A personal farewell to Jakarta

Dear Jakarta,
My first encounter with you, as a name detached from what you entail or represent, was when I was around four and found out that my sister was born in a place with your name, and I remember it only because of the following remarks from my parents,

“But actually she was born here in Surabaya. At that time, it was easier to obtain a certificate from Jakarta, though, for us, the Chinese.”

Only much, much later did I realize that my sister’s birth date being in June 1998 explains the statement above. An imaginary place conveniently used to obtain legal certificates — that was how I first understood you.

Luckily, one year-olds do not remember things happening around them, let alone TV broadcasts and newspaper headlines. Therefore, my impression of you could have been created in my first visit in 2003 by train, coincident with my uncle’s wedding. Sadly, I fail to recollect anything more significant than my other uncle’s blue Isuzu Panther kapsul, whose air conditioner was a major upgrade from the purple Isuzu Panther kotak my family had back home.

Then another uncle was getting married and made my whole family flew to visit you in 2006. As it was my first flight ever, I remember vividly that upon touching down at your Airport terminal, I pondered, “How could a national capital city have it worse than a provincial one?” Never did I expect that I the same conclusion holds true for most things and prevails till date.

My next visit was in 2017 and boy, did you not impress me with your pickpockets snatching away my phone on a train, then having your people blaming me for confronting suspects. You made me swear to never take on commuter train ever again — a promise I kept until my very last day in your city six years later. But it was only a personal casualty.

It does not compare with the series of racially-motivated protests taking place throughout the second half of 2016, which gained nationwide and international attention. Knowing how easy your people and politics could be swayed by banalities, was your biggest turn-off thus far. In contrast, I just do not see the same happening in my hometown. As you are the center of whatever was happening in the country, I guess you are somewhat responsible in having me losing my faith in the political future of this country.

Sometime in 2018, I heard that there was a consumer goods company sponsoring students for a five-day, all expenses paid excursion in your city. I signed up and got in, then from there heard that your private employers actually paid serious money, unlike those in my hometown. So I started thinking, maybe you are not so bad, money-wise. I then applied for various internships and got one with office at a Sudirman skyscraper in August the following year.

Luckily, I was right. I arrived after an overnight train ride on the dawn Monday, 18 November 2019 for my first full-time job, and three-and-a-half years later, I was pretty sure that while I did not end up with the best job in the whole city, it was indeed much more comfortable than the average. You gave me a good deal of independence, which I appreciate and hold very dearly. You made it possible for me to save up to pursue what I really wanted: a long break abroad, with the possibility of never returning.

I will forever remember Wednesday, 2 August 2023 — the day I left you. Weird that it felt melancholic for me. You, as a city, failed to impress me even up to that point, but I then realized that the friends I met and experience I had along the way should be the highlights — the who and the what I think of when I see or hear your name in the future.

I will come back to visit and eat some bakmi, or for a layover at least, that’s for sure — but God only knows when. Until then, please keep safe and get better in your own way.

Sincerely,
Jonathan