May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month, and we’re so excited to be celebrating it all month long. Throughout May, watch The Barre3 Magazine and barre3 Instagram for stories highlighting members of our global barre3 community who identify as AAPI.
Today, we’re featuring Tasia Mallombasang, a Play Lounge team member at barre3 Bethesda. A freshman in high school, Tasia has lived in both the U.S. and in Indonesia, where her family is originally from. Read on to learn about her experience straddling two cultures, one of the biggest differences between Indonesian and American schools, and her favorite Indonesian foods.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me! I have so many questions for you, but let’s start with your experience with barre3. How did you first learn about it?
TASIA: I first heard about barre3 from a community listserv I’m a part of. The owner of my local studio, Juliana, posted about looking for someone to help in the Play Lounge. It sounded so interesting! I’ve volunteered at summer camps before and I absolutely love working with kids, so it seemed like a great fit. I had never been to the studio, but I reached out, and that’s how it came to be!
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: How have you been liking it?
TASIA: It’s been amazing! The environment is so welcoming, and everyone is so nice—literally everyone says hi when you walk in. If I were going to choose a word for it, I’d say “cozy.” And I love the classes. They’re challenging, but just the right amount of challenging.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: Can you tell me a little bit about your background?
TASIA: I was born in D.C. and lived in Maryland for most of my life. Both of my parents are Indonesian. In 6th grade, we moved to Indonesia. My grandmother had immigrated from Indonesia to the U.S., so my mom is a first-generation American and I’m second-generation. But even though my grandma chose to move here for the opportunities, she always knew she didn’t want to spend her elder years here. So when I was in 6th grade, we moved back with her to Indonesia. It’s kind of poetic, actually. Her name is Arabic, and roughly translated it means “walk toward a good ending.” So it was fitting that she was able to live her last days the way she had always wanted to. I’m Muslim, and in Muslim culture, when someone passes, you say what translates to, “I hope they had a good end of their life.” I’m glad my grandmother was able to pass in Indonesia and have a good end to her life.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: I’m sorry to hear that she passed, but I love that she was able to be in her home country when it happened. What was it like for you to move to Indonesia after having spent your whole life in the U.S.?
TASIA: Being in Indonesia felt strange at first because it was all so new—I had been once when I was 2 or 3 years old, but I don’t remember anything from that time. But it also felt familiar because my family was there.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: Did you go to the local school while you were there? What was that like?
TASIA: I did! One of the biggest differences, and something I really loved, was that in middle school and high school in Indonesia, the students stay in the same classroom and the teachers move from class to class, whereas in the U.S. it’s the students who move between classes. I prefer the Indonesian way because as a student, you have everything you need in one place, and you can leave it there since that’s your spot. You don’t have to pack up after every class and carry all your things around. It’s always funny explaining that difference to American teenagers!
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: How did you and your mom decide to come back to the U.S.?
TASIA: Right before Covid hit, we had come back to Maryland to visit, and then we couldn’t travel back because of the pandemic, so we just stayed. The adjustment was kind of strange—it was culture shock all over again. That was two years ago, and we’ve been here ever since. There are a lot of good opportunities for me here, so we might stay. We’re playing it by ear. Both countries are a part of my identity, so I feel pulled to each.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: In your experience, do you feel like Americans are familiar with Indonesia and its culture?
TASIA: It depends on who I’m talking to. There are people in my area who take Indonesian language classes, and many of them know a lot about the place and the culture. But a lot of people think of it as just your basic Bali and Jakarta, and even though those places are amazing, there’s so much more to Indonesia! And some people don’t even know that much. I was talking to a kid the other day, and he said, “What is Indonesia? Where is that.” I was like, “It has the fourth biggest population in the world!”
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: Does your area have a lot of people from Indonesia?
TASIA: There are a lot of Indonesians in the DC area, and it’s a very tight-knit community. It’s very common in our culture to drop by someone’s house with no warning and just say, let’s go do something!
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: I find that one of the things people miss the most when they’re far away from home (or in your case, one of your homes!) is the food. What are some of your favorite Indonesian dishes?
TASIA: Oh my gosh, THE FOOD. A lot of people will tell you their favorite Indonesian food is the fried rice, and it’s definitely amazing. There’s also satay, which is chicken grilled on skewers, and rendang, which is meat that’s cooked to perfection. The food varies by region. For example, the Javanese really like their sweets, and there’s another part of the country where everything is really spicy.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: Now I’m ready for lunch! The owner of barre3 Bethesda mentioned that you took part in the Cherry Blossom festival this year. What was that like?
TASIA: Yes! I’m part of a group called AFOSE, and we performed at the festival. We played the angklung, which is a traditional Indonesian instrument made from a bamboo frame with bamboo tubes. You play it by shaking it, and the vibrations create this really unique sound.
BARRE3 MAGAZINE: I can’t wait to look this up on YouTube and listen to some examples! Thank you so much for sharing your story and your culture with us, Tasia! Is there anything else you want to add before we sign off?
TASIA: Just that I’m so honored to get the opportunity to share my culture and my experiences. I love the barre3 community—I can’t gush about it enough! It’s so welcoming, so kind, and it makes everyone feel at home. I love how everyone lifts each other up!
Thank you so much, Tasia!
