Artifact 4

[Bowman Rains]

For my final artifact, I decide to try and experience some of the Indonesian culture.  I decided to go online and search for authentic Indonesian cuisine near the University of Richmond.  I found BoBoKo Indonesian cafe in Harrisburg, Virginia.  The food focuses on fruit, rice, and aesthetics.  For the most part, the food is simple and neat.  The food was unlike any other I have ever had.  The dishes were made with a mixture of all types of fruits, vegetables, and meat.  Another interesting aspect of the food was the influence of the Dutch and French.  French macarons were a highly requested dish by the patrons.  I sat down at the table and talked with my waiter.  He was not born in Indonesian, but he could speak the language.  I told him about my class and why I decided to come all the way from Richmond to eat some food.  He gave me the opportunity to try and order in Indonesian.  I asked for beef rendang, a meet dish with rice and vegetables.  The plate was small, but the food was delicious.  I greatly enjoyed the seasoning on the beef.  Finally, I tried the coconut ice cream.  The waiter was surprised that I knew the word for coconut, kelapa, because it is very unusual.  After eating and paying for the bill, I looked around the restaurant and saw all of the different kinds of people in the restaurant.  There were all kinds of ethnicities in the restaurant.  I think it speaks to the influence different cultures have had on Indonesian.  Every group that has been on the islands has left an imprint that has culminated into a very eclectic environment.  I was glad to see that others were experiencing and enjoying that environment as I was.