What is a custom?
A custom is the
usual way of behaving or acting
What is a
tradition?
A tradition is
a custom, opinion or belief handed down from on generation to another, often
orally or by practice.
Why I choose this theme?
A. Historical background of Indonesian-British
relations
Based
on the historical background of United Kingdom-Indonesia relations, these both countries have maintained strong
relations since formal relations were established in 1949. Indonesia
has an embassy in London and vice versa United
Kingdom also has an embassy in Jakarta. Therefore, this relation will make a high
flight for Indonesian and UK people who have business between the two
countries. Of course, there will be many Indonesian people to go to UK everyday
and so also vice versa. Thus, it is one of my goals to introduce the customs of
the two countries because the lack of the experiences of the customs in dealing
with most likely will make the broken relations.
B. Continuing study and taking vacation
Many Indonesian and English people exchange to
continue their study into the two countries after graduating from their school
in their each country. So, it’s also important to know the custom of the societies
of country as their destination. As new comers, it will lead them into high
confusion if they have no experiences to deal with the people in that country.
Moreover, it will also be very difficult to adapt if they have no knowledge
about it.
Besides, the two societies often exchange taking
vacation in the two countries. So, surely, it will involve them into
interacting to the societies and it’s must be having the knowledge of the socializing
to avoid unexpected things.
C. The countries outside the two countries
My goals are not merely centralized to the societies
in Indonesia and UK only, but also to the whole societies in the world. If they
choose one of the two countries, imply that they need to know the rules or
customs of the societies before going there. So, whatever their purposes, they
have to prepare the knowledge of the society first in order to be avoided from
the dangerous things and things which break their image.
Comparison
A. British
Customs
1. Religion
What
Religions are there in the Britain?
Britain is a multi faith society in which everyone has the right to
religious freedom. Although Britain is historically a Christian society, people
are usually very tolerant towards the faiths of others and those who have no
religious beliefs.
What is
etiquette and manners in Britain?
A. Greeting Someone
a.
The Handshake
A handshake is the most common form of greeting among the English
and British people and is customary when you are introduced to somebody new.
b.
The Kiss
It is only when you meet friends, whom you haven't seen for a long
time, that you would kiss the cheek of the opposite sex. In Britain one kiss is
generally enough.
c.
Formal greetings
The usual formal greeting is a 'How do you do?' and a firm
handshake, but with a lighter touch between men and women.
The followings are formal and informal greeting:
v Formal Greeting:
Ø ‘How do you
do?’ is a greeting not a question and the correct response is to repeat ‘How do
you do?' You say this when shaking hands with someone.
Ø 'How are you?'
is a question and the most common and polite response is "I am fine thank
you and you?"
Ø Nice to meet
you – Nice to meet you too. (Often said whilst shaking hands)
Ø Delighted to
meet you– Delighted to meet you too.
Ø Pleased to meet
you – Pleased to meet you too. .
Ø Glad to meet
you - Glad to meet you too
Ø Good Morning /
Good Afternoon / Good Evening
v
Informal Greeting
Ø Hi - Hi or
hello
Ø Morning /
Afternoon / Evening ( We drop the word 'Good' in informal situations).
Ø How's you? -
Fine thanks. You?
Ø Thank you /
thanks / cheers
They
sometimes say
'cheers' instead of thank you. You may hear 'cheers' said instead of 'good
bye', what they are really saying is 'thanks and bye'.
You may be called by many different 'affectionate' names, according
to which part of the England you are visiting. Do not be offended, this is
quite normal. For example, you may be called dear, dearie, flower, love, chick,
chuck, me duck, me duckie, mate, guv, son, ma'am, madam, miss, sir, or treacle,
according to your sex, age and location.
A. Time
British people place considerable value on punctuality. For instance, if you agree to meet friends at three o'clock, you have to arrive there at three. In
Britain, people make great effort to arrive on time. It is often considered
impolite to arrive even a few minutes late. If you are unable to keep an
appointment, it is expected that you call the person you are meeting (the general tip used).
You should arrive:
Ø At the exact
time specified – for dinner, lunch, or appointments with professors, doctors,
and other professionals.
Ø Any time during
the hours specified for teas, receptions, and cocktail parties.
Ø A few minutes
early: for public meetings, plays, concerts, movies, sporting events, classes,
church services, and weddings.
B. Dress
Everyday dress is appropriate for most to
visit peoples' homes. You may want to dress more formally when attending a
holiday dinner or cultural event, such as a concert or theatre performance.
C.
Invitations
“ Drop in anytime” and “come see me soon” are idioms often used in
social settings but seldom meant to be taken literally. It is wise to telephone
before visiting someone at home. If you receive a written invitation to an
event that says “RSVP”, you should respond to let the person who sent the
invitation know whether or not you plan to attend.
Never accept an invitation unless you really plan to go. You may
refuse by saying, “Thank you for inviting me, but I will not be able to come.”
If, after accepting, you are unable to attend, be sure to tell those expecting you as
far in advance as possible that you will not be there.
Although it is not necessarily expected that you give a gift to
your host, it is considered polite to do so, especially if you have been
invited for a meal. The flowers,
chocolate, or a small gift are all appropriate. A thank-you note or telephone
call after the visit is also considered polite and is an appropriate means to
express your appreciation for the invitation.
D.
Introduction and Greeting
It is proper to shake hands with everyone to whom you are
introduced, both men and women. An appropriate response to an introduction is
"Pleased to meet you". If you want to introduce yourself to someone,
extend you hand for a handshake and say "Hello, I am....". Hugging is
only for friends.
E.
Dining
When you accept a dinner invitation, tell your host if you have any
dietary restrictions. He or she will want to plan a meal that you can enjoy.
The evening meal is the main meal of the day in most parts of Britain.
Food may be served in one of several ways: "family
style," by passing the serving plates from one to another around the
dining table; "buffet style," with guests serving themselves at the
buffet; and "serving style," with the host filling each plate and
passing it to each person. Guests usually
wait until everyone at their table has been served before they begin to eat.
Food is eaten with a knife and fork and dessert with a spoon and fork.
3. Family life
What Is Family Life Like in Britain and Indonesia?
The family in Britain is changing. In the past, people married
before they had children, but now about 40% of children in Britain are born to
unmarried (cohabiting) parents. In 2000, around a quarter of unmarried people
between the ages of 16 and 59 were cohabiting in Great Britain. Cohabiting
couples are also starting families even without
first being married. Before 1960,
this was very unusual, but in 2001 around 23 per cent of births in the UK were from unmarried cohabiting couples.
The number of single-parent families is increasing. This is mainly
due to more marriages ending in divorce, but some women are also choosing to
have children as lone parents without being married.
4.
Driving
What is it like to drive in Britain?
In Britain, people drive on the left-hand
side of the road, so the steering wheel is on the right. However the pedals are
in the same position as in left-handed cars, with the accelerator (gas pedal)
on the right. The gears and almost always the handbrake (parking brake) is
operated with the left hand.
A.
Petrol
Petrol (Gas) in Britain is one of the most expensive in the world.
We pay on average 95 pence a litre.
B.
Minimum driving age in the UK
The minimum age for driving a car in the UK is 17, and 16 for
riding a moped or motorbike with a maximum engine capacity of 50cc.
C. Roads
In Britain, there are three main
roads. The first, "M" roads are like American freeways. They are
known as motorways and are fast roads. They
have three or four lanes. Secondly, "A"
roads are not controlled-access: they range from two-lane divided highways
("dual carraigeways") down to one-lane roads. They are the main
routes between towns. The third, "B"
roads are the smallest
of the three. They may be in the open
or have impentrable foliage right up to the road. Road markings (curves, etc.)
may be sparse.
D.
The National Speed limits
Motorways and dual carriage ways: 112km/h / 70mph
Unrestricted single carriageway roads: 96km/h / 60mph
Built up areas e.g. towns and villages: 48km/h / 30mph
Residential areas: 35km/h / 20mph
B. Indonesian
Customs
1.
Religion
What is religion in Indonesia?
The
majority (about 88%) of the population follow Islam. In fact,
Indonesia is the nation with largest Moslem
population. However, freedom of religion is provided by the Indonesian
Constitution, which is defined in the First Principle of the State Philosophy'
"Pancasila", which upholds a "Belief in One Supreme God".
Others religions followed in Indonesia are Christianity, Roman Catholic, Hinduism, Buddhism, and etc.
2.
Social Custom
How is social custom in Indonesia?
A.
ADAT- The Unwritten
Rules
In
Indonesia there is such a thing as Adat which basically is unwritten rules on
how you should behave, such as hiding their negative feelings to avoid
confrontation, keep smiling and avoid arguments. Try to restrain yourself when
you are annoyed, if not it is considered to be disrespectful.
B.
Nasi Kuning-yellow
rice, special dish in Indonesia
If
there is some like birthday, special in Jakarta people like Nasi Kuning - it
means yellow rice with spices and so on. So usually even in a office at noon at
someone’s birthday there will come this. If you happend to be there as guest
and they offer you the top of the yellow rice cone, it is a very special
honour for the guest.
3.
Etiquette
How is the Etiquette in Indonesia?
A.
