Mahasiswi Kanada Nikmati Kehidupan Dayak

[caption id="attachment_100420" align="alignleft" width="292" caption="Savhanna Wilson (dua dari kanan) berbincang dengan warga sebelum menempuh perjalanan ke pedalaman. Foto by Severianus Endi"][/caption] The English version of this article can be read at the bottom. SEORANG mahasiswi asal Kanada, Savhanna Wilson (24), menjejakkan kakinya pertama kali di Bumi Borneo, Minggu (10/4) malam. Dia sedang dalam liburan semester dari program pertukaran mahasiswa di sebuah universitas internasional di Bangkok, dan ingin mengisi liburannya dengan melihat kehidupan tradisional orang Dayak di pedalaman. Awalnya, saya terkejut menerima sebuah email beberapa minggu lalu, dari seseorang mahasiswi asing. Ternyata, dia mendapatkan email saya dari sahabat lama saya, Christian Oesterheld seorang Jerman, yang kini menjagar di universitas di Bangkok. Christian menyarankan Savhanna untuk mengisi liburan, dengan mengalami langsung kehidupan masyarakat pedalaman. Saya tentu senang sekali dengan rencana itu, yang akhirnya benar-benar terealisasi. Berbagai rencana telah disusun sehingga Savhanna tinggal melaksanakannya selama sepekan tinggal di kampung saya, Balai Berkuak, Kabupaten ketapang, yang berjarak sekitar 200 kilometer dari Kota Pontianak. Adik saya sengaja datang menjemputnya, karena Savhanna ingin mengalami naik sepeda motor untuk jarak yang lumayan jauh itu. Savhanna yang belum bisa berbahasa Indonesia satu patah katapun, pasti bisa memberi motivasi bagi orang-orang muda di kampung pedalaman. Karena itu, adik saya yang juga guru di SMA di kampung, sudah mempersiapkan jadwal agar Savhanna bisa berkunjung ke beberapa kelas. "I'm studying the culture of some countries and I am glad to do the field research," ujar Savhanna, menjelaskah jika dia sedang mempelajari budaya beberapa negara dan senang melakukan studi lapangan. Beberapa kegiatan unik telah menanti Savhanna di kampung kami. Di antaranya, menyelam ke sungai untuk menembak ikan dengan senjata tradisional Dayak yang disebut sempetek. Sempetek berupa senjata mirip senapan kecil terbuat dari kayu, dengan peluru anak panah dari logam. Bagi orang pedalaman, mencari ikan dengan cara itu sering dilakukan pada musim kemarau. Mereka bisa pergi menyusuri sungai menggunakan perahu dayung. Kemudian menyelam di bagian sungai yang diduga tempat persembunyian ikan-ikan. "Rowing boat? That's sound amazing!" ucap Savhanna begitu tahu dia akan merasakan naik perahu dayung menyusuri sungai-sungai di tengah hutan. Kegiatan lainnya, dia akan ikut serta dalam latihan bela diri pencak silat bersama anak-anak desa, berkunjung ke beberapa sekolah, mendatangi rumah betang atau lamin Dayak yang masih tersisa, serta melihat tempat keramat di tengah hutan. Tempat keramat dulunya merupakan sarana pemujaan sistem kepercayaan animisme. Ini cukup penting bagi Savhanna, karena dia juga mempelajari sistem kepercayaan animisme di beberapa negara, sehingga bisa membuat perbandingan. Dia juga menyanggupi permintaan saya untuk menanam beberapa pohon di halaman atau di lahan milik orangtua saya. Jika pohon itu tumbuh dan berkembang, bisa menjadi semacam "monumen peringatan" atas kunjungan pertama Savhanna ke Indonesia, dan juga sebagai bentuk perhatian orang luar terhadap kehidupan tradisional di perkampungan. "I am pleased with all these plans, and I hope everything can be done," ucap Savhanna, menggambarkan rasa senangnya dengan semua rencana yang diharapkan bisa terlaksana. Dan pada Senin (11/4) pagi, Savhanna dan adik saya berangkat menuju kampung halaman kami dengan mengendarai sepeda motor. Saya berharap, kunjungan sederhana ini memberikan kebahagiaan bagi orang-orang di kampung. SEVERIANUS ENDI *Versi yang sudah diedit dari tulisan ini dimuat Harian Tribun Pontianak edisi Rabu, 13 April 2011. * Versi yang sama juga dimuat di situs tribunnews dot com di link ini dan juga di Banjarmasin Post di link ini. English version: Description of photo: Savhanna Wilson (second from right) talking with residents before trip inland. Photo by Severianus Endi Canadian Student Enjoy Dayak Traditional Life A college student from Canada, Savhanna Wilson (24), first set foot on Earth Borneo, Sunday (10 /4) night. She was on vacation semester of student exchange programs in an international university in Bangkok, and want to fill his vacation by looking at the traditional life of the Dayaks traditional life. Initially, I was surprised to receive an email a few weeks ago, from someone foreign student. Apparently, he got my email from my old friend, Christian Oesterheld, a German, who now teach at universities in Bangkok. Christian suggested Savhanna to fill the holiday, with direct experience of community life inland. I am certainly thrilled with that plan, which finally truly realized. Various plans have been prepared so that Savhanna implement a week-long stay living in my hometown, Balai Berkuak, Ketapang District, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, which is about 200 kilometers from the city of Pontianak. My younger brother come to pick her up, because Savhanna want to experience riding a motorcycle for a considerable distance away it. Savhanna who has not speak in bahasa Indonesia yet, certainly can give motivation to young people in rural villages. Therefore, my younger brother who is also a teacher in high school in the village, has prepared a schedule for Savhanna can visit several classes. "I'm studying the culture of some countries and I am glad to do the field research," said Savhanna. Some unique activities have been waiting for Savhanna in our village. Among other things, diving into the river to shoot fish with Dayak traditional weapon called sempetek. Sempetek a small gun-like weapon made of wood, with bullets and arrows from the metal. Look for fish in a way that is often done in the dry season. They can go down the river using a canoe paddle. Then dive in the river suspected hideouts fish. "Rowing boats? That's sound amazing! "Said Savhanna so know she will feel the rowing boat ride along the rivers in the middle of the forest. Other activities, he will participate in martial arts training with the village children, visited several schools, went to the long house or Lamin Dayak or rumah betang, and saw a shrine in the forest. Sacred place of worship once a means of animistic belief system. This is quite important for Savhanna, because she also studied the animistic belief system in some countries, so she can make comparisons. She also agreed to my request to plant a few trees in the yard or on land owned by my parents. If the tree was grown and developed, could become a kind of "memorial" on Savhanna first visit to Indonesia, and also as a form of attention outside of traditional life in the township. "I am pleased with all these plans, and I hope everything cans be done," said Savhanna, described the feeling of joy with all plans are expected to be accomplished. And on Monday (11/4) morning, Savhanna and my younger brother went to our hometown by riding a motorcycle. I hope these simple requests to provide happiness for people in the village. Written by SEVERIANUS ENDI * An edited version of this paper published edition Pontiac Daily Tribune Wednesday, April 13, 2011. * The same version was also published on the site tribunnews dot com on this link and also in Banjarmasin Post at this link.