Celebrating Diversity Day

One day last week was Diversity Day at the college where I work so I decided to wear one of my Indonesian outfits. The skirt, or sarong, is a beautiful batik print with intricate patterns and gold detailing. My blouse, or kebaya, is a sheer purple material with extensive embroidery around the neck, sleeves and hem. I forget what the shawl part is called.

On my way to work I went by the doctor’s office. It was entertaining to notice people’s reactions to my being dressed so differently. It seemed that some tried to ignore this, while others would ask why I was dressed like I was. This gave me the opportunity to share my excitement about Diversity Day at the college and also to describe Indonesia’s rich culture and people. I also enjoyed telling where it is located and that it is an archipelago with over 17,000 islands and over 300 ethnic groups.

I definitely have issues with confining clothing. Only because I had a strong desire to wear the sarong was I able to put up with the sacrifices I had to make. The sarong is very hard to walk in because it is narrow around the bottom. At first my mind started perseverating on how some “man” created sarongs to oppress women but then I remembered many Indonesian men wear them also. Once I calmed down, I realized I would just have to take slow, small steps to get anywhere. I also had a problem with the debaya because it was fastened in the front with small snaps. It fit snugly so if I was not careful I would “bust” open the snaps in the front. Even with all my problems, I still enjoyed celebrating Diverity Day!