JAYAPURA – As the clock strikes 12.00 WIT, the “Papuan Mothers” – as Papuan mothers are called – are still busy organizing merchandise in the Skouw Cross Border Post (PLBN) Market area, Muara Tami District, Jayapura, Papua. Behind the merchandise that is covered with gunny sacks, the Papuan mothers sit on the overhang of the market. They are seen interacting with buyers who are mostly from Papua New Guinea. Friendly, they smile and greet each other. The market atmosphere is so warm, as if there is no barrier that limits social interaction between locals, tourists and Papua New Guineans.
Here, Mama Papua does not only use Indonesian or local languages when trading. They are also adept at using the language of local Papua New Guineans, which is mixed with English. “Indeed, we traders here are used to using two languages. Indeed, we have been used to it from the past,” said Mama Anita (33), a betel nut trader at the Skouw PLBN Market.
Saturday, said Mama Anita, is the day of the weekly market at PLBN Skouw. Mama Papua has generally started buying and selling activities since 06.00 WIT, and ends at 15.00 WIT along with the market closing time. The commodities traded by Mama Papua are vegetables, bananas, tubers, areca nuts, betel nut, and several other local fruits. Meanwhile, traders of household furniture, electronics and clothing are mostly migrants. On market days, Papua New Guineans living near the border routinely cross into Indonesia to shop. One of the closest Papua New Guinean settlements to Indonesia is Wutung Village, Sandaun Province.
“They come to shop. After shopping for goods in the shophouses inside, they usually buy vegetables or areca nuts too,” said Mama Anita. Anita admits that the traders have never had a language barrier while interacting with Papua New Guineans. The traders also accept payment using the Kina currency.
“So it’s the same as us, people there also like to bargain prices. So use their language. Pay still use Kina, when finished trading just exchange it to rupiah, “said Mama Anita. Not only Papuan mothers, Ilyas (49), a man who sells food outside the Skouw PLBN Market, also admits that he is used to serving buyers, by changing languages. “Yes, sometimes the PNG language, mixed with English. For us, it’s just our daily language or Indonesian,” he concluded.