NIPPON MARU CORNER: JAKARTA KEREN !
In 1989, the participants of the Nippon Maru Program underwent a deeply memorable chapter of their journey during their stay in Jakarta. Upon arrival in the capital, they were formally welcomed by local organizers and youth organizations before being introduced to the foster families who would host them during the homestay period. These first encounters were marked by warmth and gentle awkwardness, which gradually dissolved, signaling the beginning of intimate, human connections between the participants and the Indonesian families who embraced them as temporary members of their households.
Throughout the homestay, participants lived in the homes of their foster parents across various neighborhoods of Jakarta. They took part in daily family routines—sharing meals, exchanging stories in the living room, and lingering conversations late into the evening. Through these simple yet meaningful interactions, participants came to understand the depth of Indonesian family values, social customs, and the rhythms of urban life in the late 1980s. Language often posed a challenge, yet laughter, gestures, and mutual goodwill bridged what words could not.
During the daytime, participants reconvened for the program’s official activities. They visited government institutions, cultural centers, and schools, and engaged in dialogue with Jakarta’s youth and university students. These discussions opened spaces for exchanging perspectives on development, education, and the responsibilities of the younger generation. The homestay experience lent a living context to these conversations, allowing participants to connect public discourse with the private realities of the families who hosted them.
As the Jakarta visit drew to a close, a farewell gathering was held with foster parents and local organizers. Cultural performances, small tokens of gratitude, and heartfelt expressions of thanks filled the evening with emotion. For many participants of Nippon Maru 1989, Jakarta was far more than a port of call; it became a place where cross-cultural friendship was nurtured through everyday life, leaving an enduring emotional imprint long after they returned to the ship.
IPY-89
