When The Hospitality Less Hospitable

There will be the time when you longing to a very simple thing like greetings. Yes, I really miss the way Indonesian shopkeepers greet to the customer. Like what Alfa****/Indo***** greetings Selamat pagi, selamat berbelanja, Terima kasih kedatangannya, selamat belanja kembali. Even, when you come to ITC, or other market you’ll also find this greetings.

I thought that the greetings in some shops or vendors in Indonesia are something we call as alay. But when I come to this country, and found that nobody serve like Indonesian, I feel like there is something wrong. The ugly fact is that you’ll not find those greeting things in this what the so called as a Truly Asia country.

Well, it has been three months I lived in Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia. You, know what, If I may say, Sabah is a less hospitable nation. Maybe for some countries in the world, the term of hospitable is degrading because of high-technology. But it doesn't happen in Sabah. I was so overwhelmed that people here aren't naturally hospitable. Warmth, generosity or friendliness is hard to find

The first time I went shopping with my friends, the shopkeepers aren't friendly. I really didn't like the way they look at me. Their eyes were like whispering hey stranger, what the hell are you doing? and when I paid to the cashier, her face was like shouting hey, you! DO you really wanna buy these things? Is it really affordable for you to pay it?

A couple weeks later, I visited another mall, I found some friendly shopkeepers, but then I should realize that being friendly and pretending to be friendly is not the same. They asked me where do I come from, my occupation, my reason why come to this state and my address. Well, that’s a normal question and a few minutes later they asked me a question that made me annoyed How much is your salary?. Certainly, I was really surprise to hear that question. Is it appropriate for the person who meets for the first time ask that question? Then, when I came to the cashier, he gave me question, Are you married? .  OMG, can you believe it? Why did these people ask me about these trashy questions?  Did they learn about civic or something?

What I need as the expatriate who come to this country is just value of loyalty to family or friends. Besides, good hospitable involves a great deal of honor and respect. Does it really matter for the so called as A Truly Asia Country?