Karena Nila Setitik Rusak Susu Sebelanga

There is an Indonesian wise word says "Karena nila setitik, rusak susu sebelanga". Well, I don't know how to translate it literally, but it means more or less: because something or someone behaves incorrect or not appropriate, then other things or other people will receive the inappropriate image as well. Confused? Me too :) Anyway, I am talking life here in Bali. I met a man one day; he is an expatriate, has been living in Bali for 10 years (wow, more than I've been!). He said he can speak 5 foreign languages, except Bahasa (the language spoken here). I asked him why he doesn't learn about it. He replied: "Why should I? I don't need it, even I live here. I don't read local newspaper." Ok, it's all up to him. But it seemed from the way he talked, he is really sarcastic about the life here. Not only him actually, I met some other expatriates and new comers from other cities outside Bali, some of them are skeptical. For example, my ex-boss once said that she used to be nice. But because of her experiences with people here, she becomes like her profile nowadays. She was quite nice to me, but there were the days that she had perceptions of underestimating locals. I recalled one day she talked about her land-lord, whom she thought is lazy, asked for her money often times for (undefined) personal use, not planning with his life, didn't have a job, etc. Then my ex-boss asked me,"Have you known someone here that manages his/her financial in a good way?" I replied,"Yes, boss, I do have many friends with that criteria." And then she stood in a silence for a while looking at me. So I don't know whether you also think that local people (most people in Bali and Indonesia) are lazy, always trying to rip-off your money, always trying to take advantage from you, but please think this way, the good and the bad are always two-side of this world. When you meet one bad person, there is probably one good person somewhere. If you find a bad person here, just don't make a friend with him/her. Just avoid him/her. So all you have to do is just try to find a good person here, because normally a good person makes friendship/relationship with good people.Just like an old saying says "Birds of a feather flock together".