12. Culture within a culture

A couple of days ago, we were part of a ceremony sending people to Southeast Asia. What an excited group of people it was. 

Being South African means being adaptable; we tend to adapt easier than water in a mold—that is if you are open to it. In our case, our love for people and our love for the Island of Sumatra tend to flare up the moment we hear the words Southeast Asia—it's like a little spark going off inside. 

This had me thinking about how powerful culture and its influences are in the world and how delicately it needs to be approached. It is a dance of "give and take" and cherishing what makes it authentic.

A quick geography and history lesson 

Culture 1 :

Between the Palm trees, rice fields, mountains, and waves, you find a culture deeply rooted in tradition, spirituality, and a strong connection to its natural environment. 

The Culture consists of Lampung, Rejang, and Mandailing people. Here in the South at Krui, it is all Lampung. 

Sumatra is the sixth-largest island in the world. It was originally called Svarṇadvīpa ('Island of Gold’) due to the gold deposits in its highlands.

I believe the Gold is found in the people.

Culture 2

Surfers first came to the Island in the 1980s, just after all the Indonesian political changes. They are commonly referred to as rebels, hippies, free spirits, or, on the more positive side, well-built sportsmen and women with a passion deeply rooted in the ocean and nature.

This culture would later go on to be the reason for access to, and popularity of, many of the world's most beautiful beach destinations, such as Bali, Madagascar, Hawaii, etc.

In Sumatra, this culture coexists in a way. Western travelers, also known as “Bule,” bring in money on a scale that is unknown to the locals. The Lampung people feed them all the traditional food they can while the surfers share stories of waves and views. The smell of clove cigarettes, coffee, spices, and chicken saté explains everything.

Only a little is needed here. - Vicus -

Back to being South African: We get along with 99.9% of the world; we adapt, but we find ourselves with deeper connections to those who are also rooted in the same values as us: tradition, spirituality, and nature. 

This may be one of the reasons The Kru in Krui gets to build lifelong friendships, be invited into homes, share birthdays, cry, and laugh with the people of Sumatra. 

It’s within sharing these ordinary things in life that we start sensing our purpose (but more philosophy next time ha ha)

We can honestly say we have friends in the towns of Krui and Liwa who are local, who became local, and some who just never left… 

Share your culture, Share the stoke!