Jurnalistik FIKOM UNPAD Student's News: My Home is The Street

The sun is down. Adzan of maghrib is being sounded to people. Such a beautiful sunset. Its always been like this, the nature alarm recall us to stop working and go home. The family is waiting there to welcome you with a big warm hi. Home is what people reference to a solid house with a rooftop to protect you from rain. But not for Arini (19), she is still working at this time with her guitar on the hand and try to get people enjoy by her song, of course she espected money after it. Well, she is the same with everybody else having her own home. But the meaning of home for her is Basement Agung Mosque, Alun-alun Bandung West Java.

Her baby Dini (6 month) is waiting for her there. Not with the maid she can rent. On the park in front of The Agung Mosque she left her child, ofcourse she left her with family. But the meaning of family on Arinis term is not who share a blood or the last name together. Family is for her is Indra (23) her husband, Noveri (36), Ujang (15), Mama Dede (54), Jimmi(28) and all the people who live on the street of Alun-alun Bandung.

Alun-alun Bandung was a place were Paris Van Java time of Bandung take place. Not only because its closed to the central of the city, the famous main street is also there, Jalan Asia Afrika. The street was Beautifull that’s the answer that you will get from old generation of Bandung West Java people. The beautiful mosque sat on the corner of Jalan Asia Afrika, old theaters was a breeze of fun that accessorized the street. A big conference hall is what makes history for Asia and Afrika. The street was clean as it was in Europe because the old building was still designed by the Ducth colony. But the weather they say is the best its like the weather in southern French in summer.

If you see it now your will stood there and think, were they making up the stories? The beauty of Alun-alun Bandung is thorn by a striking era with a big glimpse cause called poverty. Many seller on the street open their stall. A lot of people just litter around the place. Even people also live there like Arinas “family”.

Like most of the people who lived on the street, Arinas excuse is she doesn’t have family or people she comfort to live with. She confess she does have family but they don’t understand her. That’s why she run away and married Indera about a year ago. Indera is a plastic trash picker in Alun-alun Bandung. He doesn’t work for the government. Indera have a different story from Arina. He’ve been living on the street for years already. When Indera and Arina is working, Dini will be with anyone on the park who is not working. She was with Noveri all the time.

Noveri a guy who said born on the street said he’ve been everyehere on the street in Indonesia. He is known as Ucok by his friends because he is from Siantar, Medan, North Sumatra. His parents passed away. That’s why he prefer living on the street rather then being adopted. He is holding Dini gently. Dini was really calm and didnr even giving a sound. She was like that with everyone who holded her. As if she know she should be calm. “She was born on the street that’s why she control herself.”said Ucok.

This life that they choose for the path doesn’t meant they don’t care to each other. Ofcourse they know the cant live there. But where they can live? Indonesia is such a rich country for natural resources but people like Ucok don’t make on the list for the paycheck of his own countries wealthy.

“Indonesian people like us was being captured by the cops. But people from outside the country like in Jalan Jaksa or Kampung Bali (Jakarta) just live happily” said Ucok. The statement does make us t agree but to naïve to justify. The beauty of Indonesia is not ruined by itself but ruined by the people who doesn’t want to contribute themselves to the country or overcontribute themselves to their life.

Ujang was singing and playing guitar with the other member of the “family” while Ucok was giving lullaby for Dini. A portrait of family that doesn’t look usual. “The street is my home.” Said Ujang.