Life In Indonesia - A Story With Absolutely No Broader Implications

March 5, 2017

"Hello, my friend!"

"Um... Hello."

"Where are you from?"

"America!"

"America! Wonderful place! Great president! Obama! Great man! I have a picture of Obama in my wallet! Great man."

"Uh... okay. Though he isn't actually pres-"

"How long you stay in Indonesia?"

"A few days..."

"Are you with friends?"

"Yeah, I have a fr-"

"Wonderful! Come with me, my friend."

"Okay..."

We walk a little bit.

"See these?"

"Yeah, they're suits."

"You want to buy a suit?"

"No, not really."

"I have lots of pictures of friends who bought suits! Good suits! Best quality! Happy friends!"

"Sorry, I told my friends I was going to meet up with them, and I really should get going. Maybe later?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"What?"


"Hello, my friend!"

"Oh, hello."

"Suit?"

"Look, I'm sorry, but I'm going to be wasting your time if you try to convince me to buy a suit. I will never buy a suit. There is absolutely no reason I would want one."

"..."


"Hello!"

"Sorry, no thanks!"

"Suit?"

"I already said no."

"..."


"Hello!"

"No, but thank you!"

"My suits are very cheap!"

"..."


"Hello!"

"No thanks!"

"..."


"My friend!"

"No, sorry!"

"..."


"Hello, my friend!"

I shake my head no.

"..."


"Hello!"

I shake my head.

"..."


"Hello, my friend!"

"Sorry, not interested!"

"Oh my God, you Americans are all the same! I was just saying hello! Not every interaction that we have to have has to be around selling things. I WAS JUST SAYING HI."

"... ... ..?"


Note: The point of these stories is not to make fun of Indonesian people. I shouldn't even have to write that, but there it is. If you don't understand, try thinking about what sort of broader implications a story like this could have.

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