This afternoon we had a visit from Ika’s friend Aisa, who is from Bogor Java. Aisa is married to an English guy and lives in England. I wanted to hear about her life, so fired off some questions her way.
Baliblog: Aisa you’re from Bogor West Java, how old are you?
Aisa: I’m 26.
Baliblog: Your husband Cliff is from England and you have a young son. How old is Albert?
Aisa: Albert is 4 years old.
Baliblog: Basically you live in England. How many years have you spent in England?
Aisa: I’ve been living in England for the past 5 years.
Baliblog: Was it difficult for you to adjust to life in England?
Aisa: Yes definitely, because we are a different culture and obviously we have to fit in.
Baliblog: What was the hardest thing about moving to England?
Aisa: The weather.
Baliblog: Particularly, was it the wet weather or the cold weather, or what?
Aisa: The cold weather.
Baliblog: What do you wear when you go outside?
Aisa: Many many jumpers.
Baliblog: What about getting used to the food?
Aisa: The food at the beginning I found really hard to get used to, but now I am kind of used to the food and I know I can cook Indonesian as well.
Baliblog: Do you have any favourite English food?
Aisa: Yes, Sunday dinner, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.
Baliblog: Did you marry Cliff in Indonesia or England?
Aisa: In England.
Baliblog: I married Ika in Java and had to change my religion. Are you both the same religion?
Aisa: No, we had a wedding in England have will a second wedding in Java, where he has to be converted.
Baliblog: Was your family happy when you got married?
Aisa: Yes, definitely.
Baliblog: Do they plan to visit England?
Aisa: No I can’t see that happening, although I would love to have them over.
Baliblog: You come to Bali once a year pretty much. Why do you come to Bali, seeing as you’re from Java?
Aisa: We always spend time in Java, but we’re always going to Bali to get transport and that’s obviously a destination on the way to Lombok. So we pass Bali and see friends as well.
Baliblog: Is it your ambition to come back and live in Bali?
Aisa: Yes. I would love to come back and live in Indonesia.
Baliblog: Do you think it will be Bali or Java?
Aisa: We prefer Java, my husband prefers Java.
Baliblog: Do you have any advice for an Indonesian lady who is getting ready to marry a foreigner and live overseas?
Aisa: Try to understand people.
Baliblog: Was it hard for you to make friends in England?
Aisa: It is very hard, because western women are very complicated. It is very difficult to makes friends over there. You don’t what they liked and its not easy.
Baliblog: You don’t think Indonesian women are complicated?
Aisa: I don’t know. Maybe because I grew up as an Indonesian, so I don’t find them complicated.
Baliblog: When you say ‘complicated’, what do they do that is complicated?
Aisa: Their ambition, how can I describe it. They’re life style, is completely different.
Baliblog: When you come back to Indonesia, do you see the locals in the same way? Have you changed a bit?
Aisa: It has changed a little but, but in a good way. I always think Indonesia is a beautiful country and how lucky we are.
Baliblog: Your son Albert was born in England. Is he a British citizen or Indonesian?
Aisa: He’s a British citizen.
Baliblog: Will you get him an Indonesian passport later?
Aisa: Yes, obviously I heard a few things about the law changing, for the mixed marriage children. I would love to because that would be easier for him to travel.
Baliblog: Does Albert like living in England?
Aisa: I think he likes both, he is very easy to adapt, except for the weather.
Baliblog: Do you find it easier to look after Albert in England or Indonesia?
Aisa: To be honest it a lot easier here. In England you have to be careful of strangers, you have to be careful here, but I don’t really worry here because its normal for people to look after kids.
Baliblog: Its more normal
Aisa: Yes.
Baliblog: Any advice for a western women planning to marry an Indonesian man?
Aisa: I can’t suggest anything because I don’t know (laughing).
Baliblog: So its just not a good idea?
Aisa: Maybe, it depends (laughing).
Aisa, Cliff and Albert are out in Indonesia for 5 months. Lucky them is what I say. Cliff is a hard working carpenter back home and a surfer in Indonesia. Aisa’s accent is really weird, totally from some English county, then she drops straight back into Bahasa Indonesia. Coming from Bogor in west Java, Aisa also speaks Sundanese.
