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One of the first things I noticed about Jakarta, besides the traffic, was the insane amount of people here who smoke cigarettes. I think Asia, especially South East Asia, smokes more profusely than the United States. In America, there is always controversy if too many cigarette ads are advertised. Here in Jakarta, you will see them everywhere and I seriously mean EVERYWHERE. And EVERYONE smokes. Well, at least a great deal of them do.
I, personally, do not smoke because I choose not to smoke. When I was younger, everyone who I saw smoked I would launch myself at them and start harassing them. Obviously, I cannot do that now…I won’t do that now. Now that I am older, I have come to accept people who smoke. I have learned to not mind them, especially after moving here.Plus, smoking is very much a social thing to do. So if I go out with my friends there is a pretty good chance smoking is going to be involved. And when I return home, I will smell like smoke.
I do not mind. I really don’t. I am the one who chooses not to smoke. Other people can, but I won’t. Moving to Jakarta does not mean that I have to change my ideals just to blend in. Character and personality…that is what matters.
