Strawbearies: UUPDaaaaaaTEEEEEEE

Judulnya harus dipanjang-panjangin karena update yang ingin saya paparkan di sini juga mungkin PUANJAAAANG! Masih mungkin sih hehehe...

Alrighty. it's all about what I have been doing, getting, and experiencing while I am in Indonesia. Noted, it's been a month and a week since I arrived in Makassar - home sweet home... or so called that...
Following the logic, I should be doing fine when I am here in terms of the lifestyle, society, and norms. I should have no problem to interact with those aspects. Nonetheless, how funny! I found almost everything is foreign yet familiar... hmmm... what do I mean by that?
Meaning, I just realize ity bity things that I have never realized when I lived in Indonesia before leaving for the U.S.

The first few weeks I only saw the "Bad(s)" including the traffic jams, garbages, law disoriented, absence of professionalism in MANY Professional firms.
The traffic jam is unavoidable if you are on the street around lunch time and unfortunately that's the time when I would be around on the street. Usually, I went out to buy lunch for my mom. Her appetite is tricky, we need to do our best to support her appetite. Therefore, almost every time, I would be trapped in the traffic jam to fulfill her will... grrrr sucks. Don't ever try to imagine what the traffic jam here in Indonesia looks like. You will be amazed. Motor cycles, big trucks, disfunction traffic light, and crazy people who wants to cut your way all the time are "regulars." They are easy to find in the traffic jam.
It is definitely not a new thing for me at all. I mean, I had lived in this madness for 18 years, but yes, the 4 years in the U.S. made me spoiled.
Keteraturan dan saling respek betul-betul kerasa. Udah ada peraturan nggak tertulis bahwa manusia itu sama derajat dan kita harus saling menghormati.

Writing this doesn't mean that I have no respect to collectivism, there are good things about it too...

Anyway.. I become aware of something else. Something that I have never realized before. Things like:
1. Indonesians are "uncivilized (?)"
2. Toko Kelontongan is JJANG (translated: Mini market is great)

Uncivilized
Hm... It is true that we (Indonesian) still have tribes that perform a primitive lifestyle. It's a very extreme example. Indonesia is a developing country anyway; thus, there are many-many aspects that need to be "fixed" Let me simplify my words in pictures.
If you go to public places in Indonesia, you will find 'signs' or 'announcements' on their walls.

Sorry for inconvenience, It is out of service

Attention, please do not throw toilet paper or sanitary napkins into the toilet. Thank you

These signs are normally displayed in anywhere including the United States.

However... there were signs which blew my mind. I feel like got a lightning attack.

It is forbidden to dissemble, Dissembling meaning buying.

These pictures did not shock me. I have seen this quiet often before. The difference is based on my consciousness. I just consciously realize that most Indonesians are not really "civilized". It is necessary to put up signs like this to let them know what to do and not to do.

Sorry, it's forbidden to bring food and drink from outside

Then, these next couple pictures are those which shock me even more...I found these in Dunkin Donuts outlet.

Attention! please don't put feet on the sofa and table. Thank you

We hope you to be polite and keep the etiquette

!!!!
Hm... perhaps I should not make a comparison. I theorized that in the States, there will be no sign like those because it is NORMAL to see people put their feet on the sofa while sitting at the cafe. In other words, they don't really care. Here in Indonesia, there is a certain degree of norms that we need to obey. The culture is already different, so there is no use to compare. Nevertheless, I still find this 'unique' hahaha.

Funnier...
I found this sign yesterday. I just conclude that Indonesian love signs. They communicate with signs!! hahaha. Actually I don't have a good solid explanation. Ideas about it still floating in my mind.

It is forbidden to throw away garbage, strangers - this is for private use

Capturing these pictures motivate me to do some more "research" about Indonesian behavior. hahahaha There is something unique, odd, a little bit unusual about this kind of behavior. ah I feel so much like a social scientist. LOL...
I will not make a deeper explanation in this post. I don't want to be too serious in this post hehehe...

Next...
Traditional Minimarket is great!!!
It is still accessible to find a small house with a small shop in the front part of their house. We call it "Toko Kelontong" They sell almost anything. From diapers to chili peppers. From local product to imported products. Nowadays, I enjoy buy things from these kind of shops...

It was used to be a small toko kelontongan, but now you can tell that this is a mini market

a Traditional Toko Kelontong. Manually calculate and the hand written bill

Yes, I admit that I was too arrogant. I was annoyed when the service was not good and complained about it all the time. Well, now, I am enjoying almost everything about Indonesia, my home land. I have seen it in three different ways. Firstly, I was so accustomed, so I did not really care. Then, I already knew "a better" way, so I was disappointed. Now, I enjoy it even more. I found little things are interesting and laugh at their "stupidity" hahaha. Believe me, people here can do things that are unbelievebly ridiculous.

Moreover, how come I am not enjoy my living here. I live closed with my beloved family and friends... :)