For example, I learned that never using my left hand, eating and drinking only when sitting down, and knowing how to greet people properly are customs that go a long way in making adjustments to fit in with the locals.
Language barriers can sometimes make it hard to show people your true personality and sense of humor. Smiles, gestures, and putting in effort to learn a culture's habits can bring people together. One good example is shown in my experience of walking into the teachers' office one afternoon without carrying my lunch, whereupon the ibus pushed their desks together, brought out banana leaves, and dumped steamed white rice onto the banana leaves along with lots of grilled chicken for everyone to share! Although I couldn't say much, the teachers tried their best to speak English, and I did my best with Bahasa to talk about hobbies, interests, and superlatives. This was the first time I ever shared a meal with others using only my hands, and I was welcomed and accepted as one of their own. It takes accepting nice gestures to create strong bonds. Here in Indonesia, I even had to promise that I will be home every night by ten p.m. Even though I have a curfew, I'm glad to know that it comes from a good place.
From the sound of crackling starch crackers in the morning (kurupuk) to the smell of fried cabbage cakes in the afternoon (bakwan), you can be assured that wherever you are there is someone who is excited to share their meal with you. I started getting to know my neighbors after having introduced myself to everyone in my new neighborhood.
