Not-so Benign Street Experience

You probably have heard the phrase that “all women must’ve had experience being harassed at some point in their lives”, and throughout twenty-two years of age I consider myself very fortunate because most of my experiences come across as pretty benign — they were annoying as hell, but not creepy enough that makes me wanna run my heads off. What I experienced today, however, is a whole different story.

I’ve told you before that until this very day, I still have no idea how to drive any types of transportation. Jogja doesn’t have angkot or any widespread public transportation (they have Transjog but the routes and shelters aren’t as neat as Transjakarta), so there are very limited options for mobile. Since I can’t always depend on taxis, ojeks, or mooching off my friend’s ride, walking alone has become a habitual thing for me. I can’t exactly explain why, but comparing to Western populations, Indonesians don’t usually use their foot when they wanna go to the nearby supermarket, even if the travel’s less than one kilos. We’re accustomed to riding a vehicle. My friends and classmates used to raised their eyebrows after I told them that I go to _____ place by foot, but now they’ve already get used to it. Walking is life, walking is good.

This afternoon, I went home by foot as usual. Nearly four years walking through this route I’m pretty much used with the occasional stares from bike riders or fellow pedestrians, so nothing extraordinary seems to happen at that time. Just when I was merely five metres away from kosan, I felt a bike from behind approaching my side. At first I thought they want to ask for direction, but I didn’t hear ensuing call even though they pulled their bike closer, almost cornering me. I feel something’s weird is going on, so when I turned my head, I met a bored and creepy stare of this 40s looking guy. My brain instantly gave a big warning signal that I should get away as soon as possible from this guy, so I speed up my pace and keep my eyes on the road. Then, he went away.

The broad passageway next to my kosan have bunch of construction workers infamous for catcalling women passer-by, so whenever I catch a glimpse of them I just pulled an U-turn and proceed to another passageway instead. Honestly, if this whole ordeal was happening at that passageway, I wouldn’t be as disturbed as I am now because the passageway is usually deserted. But, I was walking on the main, supposedly safe and busy path when the guy just cornering me creepily and it was happening with the sun’s still out????? *insert (laughing nervously):what the fuck?.jpg

After I was extremely sure that he already out of my sight, I flew straight to my kosan and decide to cancel my plan going to internet café afterwards. Apparently, I was too much in shock to handle the thought of walking by myself after the sun is down. I had my fair share of catcalls and blatant stares directed at me before, but to approach me creepily and then nearly cornering me with their own bike??? I never feel so frightened as I felt that afternoon. This is, by far, the creepiest street experience I’ve ever had over the course of my life.

Give it one or two days, I will be ready to go to Dunkin Donuts by foot at eight in the evening. This time, I’m going to bring my umbrella with me in case some creepy street experience happening again.