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lizcat100
Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 7 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:34 pm Post subject: Newbie looking for Indonesia advice |
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I realize I'll probably get some critical responses since my questions are not that new or original, but I have read a lot of the posts on this forum and am still a little confused. I am a newbie just looking into the teach abroad thing. I have an M.A. In English Literature, a Composition certificate, and will be taking the Oxford Seminars TESL cert course in a few weeks. I am mostly looking into working in Asia because I hear you can actually earn a living teaching there. However, I love warm weather and beaches, and for these reasons am very interested in Indonesia. I do have some concerns, though.
How has the tsunami affected Indo? Are things ok? Well, I know things are not "ok", but would it be a good place for a newbie teacher? I have lived abroad in Australia and traveled to places like Thailand and Africa, but I will be a young single girl traveling alone and would like to feel comfortable.
I have heard conflicting reports about the standard of living there. What does one need to do to ensure a good living, including good housing, etc? By "good" I mean comfortable enough to eat and drink out sometimes, live in a nice house (i don't mind sharing--would actually prefer it to meet fellow teachers), and maybe travel around Indonesia occasionally. Most people seem to criticize the EF schools, which at first glance look like the ones advertising most jobs. Are these schools really that bad? Are private schools and international schools the best route to go?
I know most contracts are for a year, but is it possible to do a six-month one? I would like to set up a contract before I leave, but I am not sure if I am able to stay a full year.
I am not that interested in big huge cities, and Jakarta sounds kind of like too much for me. Can someone reccomend a smaller, nice city or town with less pollution and good beaches? I realize work will be my first priority, but I am a California girl, and I need the ocean close by. I enjpy the surf culture, and like to live in naturally beautiful environments. I would like to work and relax during this experience.
I know my questions may sound stupid to some of you, but I would appreciate any and all advice. Just not scathing comments. |
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gugelhupf
Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 575 Location: Jabotabek
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 3:38 am Post subject: |
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Right now, my advice would be to sit and wait a while before making any decisions. The local currency is on free-fall in the money markets and I wouldn't like to predict quite how things are going to end up in the medium to long term. Indonesia has never been a place to earn lots of money in real currency but right now I would avoid getting into contracts that specify a salary level in rupiah. This could be a brief hiccup in the great scheme of things or it could be economic and political meltdown. Too early to say, really.
There aren't many employers in beautiful locations next to the ocean and, perhaps unsurprisingly, salaries tend to be lower and demand for jobs higher in the more attractive places. The big, smelly cities is where pay and terms are best - and these cities really are big and very, very smelly (although I have a semi-masochistic liking for Jakarta).
My own advice would be to avoid the big franchises if your MA and TEFL are any good and seek out a National Plus school or one of the better language schools. |
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ash

Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 125 Location: Oz
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:17 am Post subject: |
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Hi Lizcat.
Welcome to the forum. I'm a newby here too. I'm still learning about how forums work, and with some help I'm slowly increasing my vocabulary to include words like "troll feeding". Apa Bahasa Indonesianya?
Re your questions: Can you maybe go for a holiday and see how you like it before taking a job? Then you won't be committed to a contract. |
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ls650

Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia
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Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 12:23 pm Post subject: Re: Newbie looking for Indonesia advice |
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lizcat100 wrote: |
I have an M.A. In English Literature, a Composition certificate, and will be taking the Oxford Seminars TESL cert course in a few weeks.
Are these schools really that bad? Are private schools and international schools the best route to go?
I know most contracts are for a year, but is it possible to do a six-month one? Can someone reccomend a smaller, nice city or town with less pollution and good beaches? |
- You are very well-qualified but do you have any teaching experience? If not, it'll be difficult to get above the EF level to begin with. It's possible that with your MA you can get into a national school, but you'll need some luck.
- EFs are franchises; some are well-run, while others are... not.
- Employers have to pay for a one-year work visa up-front (and they cost several hundred dollars), so they are very reluctant to offer contracts of any shorter length. Without any teaching experience or recommendations I don't think you are likely to be offered a contract shorter than 12 months.
- The problem is that the smaller cities are more desirable, but have fewer jobs and lower pay. Any decent jobs that open up in a smaller, more pleasant place like Yogja or Bandung tend to get snapped up pretty quickly. And you can pretty much forget about Bali.... |
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lizcat100
Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 7 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks to all who replied with advice! A few more questions...
I guess I will need to keep an eye on the value of the rupiah over the next few months, as well as the political climate. In your opinion is it still a good place to be, or are things really unstable? Would I feel safe there?
I understand that everyone would want to be in the better cities near the beach. I am willing to accept lesser pay to be in a nicer place, but having never been to Indonesia I am unsure of where these places are. I have the two places you mentioned. Are there others? I see quite a few jobs advertised in Surabaya and Medan. How is it there? |
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cariduit
Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Posts: 20 Location: oz/indo
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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hi,
if you are holding out for the rupiah to improve enough to make a really decent living in Indo, you might be waiting a very long time! the rupiah has not been strong for ages. if you plan to teach in Indonesia it should be out of an interest in the culture and country rather than to make money, because there's not much there!
re safety, i am sure you are aware that there have been a few incidents in Indo over the past few years. your govt is probably recommending you NOT to go there. Most people who live there will tell you that it is safe and they haven't had any problems, but it's really a judgement you'll need to make on your own - noone/nowhere can guarantee your safety. From my personal perspective, and having past experience in Indo, govt warnings wouldn't put me off, but that is my opinion alone. I can't see waiting a few months or even years will make the decision any easier...
re the places you mentioned: Surabaya and Medan are the second and third biggest cities in Indo respectively. Surabaya is in east Java and has the advantage of not being too far from Bali for trips there and reasonably central to other travels within Java and beyond, but it is a big congested city. Medan is in North Sumatra and has the advantage of being close to a few great weekend getaways - namely Lake Toba 4 hrs south and Bukit Lawang 2 hours inland (orangutan rehabilitation/lovely river). Makassar in south Sulawesi is another interesting place to look at, there are occasionally jobs there (EF - but not great pay)
Check out the job info journals on this site to read of people's experiences teaching there.
I second what others have said about it being hard to get shorter than 12 months contracts. work visas are expensive for employers and only come in 12 month blocks so they rarely offer short ones. if you are thinking that you might get a 12 month contract and then skip out before the contract finishes, think again. That can be an expensive option. Your employer needs to "clear" you to leave the country. So if you don't get that stamp in your passport you will need to try to pay your wait out at immigration at the airport and that can get expensive......
Hope this doesn't sound negative. Teaching in Indo is a fabulous experience. IF you do choose to go you'll love it. But keep doing your research so you take the right job in the right place for you. Good luck! |
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cariduit
Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Posts: 20 Location: oz/indo
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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just wanted to clarify about "decent wage" - you will make enough to live pretty well (as long as you don't favour expensive spirits in posh nightclubs!) and travel within indonesia during your hols and the many public holidays - a definite perk of Indo teaching. there are hols for all the major religions - i think in excess of 18 days a year....gives you a good chance to explore.
happy job hunting! |
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Henry_Cowell

Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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If you haven't been to Indonesia but think you might want to live there, why not invest in a few good guidebooks and handbooks and see what this massive country has to offer in terms of locations and cultures? Then when you see jobs offered in a place such as "Medan," for example, you'll know what you're reading about. |
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lizcat100
Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 7 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you all for your advice! I really appreciate it. Yes, my next step is to get some guidebooks and continue my research. I just wanted to get some word-of-mouth advice first, especially since many of the guidebooks haven't been updated since the tsunami. I guess a lot will depend on what contracts I am offered as well. Then I'm sure i'll be asking more questions! |
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Henry_Cowell

Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley
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Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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In San Francisco:
Get Lost Books, 1825 Market Street
http://www.getlostbooks.com/p_home.html
Two upcoming events at Get Lost:
September 13, 2005
A WOMAN'S ASIA
Women have been traveling to Asia in ever-greater numbers. In A Woman's Asia, editor Marybeth Bond, has compiled a collection of 35 stories by Western women writers. From India to Bali, by way of Mongolia and Cambodia, these short stories reveal the writers' love and fascination with the continent. Join Marybeth Bond as she reads selections from the collection.
September 22, 2005
TEACHING ABROAD
They have done it legally and illegally. Some countries, like Japan, have a government sponsored teaching program. Hear from some of those who have taught English in Asia and Europe. Find out how they did it and whether they recommend it. Curated by Josh Krist.
Also in SF: Stacey's Books, Borders, and Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books |
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ash

Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 125 Location: Oz
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 8:08 am Post subject: Re: Newbie looking for Indonesia advice |
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lizcat100 wrote: |
I will be a young single girl traveling alone and would like to feel comfortable.
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This was my situation whilst living & working in Indonesia too. Without wanting to sound like an aunty, I would advise you to be prepared for a lot of male attention, and to be cautious. Obviously this is common sense, and you've probably already dealt with this, having travelled before. |
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Chester
Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 383 Location: Australia
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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i wouldnt want to be a young female - white, living and working in Indonesia, that is if you are not fat and / or ugly.
not pleasant.
good luck if you want it.
indonesian men are not the most pleasant. |
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Henry_Cowell

Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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Chester, are you fat and/or ugly? |
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ls650

Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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I shared a house with three woman teachers in Jakarta. They were young and attractive (well, two of them were) and they never had any problems with living in Indo. |
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cariduit
Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Posts: 20 Location: oz/indo
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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What???? So fat ugly women are safe from all those unpleasant Indonesians??
What a strange little statement to make....
As a young woman who has lived and worked in Indonesia and known many other women doing the same, I can categorically state that your post is rubbish....unless you're referring to the "hello misters" which yes, after a while can get very exhausting, but for the most part that's about as unpleasant as most Indonesians get.....they are LOVELY people and I would recommend it as a place to teach for a young woman in a flash. I got way more grief from fellas on the streets of Paris and Rome than in Indonesia... |
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