Multicultural Festival -- Indonesia
The Multicultural Festival is a three day celebration, which kicks off the month of March in which the students will be educated about different countries, by showing cultural differences, and how we are the same. Indonesia is one of the four countries featured in this year's festival.
Greetings
Games and Activities of Indonesia
Soccer
Manners and Customs in Indonesia
1. For religious reasons (Muslim and Hindu), no physical contact between men and women is made in public, except a possible handshake.
Since 85% of Indonesian population is Muslim, it is important to know this important manner.
2. Never use your LEFT hand to shake hand or receive.
It is not polite to shake hand or receive items using your left hand, always use your RIGHT hand.
3. Religion/culture dictates specific rules for appropriate gifts. Muslim, Hindus, and the Chinese culture each have rules regarding food, alcohol, and other items. Make sure your gift is not offensive to the person you are giving it to.
For examples: do not give gifts of alcohol or pork to Muslim. This would also include perfume since it is made with alcohol, and any leather product made from pigskin. Do not give gifts containing beef or items made of cowhide (Hindu) and do not give a knife, scissors, clock (Chinese).
It is important that gifts are not opened when given. This practice shows the recipient is gracious, not greedy.
4. It is not polite to call people who are older than you by their first name.
Mr., Madam, Mrs. or Miss is used if a person does not have a title. A man is addressed as Pak (Mr.) or Bapak(Sir) . A lady is addressed as Ibu. People are normally called by their first name, as in Mr. Robert or Miss Susan, rather than using their last name.
5. Do not use red ink when writing.
Fun Fact
When someone says yes, does he or she mean yes or no? Indonesia is a gracious culture that is polite. Wanting to be agreeable and never wanting to embarrass another. Since saying no to someone is impolite, don't assume a positive response means you have agreement.
Three Focus Points for Indonesia:
- Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago located across the equator between the continents of Asia and Australia, and between the Pacific and the Indian Oceans. It consists of 17,508 islands where five big islands are Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua.
- It is the fourth largest population (229,373,990) in the world with 85% of the populations is Muslim.
- Major products/industries: Oil, gas, textile, timber, coffee, rubber, coal, tin, pepper, palm oil
