and Uncle Sam. “You have so little in common.
“If you must go overseas for a partner pick someone like
yourself from Europe or North America. Better
the devil you know.”
But we’re determined to make our bond work, though to be blunt
it seems I want it more than she does.
Still, lovers can be fickle and no doubt she’ll come round given time.
We’ve put together a pre-nup. It’s called Succeeding Together. We are so happy about this that we want to
share the joy. Please download free from
http://australiaindonesiacentre.org/
It runs to 102 pages and includes a few pretty
pictures. There are a couple of symbolic
bridges to cross and some big trucks; these mean there’ll be heavy loads to
carry come the wedding.
You can see me on page 69 astride a horse, contemplating
cows. A man alone in the Ochre Outback, at peace with nature and himself. That’s the sort of stoic I am.
My beloved is a religious, emotional urban lady. She always
wants to be with others, so the page 70 picture has her with lots of
friends. Please tick LIKE. She needs
admirers.
To tell the truth much of the document is the work of my banking
mates Down Under, though I know my sweet would have wanted to contribute if only
we could have paid her more.
Some say this indicates a lop-sided view of the relationship
which doesn’t bode well for a contented marriage – but we know that love
conquers all.
Smiling Malcolm Turnbull and jolly Joko’s walkabout has
helped. Likewise the 360 business cheerleaders
we invited to Yogya and Jakarta last month.
They’re all expecting an engagement announcement anytime soon.
Don’t worry about all the charts and boring statistics. Just accept that these mean we’ll get lots of
money if everything works out as planned.
Maybe some will trickle down to you. Who knows?
Wish us well. Duncan Graham
##
(First published in The Jakarta Post 13 December 2015)
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