Yogyakarta In My Mind Eps 3

Culture Shock

By Debby Zunta

      The first day of school came with orientation day. I was placed in grade 10 D. D was for Demeter. It was not because of my named. Ahh, I haven’t told that I am Debby. Every class had name. There was five class A, B, C, D, and E. I had forgotten another. I just remembered my class. It used the name of jade greece. Demeter was the goddness of the harvest and agricultur, Uncle Google said. It didn’t mean anything.

    I was feeling exited to be here. Everyone called this school as STERO. Stella Duce loro. Loro was two, because there were three high school named Stella Duce in the province of Yogyakarta. My school was homogen school. I meant all of the student were girl. No boys exept the teachers. It was one thing that I like from my school. I was thinking that my school was so great, but it was not. It was a small area with many many tree that made it so green. It was in the middle of the city but still had so many tree that made the students feel comfort. The picture that I still remebered alot was the statue of Maria. I ever said that it was a chatolic school.  I never thought that religion was a problem. It was because everyone had a right to believe what was they think it right. I can’t force or hate another. The prophet Muhammad said so. Although, I really suprised in the first. It really different from what my junior high school teacher said. I meant Mr. Aloysius. He said that STERO was not tell about chatolic religion, but in fact I had to learn. I also had to join their praying. It was hard to me to find place for praying. I ever asked to my senior where the place I can do for praying because I was a mouslem. She didn’t give me the answer, instead asked me to go to the headmaster office. So, I went there with my friend named Vanya. 

“ Exusme Mom, I am Debby, may I ask something?” I was really brave, in the front of her office.

“ Yes, what can I help you, girl?” She came to me.

“ I want to pray, can you show me the place? I mean I am a muslim.” I asked.

“ Oh, so you are a muslim, okay let me take you to Mrs. Din, she knows about it.” She took me to Mrs. Din.

“ Hello Mrs.Din, this girl ask where she can pray, she is a muslim.” The headmaster said.

“ Okay follow me, girl. Who is your name?” Mrs. Din said.

“ Thank you so much Mrs. Din , I am Debby.”

      From that time I knew that Mrs. Din also a mouslim in STERO. I was feeling happy to know it. She shown me to pray in the unit healt of school (UKS). It was quiet enough and there was the mukena. At least, I can calm down my heart for all this new things that I just learned.  

      There were so many new thing I learned in this place, espesially in my friends. I used Indonesian language to speak, no more Javanese. Eventhough I was Indonesian, but there were so many Indonesian vocabulary that I just knew. I was feeling stupid, but in that time I thinked that I was a lucky girl. Yes, of course I knew that I can understand more. How about if I was stay in Cilacap, I would become a villager girl. The second new thing was I was full of unconfident feeling in fashion. I came form village and I only brought a few cloths. It was very very Kampung if I remember. The moment I felt it when my senior ask me to join her to mall. I was confused, she always comment with all that I wore. Her named was Mugi. I called her kak Mugi. She was very styles. All of her cloths were branded. Then Kak mugi found me a good cloth to go. Good meant look more styles like city girl act. My mother never tought  me how to be styles. My father also never commented about my style. And I never care about it. It felt not important for me.” must I do this?”. 

      City was so confusing for me. Living in the city made me confused about how to go to another place . There were so many way and I was worry to go by my self only. My cousin accompany me only for nine days. After that I asked to my self “how should I do?”. I had to survive by my self . This was my choise to be here in Yogyakarta. What ever the way, I would cross. I belived that there was no easy way to go to good life in the future.  It was my truth that asked me to strive. 

      The fondation of my truth was that my parents. I had forced them to believe in me. To believe that it was the best choise, but actually I was not sure.” am I right?”. Sometime I asked to my another side of my heart, whether Allah hates me? whether Allah still hear what I ask? 

       I will not tell about religion only. It was about my feeling in that situation. There were too much people asked to me, “why I choose to school in the chatolic school and it is also a private school, you have a good grade”. Even my parents, they are often complain about it, but they are always support me in every way I go. So, I know I can go everywhere I want.