Why you should always blow-dry your hair when in Indonesia.

Place: Universitas Negeri Malang, East Java, Indonesia

Background:  Indonesia is the most highly populated Muslim country in the world, with most of its population living on the island of Java.  You are probably thinking exotic island with tribes and chiefs running around scantily clad.  You are wrong (as was I before I went there.)  Being mostly Muslim, Indonesians are extremely conservative in dress and social stigmas.  Also contrary to my own island stereotype, Indonesians are quite technologically advanced.  They have malls and are the 2nd highest users of Facebook after Americans.  Boom.  Knowing these few vague details, enjoy the story below of how I single-handedly established my reputation as a sex feign in the conservative community of Malang, East Java, Indonesia, a place so close-knit that my neighbors knew what time I got out of bed on Saturdays.  (It's my day off people, chill out.)


As long as I have remembered, I have been challenged by promptness.  Surprisingly, this did not change when I moved half-way across the world to live with a host family in Indonesia.  In fact, it maybe even got a little worse.  It may have been worsened by the thought of trying to shave my legs in the cold shower I would have to endure upon getting out of bed, or the constant war I would be fighting with Asian mosquitoes (much more blood-hungry than its American counterpart) as soon as I got out from under the covers.  Either way, I was always running late, so normal beauty rituals were often times cut short.  (Don't worry, I probably still looked beautiful.) Knowing that I was living in an extremely conservative country, I always took extra time in the name of cultural sensitivity to cover up the three big ones: shoulders, knees, and toes.  (Sexy body parts vary from country to country, people.)  Upon donning a conservative outfit, I would then dab some foundation over my war-torn dotted face (damn mosquitoes), grab my sacred Ritz cheese crackers that would save me from fried gelatinous sweets during break time, and head out the door to walk the 8 minutes to class from my home stay.  Then, upon my late arrival to class, I would commence the finger-brushing of my wet hair, freshly washed from my bone-chilling shower.  This is how my typical day began. 

Me stealing photos with members of a wedding party in my typical conservative Indonesian wear: close-toed shoes, covered shoulders and baggy pants.  Luckily, my hair was dry when this photo was taken.

Months later, while continuing my research on cleanliness in Indonesian culture, I found myself talking with Pak Peter, the resident director of my study abroad program in Indonesia and coincidentally my Indonesian professor at ASU. (Go devils.)  After discussing some frustratingly confusing social norms about cleanliness habits in relation to intimacy (the entertaining topic of my research), Pak Peter proceeded to tell me that one specific religious rule in the Muslim community is to take a shower after having a sexual interaction with someone.  Having never heard this, I was extremely surprised which Pak Peter scoffed at, "Well ya, Mbak Sophie, why do you think people never go out in public with wet hair in Indonesia? It's because people will think you just got done having sex."  Reality hit.  All those close-toed shoes, all the times covering up my shoulders with cap-sleeved sweaters and shawls in the miserable humid heat, it was all for nothing.  All because I didn't have time to blow-dry my hair in the morning.  I should have just worn a t-shirt that said "I love Dolly," the most famous red-light district in Indonesia.  But as always, no regrets.  At least the lesson has been learned and I now know to never skip any steps in my morning beauty rituals, as people may very well consider me a slut if I do. 

Traveling tip #1: Never fore go drying your hair to make it somewhere on time while in Indonesia.