Job Discussion Forums

Salam · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:45 am Post subject: Request for advice/assistance

Good afternoon all.

My name is Jeremy (or Ali if you're a Muslim) and I'm currently finishing off my degree in Perth, Western Australia. I've been to Indonesia many times, most recently in Aceh to help with the Tsunami relief and fallen in love with the country and its people.

To this end I am giving serious thought to living and working in Jakarta as an English teacher (not meaning to offend anyone who has made this their career from the beginning). I finish my studies in November and will be in Jakarta for three months. In that time I'd like to work in a decent school and assess my own ability to teach. Should I find that it is something I am well suited to and the school agrees, then I will return to Perth, possibly attain my CELTA qualification and then move permanently to Jakarta.

Perhaps some of you may know a school that would be appropriate for me and could offer some advice on the proposed course of action. Such would be greatly appreciated.

A few details about myself:

I am a 32 year old bule.
Born and raised in Perth but vacationed in Indonesia (everywhere from Aceh to Bali) many times.
Aku bisa berbicara Bahasa Indonesia sedikit saja.
Been a Muslim since 2003 (Mesjid Kebun Jeiruk).
Unmarried and still looking for an Indonesian wife.
By the end of the year I should have my BA in Communication and Cultural Studies, majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in TESOL.
I am also (insha'allah) hoping to get some volunteer teaching experience in the local campus of the Australian Islamic College.

Hope that gives you a solid enough understanding of the plan and background. Email, icq, msn or yahoo are all fine to contact me on and I look forward to hearing from any and all of you.

Salams

Jeremy Meredith
aka Ali Ridwan

Salam · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 2:24 pm Post subject:

Ten views and no replies?

Have I posted incorrectly?

Cardinal Synn · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586

It's a tricky one - three months. Give us some time to think about it. My mind is slow.

Salam · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:30 pm Post subject:

Very well, thanks.

By the way I will be in Jakarta in July so can attend any interviews/meetings then if that helps.

willy · Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 5:54 pm Post subject:

better apply to EF you will make a lot at 5-6mil and lucky they alawes need teachers

Salam · Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:08 am Post subject:

EF looks a bit like a factory and I've been hearing some rather negative things about the quality of teaching and pay/conditions. Of course this is all second hand and only what I read on the boards and by talking with other teachers.

Winmarr · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 115 Location: Melbourne

One question: why Jakarta in particular?

The quality of teaching at any school is up to the individual teacher. EF is the easiest place to get a job; there always seems to be heaps going in Jakarta.

Salam · Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 4:53 am Post subject:

To be honest I absolutely love the city and have so many friends there. I became a muslim in Jakarta and it is now like my second home. I've travelled quite a bit through asia and the states but always been happy to come home. When I came home in December after 41 days (mostly in Jakarta) I really didn't recognise my home city anymore and oddly enough started to dislike it.

Jakarta has everything a bustling metropolis needs as well as halal food everywhere, a mosque practically on every corner, you can hear the athan from nearly anywhere in the city and the people are so very friendly and helpful.

Hopefully I'll marry a nice Javanese girl and settle down there till the end of days. Well that's the plan anyway. Hope that answers your question.

Winmarr · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 115 Location: Melbourne

Fair enough! Sounds like you'll be well-suited to life there. Indonesian girls rock too. Smile

Just out of interest, why'd you decided to become a muslim?

Salam · Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:23 am Post subject:

Ooh, long story but not involving a girl thankfully.

Probably should make it a private conversation so we don't clog up the boards. IM me and I'll tell you why.

Hope people are still thinking about how to help me out with what I posted above.

Thanks.

Salam · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 3:25 pm Post subject:

***

Still no luck guys?

***

Cardinal Synn · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586

OK Jeremy. Here lies your problem. If you want to work in Indonesia for a mere 3 months you'll have trouble getting hired because of visa stuff. As you know, you get a 1 month visa on arrival, so even if you were to work illegally, you'd have to do a couple of runs to Singapore to get your passport stamped. As for legally working, no school is likely to go to the expense and hassle of getting you a KITAS just for a 3 month contract. Is there no way you could stay for a year?
The run to Singapore can be done for a little over RP1 Million (flights to battam, ferry to Singapore and back and 1 night in a hotel in Nagoya, Battam plus visa fees and taxis) via Battam but it's a hassle.

Salam · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 11:31 am Post subject:

The last time I went to Indonesia I got a 60 day tourist visa from my consulate here before going. It is just 3 months to begin with. I want to make certain that I am well suited to the work and that I am happy enough with my employer. I'm not going to commit to work anywhere where I am not happy - life is too short and it is only the students who suffer in the end with disatisfied teachers.

After that 3 months I will come back home, probably do my CELTA and then make arrangements to move over permanently. I don't need any KITAS to begin with, nor am I asking for any school to pay for my airfare. I'm just looking for 3 months work. If I have to make one trip out to Singapore and back again in that time then so be it, quick flight in and out on a Sunday is no problems.

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

Salam · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 1:50 pm Post subject:

I got that 60 days tourist visa just in November. When did it change?