Greeting poses a problem<\/p>\n
In 1985, I had a journalist friend from Norway visiting me
\nwhile he was writing an article on Islam in Indonesia for a
\nmagazine. When the report was published, he sent me a copy of the
\nmagazine. I noticed that the article began with \"Hello Mister!\"
\nas a way of showing how he had been warmly welcomed by the
\nvillagers.<\/p>\n
Eleven years later, I have found that the greeting makes some
\nforeigners (at least Mr. Gliwitzki and Mr. Law) think as though
\nwe come from a different planet. In their view, in \"planet\"
\nIndonesia, \"Hello Mister!\" is an extraordinarily sarcastic
\ngreeting and a smile mostly imparts a negative connotation which
\ndeserves to be ignored.<\/p>\n
Perhaps Mr. Law is right: We are in a different social zone.
\nIn Indonesia, where most inhabitants are Moslems, to deliver a
\ngreeting is considered a good deed. But is it so different?
\nI've been to some European countries and was many times greeted
\nby the local people, which made me feel pleased.<\/p>\n
You don't have to act like an Indonesian while you are in
\nIndonesia. But isn't a simple greeting or a smile a universal
\nlanguage? Ignoring it only shows how conceited you are and your
\ndislike of making contact with others. \"Never talk to strangers\"
\nis not one of the things we learn in kindergarten here.<\/p>\n
Mr. Parker is absolutely right about how pleased the
\nIndonesians are if you return their greetings, not to mention if
\nyou greet them first. A return \"hello\" or a smile will tell them
\nthat you appreciate their effort of being friendly.<\/p>\n
Some foreigners may mind the word \"mister\". But most
\nIndonesians are not bothered about whether it is the right word
\nto be used in a greeting or not. The word has become so famous
\nthat it will be the first thing that comes to their minds when
\nthey meet foreigners. Why don't we consider it as \"Indonesian
\nEnglish\". We can't say to them: \"You must not say 'Hello Mister!'
\nYou should say: 'Good morning, Sir!\" unless we are in an English
\nclass.<\/p>\n
It is clear that staying for a long time in a certain place is
\nnot enough to understand its people, as long as one does not try
\nto enjoy being a part of that place.<\/p>\n
ABDUSSYUKUR<\/p>\n
Bandung, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/greeting-poses-a-problem-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }