Questions that are often made BULE scratch the head with the indonesian people!!
Review
Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia that is crossed by the equator and is between Asia and Australia and between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world consisting of 17,504 islands spread from Sabang to Merauke and Indonesia consists of various tribes, languages, and religions.
Indonesia has long been famous in the world as one of the most beautiful areas. The proof, every year is always a lot of foreign tourists who visit this country for a vacation. They come to various attractions of Indonesia that do have amazing natural beauty. One of them is Island of Gods, Bali. Seeing the Bule there as usual, because the number of foreign tourists in the area.
Speaking of foreign tourists, Some time ago I also the arrival of a research friend who came from one of the European countries, his name is therese. He came from austria and lives in the city of vienna, now he is completing a doctoral program at one of the universities there. Right at the end of 2016 he came to Indonesia and did research with me and my friends. Therese has twice come to Indonesia at the end of 2016 and 2017.
First encounter with therese I ask general questions about the name, how it is, how the flight was. But when we went back home, I inadvertently asked how old he was and what his religion was. My lecturer immediately admonished me not to ask that. After a long time with therese, he finally asked me why to ask about age and religion when we first met. He said actually he does not mind the question, but he's confused why Indonesians sometimes ask about privacy matters. Because according to him the question is not polite to be asked when first met.
Therefore, I will review why Indonesian people sometimes ask about privacy to bule and I will also explain the answer :
1. How old are you?
This question is very often asked to Bule. Actually, Indonesian people just want to be able to call bule with a polite call. The Indonesians always respect the older and younger people, that's why they ask about age. If the Bule are older, they will generally call "sisters, for women and brothers for men". If the person is the same age as their parents, they will call as "mother, aunt or mother for women and uncle, om or father for men". And if the person is younger than them, they will call "sister for woman and man or just the short name of the bulek".
2. Are you married?
Perhaps most of the Bule will be astonished by this question. But make no mistake of interpretation, this is because the stranger is for them is the figure they want to be a couple or want to be mated with their child, hehehe. The majority of Indonesian people love the Bule because the average person is white, white and has a sharp nose. Unlike the Indonesians who are not too tall, the nose is not too sharp and probably according to their best skin color is white. In fact, according to therese Bule are very fond of skin that is brown and the nose is not too sharp.
3. What is your religion?
This is a very sensitive question and quite taboo. However, most people are mostly Muslim and therefore do not be surprised if they ask that question. Indonesia adheres to a democratic system, They often ask this question because of their curiosity about how people with different religions with them, such as in Aceh especially the majority of adherents of Islam. For example someone asks what his religion is? "Oh I am a Christian", Then there are people who ask a glance at me and a little whisper "for him to convert to Islam" Danger if gini, to nga directly spelled out to the bulent like this "why not enter Islam aja?", And if his Caucasian kebet Islam directly patriotism spirit rise.
Me and Therese at Gerutee Mountain. 2016