Tropical Indonesia

By: Neomi Thijs

Population: 231,820,243 people

Government•Republic/ A

representative democracy in which the executive branch exists separately from a legislature (to which it is generally not accountable).

•President susilo Bambang Yudhouono- (Since October 20th 2004)

• Vice President Muhammad Yusuf kalla.

Major Religions:

Early Indonesians were animists, and practiced ancestor and spirit worship.

Islam became the predominant religion.

88% Muslim

5% protestant

8% Roman catholic

2% Hindu

1% Buddhist

Family Life

My family isn't as cultural and as traditional as local families are in Indonesia. Traditionally sons are supposed to help their fathers out with hard work and daughters are supposed to help their mothers out with cooking and cleaning. In families fathers usually work to provide money for food, shelter and education. Now a days women aren't always stay home moms.

In my family my father works and my mother likes to buy groceries and cook. Me and my sister have chores like cleaning our rooms, washing the dishes and making our beds.

Food

Rice is usually the main source of food to eat.

Traditional Food:•Gado-Gado:

Shredded or chopped green vegetables, boiled potatoes and boiled eggs served with a peanut dressing.

•Nasi Goreng:

Nasi goreng means friend rice in some languages. The dish includes friend eggs, chicken, sometimes satay and krupuk( friend crackers, chips) and of course rice which is fried.

• Rujak:

The typical Indonesian fruit rujak consists slices of tropical fruits like jambu air( water apple), pineapple, mangoes and star fruit. The fruit is dipped into a sweet and spicy dressing.

Indonesian Independence Day:

August 17th, 1945 is the independence day for Indonesians from the Dutch. We celebrate the day by playing games and throwing big feasts.

Ramadan:

This celebration is only celebrated by Muslims. Although Islam is the dominant religion in Indonesia a lot of people celebrate it.

Weddings:

In Indonesia depending where you live, weddings will be different. For example the wedding outfit in Jakarta would be different from the one in Java. Deepening from which part of Indonesia you come from it usually is different.

Birthdays:A typical celebration of growth usually celebrated by everyone. We all throw different kinds of parties.

Traditions

In Indonesia school is compulsory between the ages 7-15.

Most schools are public ones, and a lot of them are religious schools. Most of them teach how to pray and how to read the Koran during class.

Like in most places there are international schools like ISB. For

example In Jakarta, JIS is a well known school.

In some schools girls must wear something covering their head due to religion.

Mostly in every public school it is a must to wear

uniforms.

Education

We all enjoy different hobbies and likings. As a family I know that my mother enjoys throwing parties, where as my father dislikes them. Me and my sister both enjoy dancing and we are both very social able.

During my free time I like to read a lot and my sister enjoys it too but not as much as I do. Most of us enjoy the typical stuff like watching movies, playing games, sports and all things that children would enjoy.

I love snow, but I adore the beach. I could say that sometimes I’m more with my friends than my family but in the end I usually spend a fair amount of time with them.

Entertainment and Recreation

Invisible Features1. Concept of self:Concept of self is an invisible feature to My

culture. We all don’t know what each of us Think about ourselves. Therefore its an invisible Feature. In some cultures people might be Forced to tell what our feelings our. At home my Parents might not give all the privacy I want But they still give a fair amount of it. Concept of self is like what you feel and think of yourself.

2. Child raising Beliefs:Every parent wants to be a good one. They

all have different ways of raising their children. Id say its quite an invisible feature because we do not know what every parent is teaching and telling their children. In Indonesia some mothers want their daughters to help them cook and clean. In some other places it is different.

Communication is where one really gets to know the other. When you are talking to elders you must respect them and great them in a proper way. I've never heard of a rule about eye contact in my culture but to other people there probably are.

In my family, you must always great a guest and be friendly. I like to keep my distance from someone, depending to who I’m talking to and if I even know this person.

Communication

AdviceMy advice:

• Never make fun of the people over there because of what they wear for their religion.

•Respect the elders, and do not make fun of them.

•When you’re a guest to a party it is rude to not eat what the host has served.

•Do not make fun of the people praying at mosks.

•Don’t touch someone's head with you feet, or get your feet anywhere near their face.

Terima KasihThe End

(Thank You)