You Know You Live in Indonesia When. . .
Indonesia is definitely a different place. Here are some of the highlights that I’ve noticed and jotted down.
You know you live in indonesia when. . .
- You come prepared to the bathroom with Kleenex in your pocket. Toilet paper is rare.
- There aren’t any recycle bins. The closest thing to a recycling bin is a garbage can beside our house. We put non burnable trash out there and poor people periodically rummage through it. I call it our “magic garbage” because I put stuff in and it magically disappears!
- You’re selective with your relationships. There’s just too many people who want to be your friend and talk to you.
- You move to the front of every stoplight with your motorbike, often weaving in between cars to get there.
- There’s no such thing as a ‘line’ at the stoplight. Motorcycles bunch up where the shade is. It’s just too hot to wait in the sun.
- Saying “hi” to a child causes them to hyperventilate.
- You can’t ever enjoy the outdoors- it’s way too hot. The sun is something to take shelter from, not enjoy.
- There are no speed limits. The potholes control the speed of traffic well enough.
- Clothes aren’t your size and your wardrobe never changes.
- You can eat almost anything and never gain weight.
- Everybody knows you, but you don’t have the slightest idea who they are!
- You choose a restaurant because of the air conditioning, not because of the food.
- People either yell “hello mister!” or just stare blankly when they see you on the street. If you try to respond to them in English they also stare.
- All your condiments and snacks are double zip-lock bagged to keep the ants out.
- You sweep your house everyday but still can’t keep up with the dirt and dust.
- Common creatures in your house include ants, spiders, cicaks (a small lizard), mosquitoes, an occasional centipede, and occasional farm animals like goats and chickens that wander in from outside.
- You have the most beautiful sunsets in the world.
- You can buy a fresh coconut off the tree- with ice, sugar and a smile- for about 80 cents.
I remember the cicaks!