The first time I ever left the country was to go live in Indonesia for a bit. They were soo many things, and it started the instant I got there. At the airport, I remember seeing a huge sign that said “Welcome to Indonesia! Death penalty for drug traffickers!”. Also, the traffic was so wild in the taxi ride from the airport to my apartment. All the cars, horse carriages, 10 times as many mopeds/motorcycles as cars, bajais (tuk tuks), all weaving so chaotically I had to close my eyes.
Having a maid/cook, people who did our laundry, and finding out how common that was.
Having to bribe a cop for being out late at night with a guy (I’m a woman), but only having to give him the equivalent of like $5USD.
Everyone staring at me ALWAYS. Random people asking to take photos with me all the time 😆.
Haggling at basically every store/market except the fancier/chain ones.
Squat toilets. Also seeing shoe prints on standard toilets and signs telling people not to squat on those toilets.
Armed guards and metal detectors at most malls and hotels. Every time we’d come home our car would have to go through an armed security checkpoint and they’d check inside the car and open the trunk etc.
The first time I ever left the country was to go live in Indonesia for a bit. They were soo many things, and it started the instant I got there. At the airport, I remember seeing a huge sign that said “Welcome to Indonesia! Death penalty for drug traffickers!”. Also, the traffic was so wild in the taxi ride from the airport to my apartment. All the cars, horse carriages, 10 times as many mopeds/motorcycles as cars, bajais (tuk tuks), all weaving so chaotically I had to close my eyes.
Having a maid/cook, people who did our laundry, and finding out how common that was.
Having to bribe a cop for being out late at night with a guy (I’m a woman), but only having to give him the equivalent of like $5USD.
Everyone staring at me ALWAYS. Random people asking to take photos with me all the time 😆.
Haggling at basically every store/market except the fancier/chain ones.
Squat toilets. Also seeing shoe prints on standard toilets and signs telling people not to squat on those toilets.
Armed guards and metal detectors at most malls and hotels. Every time we’d come home our car would have to go through an armed security checkpoint and they’d check inside the car and open the trunk etc.