Last Lebaran

On Lebaran Day last year I accompanied a lawyer to visit 4 Indonesian fishermen in jail. (Yes, Lebaran is not a public holiday in Sydney, folks.) They had been arrested for people smuggling and were waiting for their trials. We were sitting in a conference room and the lawyer had to go out for a minute. As a (very insensitive) icebreaker I said, “Hari ini Lebaran kan, Pak?” They all said yes in various tones, laughed and started to cry. What an excellent icebreaker that was. I just found out that one of them received a Not Guilty verdict today after weeks and weeks and weeks of trial. Even though I wasn’t there in the courtroom, I could imagine how happy he was. I am very happy for him too. If I could say this to him I would say, “Happy Lebaran Pak Txxxn!!! Have a safe trip home!” (And tell your friends at home to be careful if a stranger offer them big money to take “tourists” to Christmas island! The biggest holiday resort there is a detention centre!)