What brought me to Jakarta?

Standing on the covered balcony to my clients' Screening Room, I watched the much needed rain fall onto the grand driveway below.  It doesn't matter where you are, rain smells the same.  Taking a moment to relax I thought about what brought me to Indonesia.  Was it the Interior Designer who recommended me for the job?  Was it a deep down desire to travel that manifested into an opportunity to work?  Or, am I fulfilling some karma-driven objective from a past life?  As a butterfly flew past my nose I thought perhaps the true reason had to do with the act of giving.

Iden prepping the surface of
 a door before I turn it into wood!  :)

My Patron gave me the opportunity to do work for her.  As well, she and her husband are giving hundreds of Jakartans the same opportunity.  The estate is beautiful and it is because of their vision and the expertise of those they employ that make it so.

I thought about how I then proceeded to pass on their act of giving by teaching my helper, Iden (Eden), and giving him the opportunity to be my apprentice.  In return, he will then be able to give back to my client when I leave by being able to do touch ups and repairs to any of the work we've created.  What a beautiful circle.  And it is through open hearts that this happened.

Upon my arrival, I went directly to the job site.  It was what I wanted to do.  Get the lay of the land, and then go crash at my hotel. As I met everyone, I was introduced to Iden (about 19) and told he would be my helper.  He would get my water, sweep up, possibly paint.  I was surprised and relieved.  I didn't even know the word for water in Indonesian (air - pronounced as "ire").

My first time creating burl-wood,
professionally ©Studio Deeba 2011

Iden soon became my assistant and then became my apprentice.  He showed initiative and interest in what I was doing.  One day, I saw him looking at the way I was moving the stain across the door.  He wasn't  just interested in the "trick" of faux-bouis (wood-graining) but actually in the technique.  Hmmmmmmmm.....

As I worked that day, the wheels started to turn in my head and my heart.  I was learning about the poverty of Jakarta as I worked in this huge estate.  Now some people might want to approach this dichotomy with a sarcastic or judgmental thought, but I saw how my patrons were part of the community's survival.  Everyone helping the next person.

Iden, rolling a coat of sealer onto the door

And so Iden has started a career in decorative painting.  He is most willing to learn and most eager to do a good job.  He "gets it;"  this can be a way for him to earn an income, to provide for himself and a family one day.  I am so happy that this opportunity presented itself and that we could all experience such a wonderful way of giving that comes full circle.  It is a win-win, all the way around!

me in front of my work, mahogany burl-wood doors
©2011 Studio Deeba

Soon the rain stopped, I turned around, brush in-hand, and thought, this is the way life should work and I'm so happy to experience it.  This is why I came to Jakarta!