Patrick Perez in love with his host country

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The Jakarta Post
February 03, 2008
Features


Patrick Perez in love with his host country
Gama Harjono, Contributor, Jakarta


He emanates an air of humility and claims to be shy. But a chat with French culture envoy Patrick Perez is as enjoyable as a stroll through Paris.

With over twenty years' experience in promoting the French language and culture overseas, the director of Centre Culturel Fran‡ais in Jakarta beamed with pleasure as he confessed his love for Indonesia.

He was the one who chose Indonesia, a long way from his home, the quaint town of Cambrai in the north of France. Deliberate and prepared, the size of Indonesia's capital nevertheless caught him by surprise upon his arrival in September 2006.

"I start my working day by arriving at my office at eight and leave late," and he added how he found it easy to work with his professional team in Jakarta. "I had to train a lot my personnel when I led the Alliance Fran‡aise in Pakistan."

Asked to complete a Proust Questionnaire, Perez proved his appreciation for equality. "I prefer that my staff and I address one another with tu," he said he did not like to use the formal French pronoun of vous.

And he added the quality he looked for in others was frankness. On the questionnaire he scribbled "being frank and sometimes not knowing how to lie" -- as his weaknesses.

Questioned on the "rivalry" between cultural institutes in Indonesia, Perez said he preferred collaboration to competition. "We sometimes work with the other European institutes. These collaborations are important."

"Yes, it's important to get to know the locals through mastering their language." And that's why he takes an Indonesian lesson once a week. "And anyway you'll have to communicate in Bahasa once you're on the street."

Regarding his shyness he said, "particularly when I see a group of Indonesians at a function, I want to come up to talk to them but I don't know if I should disturb them or not".
Indonesia has taught him a few things, he admitted.

"I have learned to smile a lot and to say hello to everyone. I feel that when Indonesians smile and greet me, it's usually done with sincerity."

Promoting his country's language and culture is his lifelong occupation. "The main audience for CCF (the Centre) is those between the age of 20 and 30, but I try to get everybody in," explained Perez. "And that's why we diversify our events."

With the aim of reaching as many Indonesians as possible, Patrick Perez prioritizes Indonesians in the arts. He tries to always vary his programs, whether photography exhibitions, pantomimes, and even the occasional circus.

And the rock music-lover doesn't hesitate to go the extra mile. "I thought, where do we find Indonesians? So we organized a musical event at a shopping centre and recently a contemporary dance show at Taman Menteng in Central Jakarta."

Another practical approach employed by the genial Perez is extending the opening hours of the library and mediath‚que at the Centre. The 4000 plus members can now reserve items for loan on the Internet, then pick them up later.

CCF French language courses have also proved popular. The Salemba campus alone engages tens of teachers, offering regular, intensive and specialized classes seven days a week.
Patrick Perez remained calm about a "hot issue" that is on many French lips -- if not heads: the headscarf, banned by the secular country's state schools and government offices.
But Perez explained that the policy was not, in fact, a ban on the headscarf. "It's not just Muslims. The ban applies to all types of religious symbols.

"I respect people regardless of their religion. Ten percent of France's roughly 60 million inhabitants are Muslim. This is the reality in France," he said.

During the fasting month of Ramadhan, the Centre screens French movies about Islam in francophone countries.

About the banlieau riots in Paris, he said, "Just like any other country, France has its share of social problems. And unfortunately its pretty tough for some French youth right now."

The 42-year-old says he reads the Koran. He began his career as a French language teacher while serving his military in Syria. He says he's not an expert on Islam, but his CV shows more than 20 years of ministerial postings in countries with largely Muslim populations.

For Perez, passion means politics and the Middle East. Peace in the region where the world's most influential religions meet is his dream. He paused for a second before continuing, "I have two adopted children in Lebanon, one Muslim and the other Christian."
"One of them lives in a conflict area and I am very worried. I hope everything will be fine". The other child is living in Venezuela.

Perez said he found Muslims in Indonesia open and tolerant compared to the Middle East. He has explored Java and Sulawesi knowledgeable about local customs. He also admits -- like so many others -- that he adores the "island of gods", Bali.

Given his popularity in the capital and environs he said he was sometimes recognized in public, "Sometimes even in Bali people come up and say hello." He prefers mixing with locals to attaching himself to Jakarta's European communities. "I like to talk and have discussions with Indonesians, that's what I am here for. I have a three-year term in Indonesia and may extend it for an extra year."

Asked where he would like to live if he could chose any country he readily responded "France and Indonesia".

Twenty years ago Perez left France to discover new cultures and he is still pursuing them. On Sundays the humble director explores the capital by motorbike. You might just run into him at Monas national monument playing soccer with the locals.

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