Lately, I’ve been feeling really uneasy about the way some people perceive me through the lens of language. Whenever I speak English, there seems to be an implicit judgment that follows, an assumption that I’m disconnected from Indonesian culture, ignorant of local subtleties, and completely unversed in our art or everyday slang. It feels deeply unfair to have my awareness and heritage questioned over something as fluid as communication.

​I worry that this bias makes me look approachable-averse, stiff, or intellectually distant in the eyes of others. But that perception is a complete mismatch with reality. I’m deeply connected to my culture and fully aware of its dynamic layers; using English doesn't erase that, nor does it mean I’m trying to curate some pristine, untouchable image. I just wish people would look beyond the surface level of language instead of jumping to black-and-white conclusions about who I am.