An Individualistic Me

As the only child, I have no friends at home except my parents. I am also a kind of “indoor girl” or in bahasa Indonesia we called it as “gadis rumahan”. Since I was just a little girl, I spent my time at my home. I spent most of my time alone, especially since I was in junior high school, because my parents were busy with their jobs as teachers. My parents encouraged and taught me to do something when I was alone at home by myself without my parent’s or someone’s help so that I will be more independent. In the process of time, I feel that I become an individualistic person. What I mean with individualistic here is not something bad like “an apathetic”. I describe an individualist as a characteristic of me who prefer to do something by myself. Now I feel that my individualistic character has an effect on my activity at home, my hobby, and my transportation.

As I said before, my parents encouraged and taught me to do something when I was alone at home by myself. That’s why I also do almost all of my activity at home alone such as house keeping, ironing, washing and even cooking. So far my parents feel satisfied with my work. I’m encouraged to do that because I want to prepare myself if someday I get married, have a husband, and I have to take care of my husband and also my house

Being accustomed to do something alone also prevail for my hobbies like shopping, watching movie at a cinema, or hanging out. I often go to Semarang alone just to buy clothes or something else, watch a movie, or walked around the mall. I do that because for me, it’s more comfortable to do something alone rather than with someone else. Moreover, my parents seem “support” my activity and allow me to go alone there. They are happy if they see that I can do something without asking them for help. Of course, when I had to go to Semarang alone for the first time, I was scared of being lost, but my mom told me not to be scared, be careful and everything’s gonna be okay. I always remember her advice and do it so that I have never lost when I have to go to Semarang alone until now.

“No way!” said Indah, one of my friend, when I told her that I often go to Semarang alone.

“I’m serious!”

“You go to Semarang alone? With no one else? You must be look like a missing person.”

“Maybe, but I like it. I can go whenever and wherever I want to. Moreover, I don’t need to worry about someone else’s feeling if they have to follow me, haha…”

“Wow, you’re so brave. Then what are you doing there?”

“Well, sometimes just walking around. Sometimes buy something. And sometimes watch a movie in the cinema.”

“Oh my God! Watch a movie alone in the cinema? I doubt it. Show me the evidence!”

When she said that, I showed her movie tickets that I keep in my pocket. Most of them are only one ticket for a different movie. I said,

“See? There is only one ticket for each movie. It means I really went to the cinema alone. If you are still not sure, you can ask my mom or my dad because I always tell them where and with whom I went there.”

She just nods and asks no question again.

The last thing or last effect from my individualistic character is about the transportation. I love public transportation because I can’t ride a motorcycle or drive a car. Whenever and wherever I go such as to the campus, to the market, and even go to Semarang alone, I always choose public transportation. The effect is, I can know and memorize almost the entire public transportation (such as bus or mini bus) route. Some people said that sometimes public transportation is not as safe and comfortable as our own vehicle, but I disagree with that. Why? As long as we can take care of ourselves and be careful, riding a public transportation can be fun too.

I think the biggest reason why I become an individualistic person is because I have being accustomed to do almost everything alone. I feel freer to do something alone rather than with someone else. I don’t know why, but I just love it and I’m happy for that. If I do something alone, I don’t need to worry about people’s feeling or opinion. I feel free. I had an experience when I went to the mall with my friend. She wanted to go home immediately because she didn’t like shopping while I wanted to drop by in a bookstore. I saw her with her unhappy face so that I didn’t go to the bookstore but went home with her. Since that time, I prefer to hang out alone.

Well, I think being an individualistic person has become my “identity”. I’m happy and I enjoy that. Sometimes I feel proud that I can do something which my friends can’t or rarely do. Call me too brave or whatever, but this is me :)

XOXO

-chandni-