Sitting here in a little warung in Seminyak, named Kemangi, I have just enjoyed a wonderful bowl of soto ayam (chicken) with a portion of rice for 10,000rp. The soup came with hard boiled eggs, sprouts, lime and chili paste. Its hot outside and I am sweating now typing.
While enjoying the soup I glanced at the TV, which was on high volume and featuring a TV show from MTV. The subject of the show was a food-fight in a high school cafeteria in Ohio, with the participants re enacting the scene and talking about it as if it was an expedition to Everest. The staff at Kemangi stood and watched while the other 2 Indonesian customers ignored it. Coming from a western culture and living in an Asian culture it really hits me sometimes how weird we must seem. Western culture is all about the individual and individual rights, space and accomplishment, even if that accomplishment is pretty silly. You can imagine that just as the portrayal of black people in western media (news, movies, shows, music videos) is one of violent people, the portrayal of westerners is often of people who are wild, careless and without manners. The religious crazies over here don't even have to try convincing people westerners are bad news with the ammunition we send them.
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You’re living in a country where mobs go out and douse accused thieves with gasoline and burn them in the street. Nick, you should write an article on something that *really* affects Indonesians: iodine deficiency and diminished IQ. That might explain alot of what you see and experience in day to day life in Indonesia.
Tony,
Nick made an observational statement about western culture and made no critique of individual rights or individuality that would suggest he loathed such things. You’re attack on him was unwarranted, and you should probably look into reading lessons.
Dear Nick,
Which country would accept you with open arms across the board if you where flat broke without anything and offer you the opportunity to build something out of nothing? THE U.S.A. and that is what makes the western world so great.
T.V. is bullshit Nick, it is designed to sell and create an image to so that it sells. But the truth is that Bali only likes you as long as your wallet continues to put out rupiah.
I remember you typing:Leave logic at the airport and realize everything here is about money.
The country of the free is not about being perfect but about learning from its mistakes and striving to be better.
Bali is about getting in and having a great time and getting out. If the shit hit the fan in that country you would be heading for the U.S. like me, because my country is why I am able to go to Bali and travel the world.
Nick, you are getting detached from reality. I lived in Indo for eight years growing up and I witnessed this happen to a lot of people. Give it a year and you’ll be sounding like an Iranian mullah.
norcal..u live in Indo for 8 yrs but u never try to learn ..u just read and listen western Media. CNN, MTV, Wall Street Journal and other rubbish media. They just create hatred toward poor countries, to make them richer and richer. Look at to the mirror now..and see how greedy you are. If you hate Indonesia..why dont you just leave and grow up in your own country. Maybe you just afraid to face the reality that u will be blue collar worker.
Firstly about the comment on the USA “welcoming with open arms” America is one of the hardest countries in the world to get a visa, let alone permanent residence, unless you win the greencard lottery (now called the diversity visa), or become a ayslum seeker. America shut its arms a long time ago. Also speak to southern states cowboys about how maternal they feel about the poor mexicans that try in earnest to make a decent honest living by entering the US.
Yes its true Americans do look silly to foreigners, but not because they are bad, but just different. Just like the indo’s may have cultural quirks that make people assume they are greedy/insincere/aloof, to them and many others americans appear arrogant/ignorant/degenerate unless you accept that we are all humans seperated by culture. Yes even MTV counts as culture unfortunately.
There is no example of a cultural nirvana or ideal, as we all carry human nature, but given the choice of bringing up my child with good food and clean beaches or in a smog ridden suburban sprawl….hmmmmm
Nick it sounds like you have been there long enough to get a culture shock from your “own” people. Good on yer!
Quit jumping to conclusions there George, I left Indo 9 years ago. I said I grew up there. I am now a senior in university in my the san francisco bay. You definitely sound like one of those detached from reality expats. “Go look in the mirror and see how greedy you are.” How did you figure I was greedy?
Just for clearity. Nick does not need a visa. I was never at any time referring to a visa. I was referring to the fact that the USA is a place where its citizens can pursue and live their dreams. While,”in my view” Indonesia does not offer that to its people.
Culture, on the other hand is sucked into the mainstream of making money. The majority of the people in my country, U.S. are always trying to attach themselves to a style or trend which represents a culture. Example: Surfing. as everyone needs to feel part of something.
I am glad the U.S. does not allow everyone into the country. And for Mexicos people coming to the U.S. they know there is a better life here.
There is a system in place that keeps our society functioning regardless of perfect. It has a double edge sword where people use it to better themselves or use it to keep things just the way they are. I never want to beg in my life. It means I am have failed myself somewhere along the line, if I must beg, it is to better my situation not sustain it.
Yes, the greater whole of Americans are stuck up way stuck up and I dont like it. But, I would rather make my money in the US, my country and spend it in Bali then live then live in Bali thinking I am a local cause the people are nice when in fact I am only as good as my money. But if that is where all your friends are and your happy then I will see you at Dreamland after the rain.
All the best.
Actually Tony, its up to america how many people it lets in. I was trying to dispel the notion that America has open arms, but Styles cleared that up with the caveat “where its citizens can pursue “.
This is far from the ideal of open immigration suggested by the founding fathers and the inscription on the statue of liberty.
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Maybe Tony, you could add there,”no Mexicans” ?
Maybe if someone had written no Jews, italians or Irish, we would not be having this conversation.
You’re living in a country where mobs go out and douse accused thieves with gasoline and burn them in the street. Nick, you should write an article on something that *really* affects Indonesians: iodine deficiency and diminished IQ. That might explain alot of what you see and experience in day to day life in Indonesia.