About the Author
than their cinematic gifts . “ It [ gave ] me an image in my head of what I liked .” He explained .
The vintage aesthetic of waistcoats and watch chains doesn ’ t exist in Asia like it does in Western countries . At first he felt very conscious of how people viewed him back home , but nowadays “ I don ’ t give a fuck .” He will just as happily stroll into a mall or a restaurant in suspenders , vintage 1940s trousers , and a boater hat as anyone would in t-shirt and jeans .
“ I enjoy dressing up , because it makes me feel I ’ m worth something .” He says with a bright smile . He doesn ’ t dress like this for anyone else , he doesn ’ t care what the think . “ I ’ m worth something for me … for myself .”
Alas , his eclectic style doesn ’ t rub well with his homeland , and he doesn ’ t think that those in Indonesia will change their minds any time soon . When he ’ s back home he ’ ll have to dress the part in either traditional Indonesian wear or a more modern suit and tie . Square glasses instead of round . He ’ ll have to hide his tattoos and take out his piercings . He won ’ t be able to even part his hair . However , they won ’ t be able to take everything away from him . Stephanus says , with a cheeky smirk , he secretly wears sock garters beneath his trousers when he ’ s back in Jakarta . It ’ s a reminder of what he loves
and that he ’ s still him , even if he can ’ t dress the part . “ My own little secret . Just for me .”
You can find out more about Alston Stephanus at www . alstonstephanus . com and on Instagram at @ AlstonStephanus .
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About the Author
Kristina Manente is a freelance writer and audio nerd with a travel addiction and a fondness for cranberry juice currently living in Seoul , South Korea . She ’ s a vegan , an author , a dreamer , and has crazy curly ginger hair . She ’ s been producing and co-presenting a Sherlock Holmes based podcast for the past five years called The Baker Street Babes , which was nominated for a Shorty Award in 2014 for Best Podcast . She blogs about travel at nerdventurists . com and her professional credits are at kristinamanente . wordpress . com . Tweet her your feelings @ CurlyFourEyes or follow her travels on instagram at @ Nerdventurists .
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