For Indonesians, smiling is not just a habit, it’s a deeply ingrained cultural norm. They are generous with their smiles, even towards people they’ve just met, a unique aspect of their culture that often intrigues foreigners.
This Indonesian cultural norm had a profound effect on a foreigner in Bali. Through the TikTok account @georgiavines1, she shared how the kindness and warmth of woman in Bali, expressed through their smiles, stood out to her, especially in comparison to her experiences in the United Kingdom (UK).
@georgiavines1 I just love Bali 🥺 #bali #girlssupportgirls #womenpower #balilife #balilifestyle #canggu ♬ original sound – Georgia Vines
She shared her personal encounters with a woman in Bali who were very friendly and smiling. She recalled a specific incident where a woman in Bali greeted and smiled at her, even though they were strangers.
This experience left a lasting impression on her, highlighting the warmth and friendliness of the Balinese people.
According to this foreigner, this attitude is very friendly, and he has never encountered it in the United Kingdom.
The video went viral and was liked by thousands of people. Many comments on the video emphasized that not only Indonesians but also Balinese are famous for smiling.
“The smiles here make it such a wonderful experience,” wrote @travellingkook.
“Not only in Bali, it’s common sense in almost all parts of Indonesia. If you smile and nod or say good morning, 99% of us would reply with a smile, a nod or good morning,” wrote the @ThatDee account.
The culture of smiling in Indonesia seems to have existed for a long time and continues to be attached to this day. This is because Indonesians have always valued family, togetherness, and helping each other.
This friendly attitude has become a special part of Indonesian society without us realizing it.
Indonesians smile the most in Southeast Asia
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Even based on the results of a survey summarized by Singapore media, Southeast Asia Stats, they named Indonesia as the country where its citizens smile the most in a day.
The survey, conducted in 2021 and early 2022, involved around a thousand 15-year-old respondents from each country in Southeast Asia.
The results, published by Singapore media outlet Southeast Asia Stats, revealed that a staggering 90% of Indonesian respondents reported smiling the previous day, earning Indonesia the title of the ‘smiliest’ country in the region.
Smiling kindly at anyone is one thing we should be proud of as Indonesians.
The culture of smiling kindly at anyone, which may have a different meaning if applied abroad, has become a characteristic of Indonesian people who are accustomed to doing so, and Indonesians should be proud of it.
As Indonesians, we unconsciously always smile at the people we meet, whether we know them or not.
As an expat living in Indonesia, have you also noticed this cultural norm of smiling? How does it compare to your home country? Share your experiences in the comments below.
