Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Double standards

One of the funny/annoying/frustrating things about Flores is the double standards. On my first day at work in Flores I walked home with a colleague, it was hot & dusty so I took out my bottle of water to have a drink as we were walking along. My colleague was horrified! She asked me to put the bottle away & when I asked why she eventually told me that people would think I was a whore if I ate or drank whilst walking down the street.

Yet last week another colleague asked me to arrange for VSO to provide some condoms to give away at a concert to promote HIV/Aids awareness. I was happy to help with this & whilst in Bali this week arranged a large supply – I texted my colleague back in Flores the good news. She replied [sic]:

Hi Karen. Thx for the good news…can u give us another help by buying some synthetic penis for the condoms?

I guess every culture has this type of double standard that are confusing to outsiders… you just aren’t aware of them if you have always lived that way.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good and spectacular excuse, for lack of postings - very impressed! No doubt Anne Mac'll sort out a 'synthetic penis' collection, subject to a risk assessment of course! In fact your post led to a 'rash' of humorous comments etc. And finally, humans and 'double standards' eh - who would have thought it!?
dt

Kathryn said...

where in god's name do you find a synthetic penis in Bali?!

Anonymous said...

KTs question is just the best title for a sure-fire best seller? Get writing mate!
dt

Anonymous said...

Morning

We've been discussing this and are worried you gave away the Eurydice condoms. They were for you.

Cx