I no longer shrug when people ask why my race is stated as Javanese on my Singapore identity card. Most Singaporeans are used to the broad categories of Malay, or Chinese or Indian or Others. But in fact, for years now, Singaporean parents are allowed to specify the ethnicity of their child using more precise terms.
Instead, I say, "Oh, my forefathers hail from Purbalingga regency in Central Java and my neighbour (in the next village in Purbalingga) is Sumanto the famous cannibal." As their eyes widen, I gleefully add: "He dug up a dead woman's body, braised her in soya sauce, and ate her all up. He told me she was delicious."
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