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Two foreigners looked confused when talking to a pedicab driver in front of Shimbun Sibreh, Banda Aceh City. The sun almost sank above the domes of the Baiturrahman Mosque. The wind blows hard, blowing dust. Vehicles on the road advanced at high speed as if competing with the sun which almost disappeared at the horizon.

A friend who happened to be in front of Shimbun Sibreh after buying souvenirs approached the two foreigners and the pedicab driver. He knew there was a problem with communication between them; service sellers and potential customers. He can speaks English very well and he wants to offer help to bridge the two parties.

It is true. The two strangers—from which country—asked for an inn in Ulee Kareeng, Aceh Besar. The pedicab driver does not know what is being discussed, even though prospective passengers have indicated the address in an application. After being explained in the Acehnese language by this friend, the pedicab driver understood.

The problem is, he doesn't know the inn. Not a matter, "I can ask everyone later."

My friend immediately explained to the two foreigners that the pedicab driver did not know the location of the inn but until there he could ask again. After hearing that, one of them said they wanted the pedicab driver to know the address of the inn without having to ask anyone else. He thanked him and they immediately left, leaving the pedicab driver and a friend of mine.

As soon as the two foreigners left, the pedicab driver immediately got angry and blamed the friend who wanted to help. He said no problem he didn't address the inn. "What is matter, I know Ulee Kareng. I can ask to everyone there. I will ask, not them."

My friend tried to explain that the desire for foreigners is different. They want the pedicab driver to know exactly the address without having to ask questions again. "Their minds are different from us. Maybe we can accept that method, but they don't. They want to be sure about this."

The pedicab driver still could not accept and blame my friend who he considered had foiled him getting a passenger. My friend only smile while go away. He came with the intention of wanting to help but left as the person who was blamed. There is no thank you, he only received curses.[]

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Suatu Sore di Depan Shimbun Sibreh

Dua orang bule tampak kebingungan ketika berbicara dengan seorang tukang becak di depan Shimbun Sibreh, Kota Banda Aceh. Matahari hampir tenggelam di atas kubah-kubah Masjid Baiturrahman. Angin berhembus kencang menerbangkan debu-debu. Kendaraan di jalanan maju melaju dengan kecepatan tinggi, seolah berlomba dengan mentari yang hampir tenggelam di batas cakrawala.

Seorang kawan yang kebetulan berapa di depan Shimbun Sibreh setelah membeli oleh-oleh, mendekati dua orang asing dan tukang becak itu. Dia tahu sedang ada masalah tentang komunikasi di antara mereka; antara penjual jasa dan calon konsumen. Karena bisa berbahasa Inggris, dia ingin menawarkan bantuan untuk menjembatani kedua pihak.

Ternyata benar. Kedua orang asing itu—entah dari negeri mana—menanyakan sebuah penginapan di Ulee Kareeng, Aceh Besar. Si tukang becak tidak tahu apa yang dibincangkan, meski calon penumpangnya sudah menunjukkan alamat di sebuah aplikasi. Setelah dijelaskan dalam bahasa Aceh oleh sahabat ini, tukang becak itu baru mengerti.

Masalahnya, dia tidak tahu penginapan dimaksud. Bukan soal, “Nanti saya bisa tanya sampai di sana.”

Sahabat saya langsung menjelaskan kepada kedua orang asing tersebut bahwa tukang becak tidak tahu lokasi penginapan tetapi sampai di sana dia bisa bertanya lagi. Setelah mendengar itu, seorang di antaranya mengatakan mereka ingin tukang becak tahu alamat penginapan tanpa harus tanya-tanya lagi kepada siapa pun. Dia mengucapkan terima kasih dan mereka langsung pergi, meninggalkan tukang becak dan seorang sahabat saya.

Begitu kedua bule itu pergi, tukang becak langsung marah-marah dan menyalahkan sahabat yang ingin menolong ini. Katanya, tidak masalah dia tidak alamat penginapan itu. “Yang jelas, saya tahu Ulee Kareng. Sampai di sana ‘kan bisa tanya-tanya lagi. Saya yang akan tanya, bukan bule itu.”

Sahabat saya berusaha menjelaskan bahwa maunya bule tidak demikian. Mereka ingin tukang becak tahu persis alamatnya tanpa harus tanya-tanya lagi. “Pikiran mereka berbeda dengan kita. Mungkin kita bisa menerima cara seperti itu, tapi mereka tidak. Mereka maunya harus pasti.”

Tukang becak itu tetap tidak bisa menerima dan menyalahkan sahabat saya yang dianggapnya sudah menggagalkan dia mendapatkan penumpang. Sahabat saya itu hanya bisa tersenyum sambil beranjak pergi. Dia datang dengan maksud ingin menolong, tapi pergi sebagai orang yang disalahkan. Tidak ada ucapan terima kasih, dia hanya menerima sumpah serapah.[]

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