The new family moved from Hawaii to Jakarta, Indonesia. Barrack was six years old at the time. Barrack remembers growing up in a whole different world. He was exposed to sights and sounds; he would later come to realize that this impacted him in a way far greater than he could have anticipated. He remembers being different and much more than that he remembers the beauty, poverty and genuineness of the people. This experience made him want to understand how people are affected by their community and society.
Barrack attended SD Assisi and “SD Besuki Menteng. Both of these schools were located in the Jakarta region. There was some controversy that the two schools especially the later; SD Besuki Menteng was a base for Muslim fundamentalists. It was later explored and all rumors were put to rest. SD Assisi had no ties to any particular Muslim organization. It is simply a private Catholic school and SD Besuki Menteng is an elite public school which has no particular religious affiliation. Barrack was well liked by his classmates. He was known as very smart and somewhat mischievous.
Barrack remembers being taught to feel proud of his ethnicity. He was half white and half black. He was taught never to look down on others especially not to think he was ever superior to the local Indonesian people. She disliked Americans who came to Indonesia and looked down on the Indonesian people and their simple but divine culture. She did not want Barrack to be one of those people like tourists who brush poor locals away like bothersome flies. She believed everyone has something to share or offer to the world and that it was important to learn from these people. Barrack would play on the streets among the crocodiles and cockatoos. In one of his schools he got to read and learn about Islam much as you would be exposed to subjects such as French or German.
In 1970 August 15th, Maya Kassandra Soetoro-NG was born. And Barrack became a brother. Maya remembers Indonesia with fond memories. She had an easier adjustment to the country as she was born into the culture. It was definitely more challenging for Barrack; A different environment, a different father figure. He often struggled with his own identity.
Barrack delved into his new society. He ate chicken satay, fried rice and meatballs, all the traditional foods of Indonesia. He enjoyed the local children games and food. The streets were lined with lanterns like in some Island retreat. Children and adults would often go to the riverbanks and bathe. There were no devout, overly religious groups there. Religion was taken lightly and nobody questioned his mother faith or lack thereof. Locals would travel to the markets on foot, Vespas and bicycles. The whole vibe was indeed magical.
All the while, his mother taught him about values, decency, honesty and integrity. She taught him to say what he means and to mean what he says. He was living in a lush setting, full of wonder but this romantic veil did not conceal well Indonesia’s hidden deficit.
Street gangs and violence were becoming more and more prevalent or at least more exposed to Barrack’s mother. She knew she needed to provide the best education for Barrack while keeping him safe. Indonesia was a great experience for him but at what cost. She could not turn a blind eye to the corruption and poverty that was so much a part of Indonesia at that time.
Barracks mother decided it was best if she sent Barrack back to Hawaii to live with his Grandparents.
