How does culture live in an apartment? This question, I catapult by looking at the various attitudes, and the behavior of apartment dwellers, apartment management and also security apartments. This impressed my little research.

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My experience from being born to being self-employed is always living in a house (landed house), where there are parks, neighboring neighborhoods that know each other, and can keep dogs. My first experience living in an apartment is not in Jakarta, but in New York City whose people have long known the concept of living in an apartment because of limited land. Initially it is quite difficult because the apartment is not free when staying at home alone, and need to have a tolerance attitude with other residents of the left and right neighbors and top and bottom. In the beginning, living in an apartment made me grow lonely, though I was finally able to overcome the loneliness in line with the time I lived in the country people through knowing many people and also familiar with neighbors. Incidentally the apartment where I live likes to organize an event in order to get closer to its residents through the Haloween party where the kids will knock on the door of the apartment for trick or treat as well as the annual party of residents with potluck system. For residents who will participate they register in the apartment management on a voluntary basis. Although New York, famous for its individualistic attitude but its New Yorkers are happy to have a get-together, it proves to be in great demand for the apartment's annual feast. The party is not only enjoyed by the residents but also the management of staff and security in the apartment blend in to enjoy the party. In addition, the doorman also has knowledge about residents, imagine the doorman can memorize the name of almost more than residents / families in 430 units in the apartment with 2 towers. Indeed, most of the residents are NY residents who have lived since the apartment was founded in 1969. Most residents already know each other, but for new people like me also not too difficult to mingle with them. When I just moved out, my neighbor passed by and greeted and introduced himself.

When I lived in Bangkok, by chance almost all of the residents in the apartment I was staying were expatriate. This apartment also has a habit of doing an annual party for the gathering of residents. And they also urge their residents to be able to give tips or donate unused items to staff in the apartment from the security to cleaning service, once a year. Giving this tip is quite transparent, because it is also known by the staff and residents and management. For the residents it is an expression of gratitude to the friendly staff and very helpful. For the indigenous people of Bangkok is actually not much different from the people of Jakarta who still love to live in a house that has a garden. Jakarta's stagnant situation is also faced by Bangkok residents living in the suburbs. But the difference with Jakarta, Bangkok has a better alternative of public transportation options and more regular motor vehicles and the number of motorcycles is not as much as in Jakarta.

There is my experience that may be said funny also when in Bangkok, I never face a neighbor who wants to borrow a pot, because it wants to make a party but do not have a big pot. At first I was quite surprised too, because the Caucasian and her Thai girlfriend, knocked on my apartment and introduced myself as a one-story resident below me. He explains needing a pot, my kitchen equipment is actually limited too, then I love to point the pot that I have, finally they borrow also the pot. And the pot, finally returned after 2 weeks of being in my neighbor. At first I was about to report to the apartment management about the pot, but before reporting it was a friend roomate the bule borrower pot who also the Caucasian restore my pot and apologize for only had time to return while his friend has returned to his country and the party held for farewell party I am acquainted with the neighbor. For over 4 years in Bangkok I lived in the same apartment and almost knew all the inhabitants and sometimes invited to lunch or dinner.

How to live in an apartment in Jakarta? Since I have not lived in the apartment I live in for only 4 months, it may not be valid to give judgment. But what I feel is that the people in the apartment I meet are not very friendly. My experience in the elevator, when I say hello good morning, not very well-welcomed, maybe I tend to be called a freak. But surely not everyone behaves like this.