The 5 Part Series.
Recently, I finished discussing a five-part series on the women of Bali. I received a lot of direct messages in reaction to it. The comments were interesting for several reasons. This surprised me a bit because it showed how many were out of touch with their local counterparts. The blogs/articles were more serious in tone than what I usually write. Even local businesspeople on LinkedIn seemed slightly shocked, by the content. Maybe it is because I have opened their eyes to something new.
A different perspective on how locals live.
It made me realize that many of us who live in Bali don’t interact with the locals. Therefore, they don’t know much about how the locals live and survive day-to-day, especially when it comes to finances. The article shed light on the lives of local women and gave readers a different perspective than the typical happy Bali lifestyle often portrayed.
I Am Not a Local
I’m glad that I was able to open people’s eyes to this reality. Although I do not consider myself a local, I don’t hang around many expats or foreigners. Instead, I work with and assist local businesses and individuals. It was rewarding to know that my article reached a few people who can better understand the perspective of locals and how they survive. The takeaway here is that it’s important for us to see how the other side lives, even if they’re just employees or friends of expats.
Having a pro-local mindset is widely known about me. From the noise complaints about roosters to helping local businesses it’s all out there on social media. Unfortunately, not many foreigners are aware of my involvement with the locals and how much I engage with them. Especially on TikTok where 97% of my followers on this platform are from Indonesia, and I have about 88,000 followers.
Engaging The Locals
Engaging with them has given me a unique perspective on the locals versus someone who is just visiting Bali. While visiting Bali may show you a glimpse of the happy side of locals, it doesn’t give you an insight into their daily lives. Most people don’t care about the locals’ way of life. Living here has allowed me to truly understand their mindset. As far as I know, many expats and locals don’t care about each other. It’s not a true relationship. I talk to many locals and business owners. I personally talk to them on TikTok, Zoom, and Instagram. I have a chat on TikTok Live every day, which allows me to meet people from different places and gain a new perspective on life. The catch is that there is more to Indonesia than Bali. The more I engage with them, the more I learn from them. By exchanging ideas and lifestyles between Western and Indonesian perspectives, we become more educated. Many locals feel that Western life is better without realizing how complicated it can be. Bringing these two perspectives together can offer a better understanding of both lifestyles. I am happy to be able to understand and connect with locals. I am happy to see how other people live and to be able to engage with them.
