Author: Michael Passage

I am Melissa Marthese, a third generation Indo born and raised in Southern California.  I am the oldest of two girls born to parents, Chris Martheze (born in Ngawi, East Java) and Joyce Bakkers Leidelmeyer (born in Djakarta).  I am a single mother of three kids, who I have continued to raise around the same beliefs and upbringing that I had.  It has always been very important for me to preserve that part of our heritage for my children because it helps to shape our identity as adults and give us a sense of belonging.  So happy and proud to be an Indo.

Hi everyone my name Is Victor Vander Geugten. I am Dutch-Indonesian. I was born in the city of Angels (Los Angeles CA) which makes me a native SoCal Indo. My Mom & Dad came to America in 1959 & moved to La Crescenta CA. I am still living in the area to this day. Love my Heritage, Love the food& Love my People.

I’m  Kaila Uli, a third generation Indo. I was born and raised in Southern Ca with my 5 siblings.

I don’t know much about my family’s history before immigrating. It’s not something we talked about very often.  I know Oma and Opa had to leave Indonesia for The Netherlands prior to coming to the U.S. My Oma, Yvonne Bogaardt, and Opa, Ronald Dumas, immigrated to the U.S. separately. They met and married here. We were raised knowing we were Dutch-Indonesian, but not understanding what that meant. I had no idea there were more Indos. I always assumed Oma and Opa’s stories were exclusive to them. My Great Opa, who we called ‘little Opa’ would tell the story of being in a war camp and stealing grease from the train axles to cook rice cakes and sell back to the guards. He used the money buy peanuts to feed the elephants.

I’m so grateful and proud to be part of this group working to preserve our history and keep the stories alive for future generations.

I am Joey Van der Linden, 3rd  Generation Indo. I was born and raised in The Hague. My family moved to Southern California in 1988. After years of schooling, hard work and the support from my mother and father I have become a International Registered Vascular Specialist at a local trauma hospital for 10+ years. I am a devoted father and family man. For the past 6 years I’ve been a member of the American Poolplayers Association and the United Poolplayers Association.My mother is Lizzy Kraag, born in Jakarta, Indonesia. She came to Holland when she was 4 years old, then moved to New Guinea, and then back to Holland 2 years later to live in The Hague.

My father is Theo van der Linden, a Dutchman from The Hague. He used to work at Stichting Pelita, reading stories from war victims, especially those who were Dutch Indonesians to help determine if these victims qualified for financial assistance from the Dutch Government, it was called the WUBO and the WIF., Uitkering.

There is another fact I’d like to share with the world because I’m so proud of it… my great-great grandfather was once painted by Vincent van Gogh. His name was Jozef Blok. That painting is shown in V. van Gogh art books. It’s truly an honor being part of the So Cal Indo organization, San Gabriel Valley Chapter. I am committed to help educate others of our Indo heritage. With the help from my new So Cal Indo family, together we can make a difference in our So Cal Indo world. Again, I love living in Southern California, but a piece of me will always be in the country where I was born… The Netherlands

My name is Jason Schmidt Weymans Arlington, I was born in Texas and raised in Hawaii then California. I come from a large Indo family. I feel fortunate and blessed that my Opa and Oma had the opportunity, strength, and courage to uproot themselves and their six children to start a new future for all of us.

I am proud that I was raised American, leaving the nest to serve our country… I am also fortunate that I was raised with music and Indo values and respect for our families and friends as a pure 3rd generation Indo. I truly believe that these great morals are bread into us naturally. Awareness of our Heritage and traditions mean a great deal to me. Thank you very much for participating in our organization and helping us keep our Indo awareness alive.

You are family. I am just like you. I have trials and tribulations. I am a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a cousin, a Nephew, an Oom, and a friend. We welcome you with an embrace. We all look forward to sharing and can’t wait to know all of our Indo families.

Being a 22 year old woman of Dutch-Indonesian (as in Dutch Indo/Indo Dutch/Indo European or Eurasian) heritage in the United States has been a journey of embracing my unique identity. Despite the challenges I face as a result of my ambiguity, I have learned to find beauty, pride, and strength in my uniqueness. At times, I struggle to maintain a connection with my roots as there aren’t many people of Dutch-Indonesian descent around me, but I take comfort in the opportunity to share my cultural experiences with those who are curious.

Back in my years at college, I remember walking up to the Indonesian Student Association booth, filled with excitement and anticipation to connect with others who shared my culture. Upon arrival, however, I was met with blank stares and confusion from the members, most of whom were exchange students. Despite my best efforts to engage with them, I quickly realized that my racial ambiguity made it difficult for them to identify me as someone who shared their heritage. My inability to speak the language also put a barrier between us. I watched as they returned to their familiar faces, leaving me feeling isolated and disconnected from my cultural roots. Being of Dutch-Indonesian heritage to me has been a process of accepting that I am an enigma and don’t have to fit into one box. Although at times, it seems like this world is made up of boxes, and there isn’t one I fit into just right.

My childhood memories are filled with the rich flavors and aromas of traditional Indonesian cuisine, thanks to my grandmother’s cooking. Her dishes like fried wontons, lemper, ayam kecap manis, krupuk, and gado gado have left an imprint on my palate and heart. My grandmother’s humor, cooking skills, and sass taught me to appreciate spice, both in food and in life.

My grandfather’s legacy as a survivor of WWII has also had a profound impact on me. Despite the horrors he witnessed and experienced in war camps, he was known for his humor, kindness, and love for others. When I face challenges, I draw strength from his warrior spirit and the knowledge that his blood flows in my veins.

Recently, I discovered Ancestry, which allowed me to delve deeper into my family’s history and uncover new details about my grandfather’s life, including his Allied POW records, and my family’s birth, death, and immigration documents. My grandfather being an orphan and my grandmother passing away when I was around 11, I thought I’d never find the names of my great-grandparents on my grandfather’s side. However, on his death certificate, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it mentioned his father, “Verbrugge, Christian” and his mother, “Unknown, Siti”. This raised more questions in my head about why he was left by his parents. Despite not knowing the full story behind my grandfather’s parentage, I am inspired to continue searching for answers and discovering more about my heritage as each piece I obtain leaves me yearning for more.

I am grateful for such a rich and unique cultural background that cannot be contained by a single box. I am learning to see my identity as a canvas, ready to be decorated and shared with the world in my own unique way. The love and connection I feel towards my Dutch-Indonesian heritage will always be a prominent feature of that canvas, never to be painted over.