From Jakarta, Indonesia to Oamaru via London

The Oamaru Mail continues Migrant Musings, a series of interviews with newcomers who call Waitaki home.

With so many people migrating to Waitaki each month, we want to tell stories about their experiences to gain a better understanding of the different cultures that make up our community.

This week, Maddy Maxwell, Waitaki Multicultural Events Coordinator, speaks to Hendriani Trisaptayuni from Indonesia, who recently joined the Waitaki Multicultural Council committee.

Madam: Hendriani, tell us when you came to Oamaru and why?

Hendriani: We came to Oamaru in 2012 because my husband got a job at Lean Meats (they’re called BX Foods now) — the freezing works. He’s a Halal butcher. That’s the beginning of me coming to Oamaru. Before that we lived in Auckland. We came to New Zealand in 2010.

I am originally from Indonesia, from Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. It is a big city and I like Oamaru very much because it is peaceful, there is not much traffic here.

I have two children. My son is studying psychology at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch and my daughter is at Waitaki Girls’ High School. They’re almost Kiwis now, because you know, especially my daughter, who’s lived in New Zealand since she learned to speak. But I still speak to my children, my language, because I don’t want them to lose their language.

I learned English in high school and I wanted to go to London to do a one-year English course. I ended up liking it and stayed there for six years, studying and working.

In Indonesia, we all have to learn English, and I think most of the teachers back then were from the United States. But when I was in the UK, the language was very different — not just the accent, some of the different words they used and the way they used it.

Like mom or mama, and when I was learning English in the US they used to say 2:30 for the time, but when I was in the UK they used to say 2:30. And then I think it was only recently that people started saying 1:30.

Madam: Tell me about when you first arrived here. Did you have any experiences dealing with misunderstandings about culture or language?

Hendriani: I just noticed that in New Zealand they use greetings like ”how are you” is a greeting. In other countries ”Hi, how are you?” is a question and then they wait for the answer, but I’ve met people in New Zealand who say, ”hey, how are you going?” and then they just walk away. I’m like, what do you think of my answer? I have some Kiwi friends who tell me that — yeah, they’re your friend if they’re waiting for you to answer, that means they want to talk to you, but sometimes they’ll just say ”hi” on the way. It’s fine, I’m used to it now.

Madam: Tell me about your work.

Hendriani: Now I work as a carer at Observatory Village Lifecare. In Indonesia I was a banker and for eight years before that when I was in the UK I worked mainly in hospitality and retail. When I came here I started working at McDonald’s because I used to work at McDonald’s in the UK. I found it a bit difficult to find a job within a month so I told myself if I didn’t get a job in that area I would just go to any McDonald’s because I had the experience. The manager took me into the kitchen and asked me what all the sandwiches were and I said ‘Okay, that’s that, that’s for that’ so I applied and got the job.

There was one change when we came here, surprisingly I became more aware of learning more about my religion here in Oamaru because my husband is a Halal slaughterer and he has to do everything according to Islamic law, Sharia, so it forced us to learn more and understand the value of Islam better.

I didn’t want to explain to the manager why I wanted to change, so I just decided to look for another job. When I got the invitation for the interview, I just came with the new look — with the hijab and then I got the job. That means they can accept me. Because at that time I felt like I didn’t want to explain to people why I chose to wear a hijab.

Seven years ago, our Muslim community was five families and we prayed together in each other’s houses, but then we grew, so we raised money and created an incorporated community. And now we have our Islamic Center. When I hear about newcomers, I reach out and let them know that we have a place to pray. And I think even for the community, seeing a physical representation — that there’s a place for you here. You know, not just quietly in your own house, you’re actually out there and in the community and have your own space. It’s good.