Hopping on and hopping off at quite many different cultures setting has taught me several important things:
a) We need to be open minded with new ideas, notions and practical ways of people at different continents.
b) Every person is unique, special, and must be treated equally, even they are subordinate or minority.
c) Allow people to introduce themselves as they are, and don't prejudge their action/habits as weird. They are just having different approach in thinking and communicating the ideas.
d) Try not to say any words that lead to discrimination, racists or culturally unacceptable behaviors.
e) Listen to other people until they finish their sentences, then respond appropriately.
f) Use polite English to show that we're educated, and from an educated atmosphere.
g) Don't accept all of their statements, but don't show that you don't trust them. Trust is the most powerful thing in establishing a good and sustainable relationship.
h) Try not to express our dissatisfaction with any aspect of their country, climate, culture, nation, or lifestyle. Appreciate their background and better to swallow those complaints before saying them. Learn to be grateful in facing a new situation.
i) Don't force them to try something that they probably don't enjoy and don't want to do. Test the water by saying a nice introduction about it, then let them decide to do try or to do it.
j) Always show courtesy and hospitality, because Indonesian/Asian is known as a polite nation.
k) Find something in common (common ground) with our new foreign friends/colleagues, by finding similar view about certain general issue.
l) It is better to start using 'May I ask a very personal question' for something related to religion, age, personality or politic preference before asking them directly about those issues.
m) Ignore people who try to undermine, underestimate, and do not considering your presence. Keep showing a neutral facial expression.
n) Pretend that you're not the minority. Just keep talking, asking question, being cheerful and introducing yourself to other people. Who knows, among the hundreds attendees, there must be people who are interested to know you and your views.
o) Don't put a distance because we feel different, always try to build a conversation about something general first. If they are responding well, then continue to be specific, but not too intervene their private life.
p) Stop thinking that you're a special because you're different. You're not that special, and other people deserve to be treated special, too.
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