Culture

Saving Face in Indonesian Culture: Understanding Malu and Menjaga Perasaan

An Indonesian colleague nods along in a meeting, seems to agree with a plan, then quietly doesn’t follow through. A

You’re invited to an event starting at 7 PM. You arrive on time — and you’re one of the only

In many Western societies, personal achievement, independence, and individual choice sit at the center of daily life. In Indonesia, the

“Are you married yet?” “How much do you earn?” “Why don’t you have children?” For many foreigners, these questions land

Ask an Indonesian colleague if a plan works for them, and you’ll often get “maybe,” “we’ll see,” or a hesitant

Spend enough time in an Indonesian neighborhood and you’ll see it: a group clearing a drainage ditch on a Sunday