Mimpi

Whenever i hear the word “kampung” (village), i imagine a place where someone’s parents live or where the extended family lives; or a place where someone lives surrounded by paddy fields and mountains, where human beings and nature are equally important; or a part of a city where the word “slum” always get associated, where the choice of a better life never shows itself (this last one is what happens in Indonesia, that is why i prefer the word “kampung” instead of “village”. Because the word “kampung” in Indonesia sometimes associated with “slum”).

Kampung as part of the city in Surabaya has another face, a pretty face. The small houses almost always get ornamented by plants. The pavements are either made of cement, asphalt, or pavement blocks; and are clean. The sewers are running well. The trash bin are uniformed in every kampung. Motorcycles riders always stop their vehicles and walk along holding it, so the noise will not bother the neighborhood.

Kampung as part of the city in Surabaya does not make me crinkle my nose every time i take a step just because i am afraid of stepping on some animals’ litter or another litter. Those kampungs in Surabaya does not make me hold my breath to avoid the smell that usually come from the sewer. Those kampungs are not vile.

In the year 1969 Surabaya’s local government initiated a program to fix post-war kampungs, which are kampungs that grew and expanded after the war when the war heroes went back to their own hometowns. This program involving Surabaya’s local government, Technology Institute of Surabaya (lecturers and students), and the community of kampung Kebalen, Surabaya. The main objective of this program is to improve the physical condition of kampungs that were still living below standard. This program were completed by 1981, and the people of kampung Kebalen is still able to maintain the improvement until now.

Surabaya had became a witness as well as an actor in kampung improvements. Surabaya had became a witness that local government, academics, community, and citizens can work together to create a better life. Surabaya had became an actor in the improvement when the same people really act together to create a better life.

And yes, in those kampungs we visited there were a lot of chicken and other animals running around. But the residents always make sure that their litter do not make their kampung dirty.

Maybe the choice of a better life supposed to be created, not only yearned.