In this article, I explore the enmeshment of educated, but un(der)employed, young people in their rural communities in Ngada District (Flores, East Indonesia). In particular, I focus on their friendships, which help these young people to navigate personal aspirations, frustrations, anxieties and social pressure by providing channels for projects of the self, mutual care and, most importantly, having fun. In doing so, these friendships also reproduce ‘liveliness’ (ramai), which is a highly valued social quality in Ngada, indicating a sense of togetherness. In Ngada, a strong morality of interdependence prevails and liveliness is one way in which this is expressed. Hence, the reproduction of liveliness by young people matters, as it transcends the everyday, giving sustenance to Ngada life and its social organisation. Yet, ‘enmeshment’ is not only visible in lively events; it also comes to the fore in friendship practices of disciplining and social monitoring, which reproduce gendered norms.

在本文中，我探讨了Ngada区（印度尼西亚东部弗洛雷斯）农村社区中受过教育，但没有（失业）年轻人的情况。我特别关注他们的友谊，这些友谊通过为自我，相互照顾以及最重要的是获得乐趣的项目提供渠道，帮助这些年轻人克服个人的志向，沮丧，焦虑和社会压力。这样，这些友谊也再现了“活泼”（ramai），这是在Ngada受到高度重视的社会素质，表明了一种团结感。在Ngada，一种相互依存的强盛道德盛行，而活泼则是表达这种相互关系的一种方式。因此，青年人超越日常生活的重现意义重大，因为它超越了日常生活，为Ngada生活及其社会组织提供了寄托。然而，“啮合”不仅在生动的事件中可见；在规范和社会监督的友谊实践中，它也脱颖而出，它们再现了性别规范。