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Miss Indonesia's first plan is to learn Indonesian
Tue, 06/09/2009 10:47 AM | People
Reuters/Supri
JAKARTA: The newly crowned Miss Indonesia Kerenina Sunny Halim might have amazed people with her fluent English, but surprised just as many with her poor ability to speak Indonesian.
On the final night of the Miss Indonesia pageant last week, Kerenina needed a translator to help her understand the judges' questions. Kerenina admits this is a weakness but has promised to improve her Indonesian language skills.
"It's been hard for me *to speak Indonesian*, because I use English every day," says the half-American woman. "But I will learn. Indonesian is an easy language, as long as we're willing to learn."
Kerenina's brother, actor Steve Emmanuel (now Yusuf Iman), reveals that his sister was not exposed to Indonesian as a child because she didn't go to a formal school. "She was with homeschooling," Steve says. "She barely uses Indonesian at home, and doesn't go out often *so she can't practice Indonesian*."
The 23-year-old has also promised to learn more about the local culture in preparing for this year's Miss World competition in Johannesburg, South Africa. "Currently, I don't know much *about Indonesian culture*," says the girlfriend of actor Nino Fernandez. "But within six months, I'm going to learn about it all, because I represent Indonesia at the international level."
Kerenina, who holds six diplomas - in public relations; sales and marketing; primary school teaching; economics; performing arts; and music and art - won the competition over the two other finalists, Viviane (from Bali) and Melati Putri Kusuma Dewi (West Sulawesi). Kerenina impressed the judges with her fluent English, and was considered to meet the contest's criteria of MISS (Manners, Impressive, Smart and Social). - JP
What's On
- Festival of India
10/29/2009 12/15/2009 Balai Kartini & Umar Ismail Hall, Jakarta
- Imagemakers of the Future: Photography exhibition
10/10/2009 11/30/2009 Alila Ubud Desa Melinggih Kelod Payangan, Gianyar 80572, Bali - Timeless Change
11/05/2009 12/07/2009 Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Hotel Jimbaran, Bali. - Choreography of Colours; Sardono W. Kusumo's first solo painting exhibition
11/12/2009 12/12/2009 vivi yip art room Annexe Ciputra World Marketing Gallery Jalan Prof Satrio Kav 11, Casablanca
Miami (not verified) — Sun, 06/14/2009 - 10:13pm
*Indosian is an easy language* ---> Why has not she been able to speak it?
*Withn six months i will learn them all (cultures) ---> impressive confidence but very absurd statement. Not to be pessimistic, but what if she would not? To me she does not really have idea about what Indonesian cultures are and especially when she was not (I guess she is yet now) a 'gaul' kid!
*She has not been exposed to indonesian as a child because she was with homeschooling* ---> It is good that she has been used to be quarantined BUT she is 'KUPER'.
"She barely uses Indonesian at home, and doesn't go out often *so she can't practice Indonesian*." ---> 'KUPER' and does not have the will to learn. It tells that she will learn Indonesian not because she loves Indonesia but because she is obliged to! You know what it means to learn something which you do not love or like, I say the feeling is like that if you are having arranged marriage! I hope she wouldn't regret her choice.
Her six Diplomas are may be what impressive from her. But Miss Indonesia is not going after that. I do not object about her being a half 'bule' (as everybody inherits Indonesian's blood may claim to be Indonesian) But just make sure that she knows that the cultures of her country! Of course because she is the representative.
As for the judges: You guys have done good job ( as you guys might have spent sleepless nights considering the winner) BUT I think you are not critical enough. English language is as easiest as Indonesian. I perceive that your base of selection is too shallow, easy, not well-rounded, and CHEAP!
I hope you will do a BETTER job next year! You might want to know what I think, here it is : "We will be more proud to have a Miss Indonesian who knows Indonesian cultures profoundly even though she would not make to be a Miss Universe!"
Good Luck!
Chris_81 (not verified) — Sun, 06/14/2009 - 1:08pm
Unbelievably preposterous! The judges have lost their minds.
Ardy W (not verified) — Sun, 06/14/2009 - 12:17pm
Miss Indonesia that does not speak Bahasa Indonesia? I didn't know Indonesia had run out of beautiful women who can speak Bahasa Inonesia!
Djaka (not verified) — Sun, 06/14/2009 - 2:24am
Well, this news is just another indication that Miss UNiverse is better than Miss World. The criteria speak. Good luck to her.
Kerry (not verified) — Sat, 06/13/2009 - 11:00pm
Megawati will always be my Miss Indonesia!
Miardiasyah (not verified) — Sat, 06/13/2009 - 11:03am
This article is actually a small news in Jakarta Post's paper edition, not even a headline. But wow, everyone commented on this! And even many blogs and websites out there copy pasted this article (without even saying it's from Jakarta Post).
Maybe because this article is a small (and short!) that makes people easily notice what's going on and quickly dropped their comments.
Anyway, my question would be:
is it KERENINA or KARENINA?
Because when I googled, many use Karenina and even there's a website www.kareninasunnyhalim.com
Salau (not verified) — Sat, 06/13/2009 - 7:42am
the judges have just made themselves a laughing stock!! I don't know how the other two contestants look and match against the criteria but they can't be that bad-looking and far from the MISS criteria since they make it to the final. secondly, a Miss Indonesia who doesn't speak Bahasa???
Please don't blame the poor girl. She has her right to contest but I wonder what the judges' mind are thinking when they decided on her.
Jajang (not verified) — Sat, 06/13/2009 - 5:41am
If I were the jury, I would require all the contestants to be fluent in Bahasa Indonesia. This is totally a shame.
Carl (not verified) — Fri, 06/12/2009 - 9:00pm
Hmm...
It's funny that Bismarck 11 mentioned abuse. Didn't she say on TV that she got her 6 diplomas from the Christian Vocational Academy? Doesn't this organization only provide high school diplomas and vocational certificates? Perhaps she meant High school diploma in 6 subjects? Or 6 Vocational certificates? But i could be wrong.
More importantly though, does it not provide free education to the Family International, formerly known as the Children of God - a cult notorious for child abuse in the past and harbouring some of the 'untouched' abusers as current members?
I'd feel sorry for her if the reason for her seemingly 'unhealthily protected' life has anything to do with the above. But then again, who knows why her parents didn't choose Calvert home schooling instead.
Didot (not verified) — Fri, 06/12/2009 - 1:25pm
"But I will learn. Indonesian is an easy language, as long as we're willing to learn."
For 23 years, where is your will? Is it too easy to learn bahasa that you have to wait until you were crowned as Miss Indonesia.