In Reply to: Look, I feel uncomfortable with these posted by Hillary on Friday, 6. July 2007 at 09:18 Bali Time:
My thoughts are the same as yours. And yes Indonesians do very often comment on the weird and wonderful ways of foreigners :)
My hubby to be...comments to me all the time about it.. for example.. oh I cant believe u just use toilet paper, how disgusting!! Its the one thing they stress about if they ever leave Indonesia, how am I going to clean myself after going to the loo. He's stressing about going to OZ with me at xmas time ha ha ha!!
And he really hates vegemite and wont let me come near him if I eat it!!! hahaha
And they cant believe how a lot of foreigners only bathe once a day..!!
I still meet people after all these years living here who cant believe, I wash the dishes at home, I do my own washing, I clean the house, I wash the car, I put petrol into the car myself, etc etc when I go back to Australia for a holiday... (sorry kinda got off topic) They think that outside of Indonesia we have everything done for us, that we have servants also...
They believe almost everything they see in hollywood movies!! They think its the way we live everyday!! Especially when new couples meet and they jump into bed together straight away in the movies. (However this "trend" is happening in Indonesia too but its very hush hush)
Eventually if u live here long enough, you start to follow their habits and ways without knowing it!! There is a great file on my computer somewhere, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE LIVED IN INDONESIA TOO LONG IF..... etc etc .. very funny... If I find it.. I'll post it! :)
Oh yeh.. and actually us Jakarta people LOVE IT..when all the Idul Fitri holidaymakers make their way to BALI!! Because Jakarta becomes peaceful and no traffic for about two weeks!!! Tourists complaining about traffic in Kuta...always gets a smile on my face...they dont know what real traffic is till they visit Jakarta!!! hehehehe...
Christine!!!