My CCU Asignment

Why Americans Do Not Ask Age and Religion to Stranger,

But Indonesian does

            When I was in senior high school, my classmates and I went to Bali. We did it because we had graduated from the senior high school. In the third day of our vocation, we went to Sanur Beach. We met a beautiful girl. She came from one place in America. We sat on the beach and talked about many things. The conversation went nicely, because we just talked about the different things between in Indonesia and his country. The nice situation changed, when my friends asked about her age and his religion. It seemed that she did not like it. After a while she went away. At the time, I did not know the reason why she acted like that, but then I knew that it was impolite to ask about age and religion to stranger. What I have experienced may happen to people who do not know about the cultural. Americans do not ask about personal question because of some reasons. I think that it happens because of the reasons.

            Americans have an individual society. What does it means? They appreciate someone’s affairs, for example: money, religion and age by not asking it. Personal affairs get a big space there. They think that personal affairs are not for others. I read a personal story from a German who usually meets with Americans; He said “Nobody will tell you look fat. Nobody will talk to you about your appearance straightly”. I think that Americans do not care about personal affairs. They think that it is impolite to ask personal questions.

            America is an individualism country. Its citizen manages what they want to believe. The government allows the citizen to be atheistic, because the government does not take control in religion.

I think that individualism was built by their story. In the past, slavery happened in America. I think the story influence how Americans think. Now they really appreciate individual, because they want everybody independence.

This society is different with Indonesia. Indonesia is a communal society, for example: parents find a wife for his son and the citizen has to choose one of five religions in Indonesia. Marriage and religion become public affairs. Indonesians usually ask about personal questions to the stranger, because we think that it is the way to honor someone and it is usual. Older people are really honored in Indonesia. Indonesians usually make polite actions to appreciate older people, for example: make a bow when they pass someone or call someone mbak, mas, bang, etc. We usually talk about our personal affairs to others, for examples talking about our age and religion.

We appreciate age. We are built by our story. In the past there are many kingdoms in Indonesia. It makes us honor older people. Related to the facts, it becomes important to know other people ages.

Finally, I conclude that Americans and Indonesians different because of their different point of view and story. Others appreciate someone by asking personal question, but the others appreciate someone by not asking personal question. We have to know each other well, so we can appreciate each other. There is no the best cultural. Both of them are good. :-)

P.S: I am very glad if You correct my writing.