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When In Rome...

When in Rome, do what the Romans do.
 That is a generally acceptable saying, honoured by any self respecting individual all around the globe. we try to, at least. Is it really that simple, though?

There are waaay too many downfalls when one tries to follow customs that are not (or not anymore) their own. Lack of knowledge, misunderstanding, old habits, difference in principals and perception, just to mention a few. I am no exception.

I was born and raised in Jakarta, and had spent my first 18.5 years of life there. Then for the following 11.5 years, I made Canada my home. Having moved to a totally different place at that age, not knowing the local culture, I was super lucky to have had people who guided me and supported me through. I was shaped into an individual that I am, I eased into the open western social standards. Or so I think. God knows if I offended anyone during those years.

Now at 30, I'm back at home, living like I was over a decade ago... NOT! I'm not sure if I had forgotten how it was, or if I had so tremendously changed that so many things here actually bother me. The food that I used to miss now makes me sick, my lifestyle totally changes out of fear of family judgements, my personality changes. I'm afraid I have to say that I don't like the person that I'm turning into since I'm here!

I'm starting to think.... do I really need to do this? Are the things that are expected of me here, actually expected by every other normal people? Or is it just expected by my family....... my parents... or even myself and only me? How much of a local culture and custom can one honour, when it's really bothering her?

The answer is yet to be decided. I guess I'll think about it some more...
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