Why I want to go to this place — 1 year ago
my husband is from Indonesia. I want to go there with him, and see where he comes from. I want to experience his culture directly.
We are both part Dutch. He teases me because my Dutch part is so diluted—I am 13th generation US. His parents are Dutch-Indonesian, both of them. His mother looks totally Asian, and his dad is so ancient you can’t tell anything about his ancestry.
Before I ever met him, I gave myself a name Gamelan—after an Indonesian musical instrument. Later, I found a recording of this instrument—it was a very esoteric recording, before “world music” had a section in Borders, and before Borders. And later, I hung an Indonesian mask on my wall. I spent a lot of money—for me—on it. It had huge long tresses and crazy eyes, and was meant to keep the house safe from fire. I find all this very odd. The only other really odd recording I ever bought was of Harry Partch US Highball or Barstow.
