from the editor-in-chief
The Business of People
Selamat datang.
It’s a small world – this one of oil, gas and energy. And whether you’re on the upstream, midstream, downstream or energy side, you’ll likely rotate among companies and organizations, only to resurface with the same familiar faces but with a different business card.
I recently felt something similar, and the sensation of déjà vu, when I attended two events hosted by the Asia Society Texas Center in Houston. One was about the Indonesian economic, industry and political climates, and the other was about the relationship between China and the United States as it relates to industry, sustainability and economics.
My father worked for a major oil company as
I was growing up. The last family assignment was in Jakarta, Indonesia, and it’s from there that I graduated high school at the Jakarta International School.
There hasn’t been much opportunity since my high school days, in the circles I’ve traveled, to use my Bahasa Indonesia, until recently.
During the Indonesian workshop keynote presentation by Muhammad Lutfi, head of Investment Coordinating Board for the Republic of Indonesia, I was seated next to a couple of distinguished gentlemen representing the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to the United States, based in Washington, D.C., and Houston. The gentleman on my right passed me a plate of butter for my bread.
“Terima kasih,” I said, and he did a double take, meeting my “thank you” with a smile and asking, “You speak Bahasa Indonesia?” I laughed, but at least the question was in English, and I replied, “sedikit,” with a gesture to signify “a little.”
“You don’t look like you speak Bahasa Indonesia,” he said, laughing. “I guess I’d better be
careful what I say to my colleagues, knowing that you understand us.”
It was a good way to connect, relating experiences, and it proved to be the perfect icebreaker as the lunch continued. We swapped business cards, I met a couple of his colleagues, and so has begun what I hope to be a great working future.
Just a few short weeks later, I was invited to attend the final 2007-2008 BP Series Lecture about the impact China and U.S. economies, industries and environments have on one another.
I was delighted to find myself again among such wonderful attendees. During the welcome reception for Dr. Orville Schell, director of Asia Society Center on U.S.-China Relations, I spoke with a representative from the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia and I greeted him with a warm, “Apa kabar?” Once again, the look of astonishment soon became an ear-to-ear grin as he responded, “baik,” and we began to discuss our ties to the country.
During this same reception, I had the pleasure to meet the People’s Republic of China Consul General Qiao Hong. While I am not familiar with the Chinese language, the Consul General and I had a very animated conversation about FUEL and a possible collaboration.
To learn more about the relationships among the United States, China and Indonesia, I hope you turn to the articles China, United States: Two Players, One Game and Economics and Politics: The Future of Indonesia.
Until next time, selamat jalang.
—Monique A. Hitchings
mhitchings@hartenergy.com
