So today is my birthday. Excited? Yes... maybe. I really look forward to celebrate my birthday. Happy? Absolutely. My cell phone has been buzzing since 12 am this morning. I didn't mention to anyone ... I didn't think anyone remember that my birthday is today but somehow these people just know. What's so funny is that my whole family... except my younger sister ... totally spaced my birthday. Hehehe.. I'm not pissed. It's funny though... 'cuz when I was away from home they always remember my day and this year when I'm actually home... no one remembers. hehehehe.... it's all good.
By the way, I want to say many thanks to all of you who have taken the time to wish me a happy birthday. I hope your day will be as wonderful as mine. Have a good weekend everyone and enjoy your summer!
3:21 AM
Thursday, June 19, 2003 Culture Shock
Some things that I've found quite shocking:
1. Nyamuk. Pasrah deh gue kalo ama yang namanya nyamuk. Udah banyak banget, gede2 pula, trus biar udah dipakein baygon, Off, autan, dll... tetep aja gak mati2. Sumpah deh nih nyamuk2 bener sakti!
2. Ngeliat price tag. Angka 0 (nol)nya tuh bejibun. Gubrak deh gue kalo mo beli baju. Kebayang donk yang biasa beli baju $9.99 sekarang 99.000. Sama aja sih cuma di otak gue tuh ngeliat 0 segitu banyak belom terbiasa. Yah... give me two months deh... entar juga biasa.
3. Traffic. Masya Allah.... ini orang2 nyupir kagak punya otak apa yah. Kayak punya nyali dua hektar tau gak seh! Udah mana orang2 cuek kalo nurunin orang di tengah jalan. Minggir dikit kek. Apalagi ama bajaj. Ampun deh. Eh by the way, gue udah naik bajaj lowh... huauhauha... rasanya masih sama. Masih BERGETAR!
4. Gak tau kenapa... orang2 disini gak ada yang nyangka gue orang Indonesia. Pas baru dateng... di airport nih gue disuruh ngantrinya yang buat foreign passport padahal gue udah berdiri dengan manis di line yang buat passport lokal. Nah lowh.. bingung donk gue. Sampe yang di bagian bagage claim pas ngelewatin X-ray tuh petugas2nya pada ngomongnya "your purse mam and your bag please" padahal tuh orang ngomong ama bokap gue.. "pak tolong tasnya lewat X ray dulu". Eh mas ... repot2 amat ngomong bahasa inggris. Trus waktu itu pas gue lagi ngeliat2 toko buku di Sogo kan ada orang mo lewat depan gue ... eh nih bapak2 bungkuk2 gitu bilang ginih, "excuse me mam". Gue dengan cueknya bilang, "permisi maksudnya pak?" hehehehe..... kocak lah pokoknya. Seru juga nih kalo buat ngerjain orang2 yang norak.
5. Pergaulan. Nah ini nih yang bikin gue bingung banget. Di otak gue orang Indonesia tuh masih taboo buat ngomongin sex or things yang related to sex. Tapi sekarang kayaknya udah jadi part of daily conversation. Aneh deh dengerin temen2 gue cerita ... about their bedroom experience. For me, what happen in the bedroom stays in the bedroom. Kalo sekarang disini tuh enggak. Udah jadi rahasia umum. Telat dateng bulan gara2 ada kemungkinan hamil tuh udah biasa. Ah gubrak! And apparently most people here don't believe in the use of condoms. Oh mi God. Kayaknya gue udig banget yah. Cuma menurut gue selama bertaun2 gue di Amrik ... kayaknya temen2 gue yang bule gak pernah ngomongin soal sex or things like this yang se open inih. Ya ada sih yang cerita... cuma itu juga sambil bisik2... enggak kayak lagi pas rame2 gitu. Heran deh gue. Gak heran temen gue yang duluan balik sempet bilang gini sama gue "loe nyampe jakarta entar loe pasti ngerasa loe tuh either kayak anak alim or loe ngerasa udig ngeliat pergaulan di jakarta." Bener juga loe jek!
Well itu cuma sedikit dari yang gue temuin agak2 bikin gue kaget. Pusink deh pusink.
8:11 AM
