Gotong royong-working together; mutual cooperation
Mesyuarat-mutual exchange of views and avoidance of loss of face
Muafakat-consensus; mutual agreement
The world could benefit greatly from these key concepts that Indonesians live by. Do they really practice them?
Proof by Example: A True Story
A few Sundays ago, returning from the Christian Science church in Jakarta, the car I was in was rear ended 'lightly' by a 46 passenger tour bus, that was full of people. The damage was such that a new hatch back would be needed. A minor accident, to say the least.
[As a side note, I give God full credit for His amazing protection of all concerned.The First Reader of my church in Jakarta and her family owned and operated the car. We had just left a service where the subject heading of "God the Only Cause and Creator" and were reflecting on the message, when the love tap happened.]
Some facts: The driver of the bus was contracted by the bus company to drive. It was his second day. He was completely responsible for all situations that might happen and was uninsured. The bus company was not responsible for anything.
Most Jakartans are uninsured motorists. The car I was in was uninsured. Many drivers are unlicensed, too, as the enforcement is lacking.
Back to the true story:
The drivers got out of their vehicles and discussed what had happened. The bus company and names were exchanged.The bus driver told us to follow him to a place where more discussion could take place. The driver of my car was an older woman who drove more cautiously than the river of traffic and the bus was beginning to disappear ahead of us. She saw a police officer on a motor bike and just about ran him off the road to get him to stop. Unfazed he heard her story and took off in hot pursuit of the bus and successfully pulled him over. My hosts, the owners of the car, asked me to be part of all the discussions- by my attentive presence. They thought that my presence would give their side more leverage. I was very attentive to any tone and nonverbal clues and followed the conversation attentively, trying to look important, but when you can't understand the words, it is hard to look like a person to be reckoned with. I kept up appearances for 3.5 hours.
It was agreed that the parties would meet at the bus terminal just a few miles down the road, where there were police officers and others that could help them reach consensus. The motorcycle cop escorted our car to the station as if we were VIP's.
At the station, the discussion would go on for 5 hours and 15 minutes. At times the parties arms were across their chests, then arms would relax and they would all chuckle. Then earnest points would be made again. It continued like this for hours. At one point the bus company or city wanted to tow the car away and fix it. The tow truck was already called. My host wanted the Toyota dealership to fix it and wanted cash. At least then they would have some assurance that the quality would be good and if not, then it would be made right. The tow truck driver came over to my host with an old large rag and an old flip flop and wanted to know if he could take out the shattered glass of his car before it fell out. I too, was watching it ever so slowly side towards the ground. He was shooed away as the discussion was all encompassing and his tools were so dirty! He tried twice more as he continued to watch the slow descent of the glass and was rebuffed twice more. About 5:45 pm, I was told to get in the car and that they would take me home and then return to finish the negotiations. It dawned on my that my hosts had been negotiating with them on how to get me home. Of course I could have taken a taxi for $2.00, but that would not have shown what an important person I was and the responsibility that the host had in getting me to my destination! After awhile, it was decided that one police officer would stay with the bus driver and male host and the other police officer would drive in the host car and the daughter of the car owners hosts would drive. Before getting in I gestured while speaking English to the police officer that the glass situation was dangerous for motorcycles on the road behind us. He did not understand English, but he gestured over to the tow truck driver who finally got to use his "tools" and got the gift of a broken windshield! There was no place to put it so he had to take it with him, eventually.
I lived close by. The police officer in the host car, continued his happy tone and banter hoping to help the harmony of the situation by winning their trust. When we got to my apartment building, the host's daughter and the police officer got out to help me get my groceries up to my apartment. My host said that he wanted to help!!! I wish I could have taken a picture. When I unpacked my groceries, my ice cream was not even melted. The grocery clerk had encased it in a bag of ice. That is service for you.
End of story: Consensus- The bus driver would pay them $200 and they would keep their car. No one was fined or ticketed.
Muafakat-'nough proof for me!
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