Mosaic 4

Semarang: Back to Class

Semarang had ever been glorious and reached Golden age. Semarang was success to performed international fair in 1914 named koloniale tentoonsteeling or many people called it “sentiling” fair. That success was due to bravery and good cooperation between the Governor General Van Nederland Indie and the entrepreneurs of Semarang included merchant of sugar, Oei Tiong Ham. This activity was followed by many Asian and European countries and performed over land about 26 ha, from Randusari area, Candi until Pandanaran Street.

Imagined hurly-burly in the past, certainly our heart is tremble, how great and attractive Semarang in the past. Certainly the success ago became inspiration and spirit itself to shaped Asia Enchantment Semarang (SPA). The statement “if time ago it could, why cannot now?” we should broach as spirit lash.

Commemorate orientation and vision of Semarang city with SPA which began to be incited and developed, many ideas broached to reach the purpose of SPA.
In an introduction, Mayor Sukawi Sutarip stated that Asia Enchantment Semarang is event of art and culture performing international-level which spread out performing of dance and music as the result of spectacular collaboration of world-level artists or traditional artists each country.

Still more, Asia Enchantment Semarang 2007 is also promotion event in trade, service or investment include health and education element. Thus, there is a great dream to make Semarang as “Asia Window” which scatters civilization and development of Asia.


SPA is a process

It has to be convinced and supported that SPA is a good and bright idea to advances Semarang and in wider scope certainly to advances Indonesia. Nevertheless, there is a concept need to be developed related to SPA, is SPA actually activity or process?

Scatters and tries to conclude from background and direction of SPA in discourse available tend to refer that SPA is activity. SPA starts from the golden age because its “sentiling” fair and currently many culture, economic exhibitions and others in Semarang city in the purpose to make SPA. Both of them are a concrete evident that SPA is activity. Be careful of dangerous. If SPA is activity so the success will be enjoyed for a while and by only certain class (read: elite) so that does not permeates in Semarang society’s mentality themselves. The result is society confused how and why they have to participate.

To make SPA as own and effort together of Semarang society, it is needed effort of mentality implanting of possessing to Semarang itself. Therefore, it is needed a long enough time and high patient. If this can be done so success will keep for a long time and be enjoyed by entire society. Need to be thought the effective way to grows and develops the mentality.

SPA: Semarang Full of Hope

The writer bases on the fact in Semarang city, especially related to history heritage available. We can call some history heritage which has the great culture and history value exactly is unfinished and not taken care. Together we can see fate of Lawang Sewu building and Kota Lama. How tragic and pity those history building are. Whereas, the both of buildings are said as a symbol of Semarang likes Eiffel in Paris or Palace in Yogyakarta. And still many other old buildings which not be taken care.
Nature potential of Semarang is less exploited optimally or it is said only appears whatever there. We have potential places such as Gombel area can be developed as “telescope” area of Semarang or areas of sea shore can be developed as maritime recreation. From those two places even not develop optimally and on the contrary become minus place and reluctant to be visited.

The other side, Semarang has typical characteristic related to typical food for gift such as egg roll, presto milkfish, wingko babat, and many others. Actually it can be attraction and power itself to Semarang city.

I am sure there are many potential can be excavated from Semarang. Nevertheless, precisely more interesting and challenging is how to grow spirit of society to know, deepen, own, and develop Semarang. If today is glowing Asia Enchantment Semarang so we have to convince all of elements that there is Semarang Full of Hope.

Formal education line can be taken as effective media to grow mentality. SPA is just not only a little activity or exhibition but also process of mentality developing. Our young generation has to be prepared now to knows, deepens, owns, and develops Semarang city in order that always be Asia Enchantment whenever and whoever its generation. The glorious of the generation is it can prepare the next generation is better than now.

Borrowing the statement of Tukul often said at presenting Empat Mata (Four Eyes) Program at Trans7, Back to Laptop or Kembali ke Laptop, so it is a moment to Back to Class. This is getting to the point in how education in Semarang city has always education based on Semarang city.

Creativity of teacher to design process of learning based on Semarang city in the class is much demanded. The teacher of Indonesian Language can develops competitiveness of writing about potential of synergy Semarang by the lesson of History with the research about history heritage available. Sociology can also take a part through the research about synergy Semarang people with the lesson of Economic in the framework of global trade history.

Even design of learning can be done by active learning model based on Semarang city. It can be also done role play Semarang city by dividing role of the students so there is a student become mayor, House of Regional Representative (DPRD), institution of society self-supporting, or supporting fields. Therefore, SPA becomes also actual and interesting discourse in the class. Even the students are let to create in SPA posters appropriate to their version.

There are still many things can be developed in the class based on Semarang city. Through education based on this Semarang city is aimed to use to our students with their environment so the awareness and sensitiveness grows. Certainly we wish much that their love to Semarang city is much. Therefore, mentality of Semarang people through young generation is grown so Asia Enchantment Semarang is shaped because we sure Semarang Full of Hope.