Obama's Indonesian Classmates: We Are Proud of You, Barry

Barack Obama: The 44th U.S. President

By Mulyanda Djohan　

JAKARTA. Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Old friends and teachers of U.S. newly-elected President Barack Obama in Indonesia celebrated his inauguration on Wednesday, expressing happiness and pride of him.

These people reunited in the primary school of SDN Menteng Besuki 01 Jakarta in down town area for their memory with Barry, the way they called small Obama at that time, and to celebrate the success of their friend.

Obama has made friends with his classmates and teachers in Indonesia, who know his personality and character years ago and put hopes and trust on him to bring peace to the world and an end to the global economic crisis.

Several sets of pictures showing small Obama studying in the school were displayed at the entrance of the school. The photos showed Obama, with short curly hair and a little bit fat and taller body, cheerfully sat among his classmates. It seems that Obama had been socially and culturally united with his Indonesian friends with various ethnic backgrounds.

With cheer and happiness, the attendees of the celebration enjoyed very much the moment which was enlivened by performance of music, singing and reading of the history of Obama's childhood in Jakarta.

Obama's tremendous career has let the people whom he knew and was acquainted with in the primary school in Jakarta admire him very much.

"For us, as friends of Barry, it has been a happiness, because we can not imagine that one of our classmates can become a president. We are proud of his achievement," said Bernaldi Hadi, one of Obama's old friends.

"To Obama, all your friends and teachers in primary school of SDN Menteng Jakarta congratulate for your success to become the U.S. president," said Tina Hayari, the head master of the primary school when Obama studied there.

During his four years in Indonesia, Obama made friends with various cultural and ethnic backgrounds, as the country is comprised of hundreds of ethnic groups, which then contributed to his personality.

In the photo display, Obama was seen among his friends wearing various colorful ethnic uniforms to celebrate the Kartini Day, an event to remember the heroic deeds of an Indonesian woman, named Kartini.

"Barry experienced such diversity," said Rully Saad, one of Obama's friends.

"He is easy to adapt, cares a lot with environment, and has a strong capability to learn new things," said Dewi Asara Oetojo, another Obama's friend.

Effendi, one of Obama's teachers, said that his pupil was easy going and had often raised questions during the class session.

"He was very polite with people around him, including his seniors. And he was enjoying raising questions to teachers," said Effendi, who goes with a single name like many Indonesians.

But, Effendi said that Obama was a little bit fond of teasing girl classmates.

"He has a good heart but often teased girls," said Effendi.

"Mrs. Ati Kisjanto's long hair used to be pulled by Barry," he said. Kisjanto was also present at the celebration.

Still, the teacher expected very mush that his brilliant student could terminate the war, violence and global recession as well as bring progress to the relations between Indonesia and the United States.

"I hope after Barry becomes president, he can create world peace, end the economic crisis and build a better diplomatic ties with Indonesia," said Effendi.

Ati Kisjanto, one of Obama's girl classmates, said that Obama's position has been a good bridge that should be well used by Indonesia.

"Obama is a good bridge as he understands more about the Indonesian culture. And we must catch this opportunity," she said.

The Indonesia-U.S. relation was once hampered by a human rights issue, as the U.S. forbid Indonesia to purchase spare parts of military planes due to poor human rights record before and after the referendum in Timor-Leste in 1999. However, it has started to recover.

Ahmad Solihin, vice principle of the SDN Menteng Jakarta Primary School, is optimistic that the new U.S. president could be better than his predecessors in addressing the global problems.

"I expect that Obama would be different from the previous presidents of the United States. He would be better than them," said Solihin.

On current issues of the Middle East conflict, the school's Principle Hashimah expected that Obama could stop such violence faster in the future.

"I hope Obama can take wise decision and actions as he used to live in Indonesia, a country with strong tolerance and understanding of each other," she said.

U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron R. Hume said that President Obama had learned social skills in the primary school.

"The importance for President Obama is the years he was here and the years he learned his social skills as much from the faculty and his friends in his class," he said.

Posted: www.chinaview.cn