Job Discussion Forums

rhinogirl · Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Posts: 7

My fiance has been posted to Jakarta. My plan is to do the CELTA and then hopefully find work in Jakarta.I have lived and taught in singapore and manila. Singa was easy living and great working conditions, Manila, much harder but the filipinos made it bearable.can anyone give me any insight into life in Jakarta? I would be lucky in that i would already have accom provided so just wondering about life in general,safety etc.any info would be gratefully received.Thanks!

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Try looking at the Job Information Journals for Indonesia...

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?Indonesia

Cardinal Synn · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586

The Expat Forum is a good place to look.
http://expatforum.digitaldevelopment.com/

route67 · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 9:11 am Post subject:

Jakarta - The Big Durian (you must have tried Durian in Manila...). Very apt, that. It's oversized, prickly, hard to handle, has a slimy core, and smells disgusting.

Hang on, this is beginning to sound like my character reference...

On the bright side, it can be deliciously sweet - almost addictive. It can also be poisonous if you have too much of it.

Personally, I can't wait to get back!

rhinogirl · Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Posts: 7

Yes, Durian.....mmmmm
My favourite Durian experiences involve bus journeys when you have a slight hangover and the little old lady sitting next to you has quite blatantly ignored the 'No Durians' sign and is carrying a whole sweaty bagful which have been nicely warmed in 33 degrees heat .mmm
Anyway ... back to the subject of Jakarta, thanks, it sounds exactly like Manila..! What are the teaching conditions like?Singapore I had everything provided, Manila I had to bring everything, including my own textbooks...

Cardinal Synn · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586

It all depends on where you work. You shouldn't need to supply your own text books, but you might well find an abundance of B&W photocopied versions. Greeeaaattt!
Jakarta is a massive, huge, pulsating city with traffic scenes that remind one of a mixture of Mad Max, Herbie Rides Again & Appocolypse Now. Sitting in the back of a taxi in rush-hour (most of the day) can have you wishing for a large supply of valium. It does give you an oppotunity to brush up your Bahasa Indonesia with the taxi driver though.
I love Jakarta, but it's important to not let it get to you; be a chilled out person at all times or you'll hate it. Go with the flow and maybe you'll love it. Or like it... a bit. Oh, and learn the language as quickly as you can. That's my advice, or the bits I can be bothered to scroll down here just now.

Winmar · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 125 Location: Melbourne

I don't really see the point in living in a place if you don't like it. Life is short and there are plenty of decent places to live in the world!

bucko · Joined: 17 Oct 2004 Posts: 2

Winmar: the Synner is making a "positive" on Jakarta, in the way folks here perceive but appreciate the Big Durian. BTW, watch his postings: he's got the scene, and with a verve and wit! Write me if you want contacts on teaching--- I'm NOT a recruiter!

route67 · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 10:24 am Post subject:

Rhinogirl...I was on that bus! Or one very much like it, anyway. In fact, I was that little old lady...
Wink

Cardinal Synn · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586

route67 · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 5:04 am Post subject:

I know what you mean about some bule, old chap. I knew a pair of chicks who worked at an international school - loadsamoney, 3-bedroom apartment, live-in maid, car + driver, return flights, and all their stuff shipped across. They did nothing but carp/whinge/cavil about missing out on the "authentic" Jakarta, living as they did in a hermetically sealed bubble. If only it had been airtight...
Wink

Cardinal Synn · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586

Yes, I had the misfortune of knowing a similar specimen - or sub species - of bule international school teacher. This (particularly charming) one would get very very drunk in her garden in full view of local passers by whilst at the same time accusing anyone stupid enough to be drinking with her, of not being being sensitive to local culture. This, during Ramadan.
Other teachers I have known - ones who have actually lowered themselves to walking among the peasants on occasion - have adopted the blind human bowling ball technique of dealing with the locals - ploughing along the pavement (sidewalk), eyes fixed on a point seventeen miles ahead and thirty thousand feet up in the sky, walking through and over anyone unfortunate enough to get in their way. Nice...
Well, that's all I've got time for today.
More Jakarta life tomorrow...maybe.

Chester · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 383 Location: Australia

My first time at immigration some woman chose to give me advice. "Dont judge them". Tewwibly upper class bwithish accent. Thats all she said. I had never met her before. obviously thought i was new to asia. (i'd just come from bangkok and korea before that). I thought hell lady you stuck-up beeatch. feck off back to your ambassador husband and mince around with your hooty tooty pompous assed friends. speaking of which, what about the stuck up Indo girlie who writes of her AMAZING experiences on the jakarta expat web site? exhillarating dramas including crowded elevator episodes and broken high-heels. true life jakarta ex-pat drama unfolds.

Cardinal Synn · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586

Oh yes, the Jakarta expat web site. Stories of "expat life in Indonesia" which are supposed to give an "amusing" insight into expat life, actually give a disturbing peek into the mindsets of their authors. Adjective free accounts of bus/bemo/(insert boring transport here) rides. Patronizing tales of "the locals" and their quaint little customs. Stories about having their faith in humanity restored by the happy smiles of the "church mouse poor" family down the road who live in an old discarded shoe box but never complain while licking the drains clean with their tongues. This written by someone in a huge house with maids and drivers and a swimming pool. It is vomit inducing stuff.

rhinogirl · Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Posts: 7

Hey there, thanks to all of you for your insights into Jakarta life...keep your stories coming..!
Just continuing with this expat theme... I have to say I am not totally innocent here...
I have just come back from living in the Philippines for two years and although I worked, socialised and ate like normal people do I was lucky enough to go back and sleep in a cosy hotel like those expat types you've been describing. HOWEVER I'm not one of them,HONESTLY.Please believe me.Not once did I ever get my stilettos caught in the escalator. Yes I may have caught my flip flops in the door of Luis Vuitton whilst loading up on that oh so important matching luggage one needs when living in a 3rd world country but anyway...
What I really meant to say is that I have just returned to the Uk and am having the most awful time adjusting to life here.Its like living in one huge expat commmunity where you're not in unless you have the right handbag, the men cheat on their wives, and oh, :wink: did you seeeee what she was wearing!! NEVER, I repeat NEVER leave those beautiful places you're all writing to me from...
HEEELP!