Be impolite

I had a good laugh when I read Mr. Wesson's letter about the politeness of Indonesians and the impoliteness of foreigners living in Indonesia. To consider the famous "Hello Mister!" as a friendly greeting shows me that he hasn't been living in Indonesia for a long time. Otherwise he would know that this annoying "Hello Mister!" is following a white foreigner or bule wherever he/she goes and that it is anything else but being friendly.

Very often it is rude and I consider it as rather making fun of a foreigner than greeting him/her friendly. Therefore, I can understand every expatriate who tries to ignore those people who think they have to call every white foreigner a "Mister." After hearing it a million times I do the same. That's why I encourage anybody who is greeted with "Hello Mister!" to be impolite and ignore it.

I also experience the extreme rudeness when being called "Hey bule!" with an aggressive tone. I would not call a stranger in my country "Hey chocolate." Until now I still can't resolve this contradiction of friendliness and unfriendliness and I guess it will always be a secret to me. However, I want to emphasize that I don't talk about Indonesians in general but only about those bawlers.

MARCUS GLIWITZKI

Jakarta