Greetings
Greetings
with international hi or hello is nice, but try to speak
local tongue will draw respect and admiration for your effort. Greetings in
local Indonesian such as ‘selamat pagi’ (good
morning),’selamat’ siang (good afternoon), or ‘selamat
malam’ (good evening), and ‘apa
kabar?’ (how do you do?), are demonstrating your respect for local
culture. Saying ‘terima kasih’
(thank you) after receiving services or favors are to demonstrate
your good manner. To address Muslims by using Islamic greeting ‘assalamu
'alaikum’ are also might draw admiration, and will receive ‘walaikum
salam’ reply.
B.
Introducing oneself
When greeting or introducing oneself, smiling, handshake (salam)
and slightly nod is a good gesture. A medium handshake grip is sufficient because gripping too hard could be considered as rude or an act of
aggression.
One thing is important to note. Some conservative Indonesian Muslims might avoid direct touch with
opposite sex including handshake, So nodding or performing anjali (such as Buddhist greeting) is
recommended when greeting opposite sex that are conservative Muslims.
C.
Using hands
Both
the Muslim and Hindu faiths somewhat abhor the use of the left hand. It is
considered as ‘unclean’, left hand is traditionally perceived as the hand used
to clean yourself in the toilet. So when shaking hands, offering a gift,
handing or receiving something, eating, pointing or generally touching another
person, it is considered proper etiquette to always use your right hand.
D.
Body gesture
Paying
respect to elders and obeying the teacher are expected among Asian youngsters,
such as shown here in Indonesia. The students are quietly listening to their
teacher's explanation during school museum excursion.
Modesty
and humbleness are considered virtues, so body language that expresses
superiority or pride is considered rude, arrogant and intimidating. In some
Indonesian cultures, the attitude of expressing pride and superiority are even
reserved only for kings or nobles. One should avoid putting his chin upward,
putting hands on hips or pointing when talking to other people. Pointing toward
someone with index fingers is considered rude, especially if the one you
pointed at is near and can see what you are doing. Pointing with thumb with
other fingers folded is considered most polite.
When
passing quite close in front of somebody, for example in the theatre or cinema
passing in front of seat row, or passing between two people that are having a
conversation, it is polite if you slightly bow your body with one of your hands
reaching downward. It is a polite gesture to apologise for obstructing
someone's view or interrupting others’ conversation.
In
formal settings, one should not raise his foot upon the seat when seating. The
base of the foot should step upon the ground. Even folding your leg and put it
upon another is best avoided, since foot are considered as the lowest body part
and should not be pointed toward others. However in relaxed settings and if
seated on the mat on the floor, a more relaxed body pose is allowed.
E.
Tone
Speaking
softly but clear with somewhat subdued tone is recommended, while on the other
hand speaking too loud are considered rude. However it is worthy to note that
the tone standard is not the same across Indonesia. Javanese, Sundanese and
Balinese are speaking softly, Minang and Malay are medium toned, while people
of Batak, Betawi, Bugis and Makassar, Ambonese, and people of Eastern Indonesia
speak slightly louder.
F.
Modest Dress for Women
Due
to Indonesia being a largely Muslim country, the
dress becomes serious thing. You have to use the
acceptable dress in Indonesia. For instance, many female travelers come straight from Thailand and continue to
wear revealing clothing and then wonder why they are being stared at by men. To
avoid unwanted attention, particularly in remote areas,
women should have their shoulders covered. It is actually to avoid the tops that show
off cleavage. So, just show that you respect the local culture by covering up a bit.
G. Invited for dinner
When
invited as a guest to someone's house remove your shoes upon entering. Normally
there may be forks and spoons provided (knives are not normally supplied).
Should there be no utensils then you must be careful to use your right hand
only to eat with.
H.
Giving
Indonesians like
to have good memories and often happily show it by placing mementos around
the house. Food will be a difficult choice. if your friend is a Moslem,
halal food is a must thing. You have to make your Moslem friend feel comfortable
by giving halal food. The personal
things (perfume, earrings, etc.) are also well
accepted as gifts. Books are not
favorable for many Indonesians though there are Indonesians
that are crazy
for books.
I.
Give and recieve things with your right hand
In
Indonesia and many other parts of Asia it is impolite to take or give things
with your left hand. This is due to the left hand begining used to wipe when
going to the toilet. You will also get strange looks for eatting with your left
hand. When eatting with your hands you should always wash your right hand
before you eat as well as after. There is usually a small hand washing bowl
provided.
J.
Be a guest
To
announce your presence, ring a bell or knock at the door and stand back a
little while saying ‘assalamu'alaikum’ if
the host is Muslim, or more commonly ‘permisi’.
