[the price of comfortability]

(while dragging the television box into the security check and lift) “There are taxies in the lobby”

(smiling) ”But this lift can go directly to the basement too right?”

“ooh yes, the parking lot for motorcylces is at the basement second floor”

(smiling again)

Those conversation happened when my boyfriend and me bought a television. Obviously the salesman thought that we were a young couple (although we are not that young) who use public transportation. Or even if we went there with personal transportation, it would be a motorcycle. In other words, he did not (or does not?) classify us as “worth” enough to use any private car. Well, he did not wrong totally as we used the car from the company. We did not feel bothered too as the salesman did not say those words with negative expression as all of us might see on how the saleswomen/men in the sort-of-exclusive stores do. Well, we experience this sort of behaviour several times so it would not be that surprising anymore. We even observe this.

Afterwards, we laughed and smiled. We even still laugh on that event whenever we remember. It is understandable why he said that way. We wore polo shirts, jeans and sandals. We spent around half an hour only to think which kind of television that we will buy, of course, with making  comparison on prices and benefits. It might be too long for him. As the televisions that we were compared are not the luxurious ones (not those with eight digits Rupiahs). The standard ones! He might think that, “Gosh, they think that long only to buy this one standard television“. Social expectations.

A friend said to me, that whenever she go to department stores with her friends, they always play a little game. “The perfume sample” The game is very simple, whoever be offered of a piece of paper contains sprayed fragrance means that she is the one who wear clothes “properly”. That she is the targeted consumer.

Well, unfortunately, physical appearances does matter in the community. It even relates more to the clothing style! Seems like clothes represent the social status. Ah, I always unable to understand this matter. This world has lots of imitations. Great imitations are everywhere!

Secureness vs Anxiousness (Luann – 07 Oct 1995)

Or, as some said that I should change my style in order to gain respect. First, because many think that I am much younger that in real. Well, I always raise my eyebrow whenever people said so. Do we only respect people who are older than us? Well, usually, I answered that comment with:

“Life is a very funny thing.”

When we were young, we looked forward to get older. We thought that with being older, we would able to make decisions. So, that is why we can see many children and teenagers try their best to appear as adults. Meanwhile, when we get older, we would try our best to cover our true ages. That is the reason why many women and men try put much efforts to maintain their beauties. Do not believe me? Try to go to shopping centers and there you will see the examples. Nothing wrong with that, but nothing wrong too with my decision. We are all have our ways to express our comfortabilities those ways will increase our secureness.

Ah, why I should be bothered to write this note?

Because even if I buy the original one from the luxurious store, people might still think that I use the imitation one as whoever can imagine that this woman use that luxurious ones with only a polo shirt or jeans? Well, that’s my self-defense to cover the lack of financial ability and stubbornness on comfortability. Last, thankfully, I am surrounded with thoughtful friends who do not bother much on those sort of things (does it mean that they also stubborn? haha!)

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