I LIKE WHAT YOU HAVE

Ajeng is Indonesian woman. She has a new friend from USA. Her friend’s name is Paula. Paula is spending her holiday in Indonesia. She is staying in a hotel near Ajeng’s house.

Last Saturday afternoon, both of these two ladies went to the beach. When they arrived, lots of people had been there. Some of them were the people from other countries. “Hmm… I like the weather like this. The sun shines brightly, the weather is so hot. It’s the perfect time to lay on the sand and toast my skin,” said Paula excitedly. Ajeng just smiled and they changed their clothes.

Afterward, Paula laid on the sand. She seemed enjoying the sunshines touch her skin. Meanwhile, Ajeng was sitting on the shady spot under a tree. She enjoyed the beauty of the sea from under the tree. Paula saw Ajeng and she approached her.”Hey, why are you sitting here? Let’s enjoy the sunshine on the sea-shore!” persuaded Paula.

“Oh..no..no..! I had better sit here. I’m afraid my skin will be darker,” said Ajeng.

“Ha..ha..ha.., I want my skin to be tan and you are afraid to be brown, said Paula while sitting beside Ajeng.

“Most of women here expect to be white. They use whitening cream and even having white injection to change their skin color to be white. We consider white is more beautiful than other skin color. Some have been bored with brown skin,” explained Ajeng .

Paula smiled. “Most people expect what they don’t have,” she added.

After spending three hours in the beach. Both of these two ladies went back home. Ajeng invited Paula to have dinner with her family. “Paula, would you have a dinner with my family? My mother has cooked some special dishes,” asked Ajeng.

“Yes, with pleasure.”

When they arrived, Ajeng’s mother welcomed Paula warmly. She shook hand with Paula as a greeting. She doesn’t speak a word to Paula because she doesn’t speak English. Ajeng and Paula came into the house.But then, Ajeng’s mother drew Ajeng hand and said, “Ajeng, perhaps Paula doesn’t know that we don’t wear shoes at home. Let her know politely!” Ajeng’s mother said in Bahasa Indonesia.

“I’m sorry Paula, but we don’t put on shoes at home,” said Ajeng. Paula stared at her shoes. “Oh..yeah, I’m sorry. I didn’t know it before.

“That’s ok. Let’s go to the dining room. Ajeng guided Paula to dining room where all the members of Ajeng family had sat there. There are some special dishes at the table. Thay enjoyed the dishes after praying. “What is this green dish? Is it a porridge? Paula asked.

“Oh, no, it’s cassava leaves. We pound it and then we boil it with coconut milk and some spices, “ explained Ajeng .

“I think I’ll try the sattay first.” Paula tasted the sattay, “God, it’s so spicy!” She directly drink the water.

“Sorry, Paula. Most of people here like spicy food so my mother cooks it spicy.

“Never mind, I try this one. Hmm.. it’s nice . By the way, why don’t you put on shoes at home?”asked Paula while enjoying the dishes.

“We think it’s impolite. If we come to our friends’ house but we don’t take off our shoes, the hosts will think we are so arrogant. But, I think it’s because of the weather here. It’s so hot so if we wear shoes at home, it will be uncomfortable,” explained Ajeng .

“Oh… I see. But, I see most of you wear slipper not shoes, don’t you?

“Yes. Paula, is it snowing in your country now?

“No, it’s summer now. Why? Do you want to see the snow?”

“Yes, I expect to see the snow someday.”

“He..he.., I ‘ve been bored with snow,” said Paula .

After finishing dinner, Paula heard Ajeng belching. “Auchh… Ajeng, that’s not good,”said Paula . Ajeng wondered. What’s wrong? I didn’t do anything.

“You just belching, that’s so rude,” said Paula.

“Oh..you mean belching. I’m sorry if it’s not good for you. We often do it here. It means we enjoy the food.

“It’s rude in my country,” said Paula

Both of these two ladies still talking about the different between east and west culture, including the impolite thing to ask an old woman about her age in west culture but it’s an acceptable thing in Ajeng’s country.

The text above is only illustration/fiction but based on little research. Sometiomes something that we posses is the thing that other people like/want. Things that we think good in our environtment is not always good in other places.