That is when a woman at my age asked,”What? You’re Indonesian? You can speak Mandarin? Indonesia also got Chinese ppl meh? Cos you know, I thought mostly are.. Malays, and.. work as maid. I have an Indonesian maid at home. Don’t tell me you’re one. Haha..”

She gave me the big eyes which is like saying I-can’t-believe-this. While I gave a big -_____________-” , raising my eyebrow and sigh.

Ok, so what’s my issue here?

First, having people wondered how can I (as a Chinese Indonesian) speak Mandarin is a normal thing already. Many asked before and I tend to think they’re stuck at 90s era, outdated to the max. We all pick up language, no matter what race & nationality we are, kay?

Second, the question “Indonesia also got Chinese people?” is like asking “Malaysia also got Chinese people?”, Duh.

Third, I feel quite upset on this part, when she related Indonesian with maid/domestic helper. Yea right, there are many Indonesian coming here (Malaysia) to work as domestic helpers but doesn’t make all Indonesian = maid. My home-country ain’t maid’s producer, we have many talents back home.

This is like touching an elephant’s trunk and then say that elephant is so thin and long like a snake. The same thing like asking Sarawakian,”I thought you all live in tree house.” Big DUH!

Fourth, “Don’t tell me you’re one? haha”. Yea right, so funny. So I was a poor girl worked as a maid, found my prince and married. Cinderella can have a better life now.

Moral of the story, when you want to strike a conversation with someone you just know but don’t have better things to say, just shut up. And, have an open-mind that the world isn’t flat.