Wait to be allowed to enter the house, and wait to be allowed to sit down in
guest room. The living room and dining room are usually reserved for more close
family friend or relatives, guest should normally not wander further inside
past the guest room, unless invited. Sometimes the host may offer a choice;
"coffee or tea?" (or sometime syrup). It is up to your preference,
however if you wish not to be a burden to the host, then only request plain
water. Wait to be motioned to drink, do not finish the drink. Leave a little
drops in the cup. If you finish the
whole cup is indicating the guest is truly thirsty and wishes the drink to be
refilled. If the tea or coffee is too hot to drink, try not to blow the steam
away. Patiently wait several minutes whilst involving yourself in conversation,
meanwhile the temperature will become more approachable. This
patience is likely to be viewed as more appropriate to the situation. If the
host has their attention drawn to the tea or coffee being too hot to be
consumed, and the guest demonstrates this, then the host might feel
embarrassed.
4.
Indonesian Family Law
What is Indonesia family law?
Family
law in Indonesia sets out strict guidelines on marriage, divorce and
responsibilities of husband and wife. The concept of equality between both the
spouses in society and family are stated as well as equal legal rights. So, you have to get married if you want to
have children or just want to have a sex.
5.
Driving
A.
Minimum Age to Drive
The
minimum age for driving both a car and a motorbike in Indonesia is 17
years, and a driving licence is called a SIM or ‘Surat
Izin Mengemudi’. However, cars
and motorbikes are not covered by the same licence.
B.
Types of Driving Licence
The
driver of a standard car or van must have a SIM A licence. The driver of a
motorbike or scooter needs a SIM C licence.
C.
Indonesian Road Rules and Regulations
What
are Indonesian Road Rules and Regulations?
Read
carefully the following directions:
Ø Drive on
the left-hand side of the road in Indonesia.
Ø A driver must
always carry a valid SIM licence or international driving licence accompanied
by the home country licence. Foreigners who live and drive in Indonesia should
get a SIM licence.
Ø Foreigners
should always carry their passport
Ø The vehicle
must be affixed with a sticker which displays the country's initials: for
example, RI for the Republic of Indonesia
Ø Drivers must
always carry the vehicle's registration papers, or if it is a rented car, carry the rental papers.
Ø Front seats
must have seat belts. Most Indonesian cars do not have seat belts in the rear
passenger seats.
Ø Helmets which are
minimum legal standards are required for motorcycle drivers and passengers. On a legal standard helmet usually cover
a symbol ‘SNI’ (Standar Nasional Indonesia).
Ø Motorcycles are
limited to one driver and one passenger.
Ø Drivers must
signal before turning left. It’s usually demonstrated by using signal turn lamp on the vehicle and
also by waving left or right hand.
Ø Drivers must
not drive while using a mobile phone
D.
Speed Limits
The
following speed limits are placed in
Indonesia:
Ø Built-up areas:
50 Km per hour
Ø Highways: 100
Km per hour for motorbikes and cars; 60 to 80 Km per hour for trucks
Ø Roads: 80 Km
per hour
Ø Drivers are
expected to drive slower in wet weather.
Conclusions, Criticisms, and Suggestions
Britain and Indonesia are very unique with their own
customs and traditions. However, even though they have the strong relations
since 1949, yet the less understanding or knowing about the customs and traditions
of partnership countries are still happened. It means, for instance, most of
Indonesian people don’t know the customs of British people. I think this is probably
due to the lack of information to the public about it. Therefore, the role of
government is very important to inform those things in order to understanding
of the society about it will be more convinced.
Thus, the people who go to other countries, which means between
Indonesian and British, become more comfortable because of the knowledge they
gain from the government.
The information is indeed not just gained from the
government because the public can get it from the internet. However, the
problem is not all societies have the connection to the internet or know how to
access the internet, especially from the elder generation of the societies. So,
the information of government is just anticipation if there are some people who
don’t ready to connect to the internet meanwhile they have to go overseas soon.
So, the government could cover the information probably from the social media
generally such as TV, radio, newspaper, also the internet for the consumers of
internet particularly and etc.
Besides, this strategy is not just done by the two
countries, but also all countries in the world to make their society as easy as
possible to get the information about the customs of publics in other
societies.
The last words from me are I hope these brief
explanations about the customs of Indonesian and British people can be useful
for the readers. I also apologize if there many words which are wrong or may be
difficult to understand. So, for the criticisms and suggestions, send me email
to bleachrouner@gmail.com
Refference:
“INDONESIAN CUSTOMS”. ehow.com. http. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
“ETTIQUETTE IN INDONESIA”. traveletiquette.co.uk. http. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
“INDONESIAN ROADS AND SPEED LIMITS”. indonesia.angloinfo.com. http. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
