160 days: Agus Pratama

Today I decided to visit the House of Sampoerna Museum. It was a fascinating experience, delving into the history of the Sampoerna family and the cigarette manufacturing industry in Indonesia. The building itself, with its colonial architecture, was a sight to behold. As I wandered through the exhibits, I met a friendly local named Agus Pratama.

Agus works as a guide at the museum and offered to show me around. His knowledge of history and culture was impressive. He told me stories about the Sampoerna family, their entrepreneurial journey, and how they built their business empire from nothing. Agus also told me about his own background, growing up in Surabaya, and his passion for history.

We discussed the impact of the tobacco industry on the local economy and the lives of the workers. Agus showed me the traditional methods of rolling cigarettes, and I even got to try my hand at it. It was a humbling experience to see the skill and precision required for such work.

As the day drew to a close, Agus and I exchanged contact information. He promised to keep me informed of any future exhibitions at the museum. Meeting Agus and learning about the local history added a rich layer to my understanding of Surabaya. It was a day well spent, filled with new knowledge and meaningful connections.