Job Discussion Forums

[BlakeS]

This isn't a post about Indonesians expressing racism towards foreigners. It's the exact opposite.

When you have a staff member who regularly makes racist comments about Indonesians....how do you handle this matter?

The comments, luckily, haven't been made to the Indonesian staff. They have to made to other foreign staff members. This person has been told more than once, "No one wants to hear it." or "That is completely inappropriate." or simply, "If you feel that way, go home."

But they don't. They stay. And keep making these comments.

Has anyone else encountered a problem like this and if so, how was it dealt with?

Sidenote: How in the world do you decide to work in a country where you are racist against that country's citizens? How does a racist choose teaching ESL overseas as a profession in the first place?!?

[malu]

It sounds depressingly familiar. The guy in question probably teaches ESL overseas because he needed to go overseas for a pressing reason. Like a warrant for his arrest, child maintenance or big debts. If that is the case, then he has a pretty strong motivation to stick around and make misery for all his colleagues.

[BlakeS]

[Salam]

I think the country, and definately city, can get to all of us at some point or another. When you look at how things are done and shake your head trying to find some possible strain of logic and end up giving up. When locals think "white skin = need to think of a good scam". When you honestly cannot figure out how this country is still actually running or not imploding from lack of brain-power/desire to actually use that brain. The list goes on and on.

And of course after a while it gets under your skin and many times I see many expats, myself included, rant about how screwed up the country and its citizens are. How they want one thing, but when people offer it to them, or try to be a role model for it, they run away and hide.

I don't think this really makes them racist, but in all fairness, most of us do come from first world, highly developed countries where people are given a "fair go" regardless of where they come from (no "bule prices"), anti-racism is backed up with massive legal protection and the respect for life is absolute (at least to 90% of the population).

Now of course the grand old arguement is, "if you don't like it - go home". Some people however, see how much the country has improved over the last many years and oddly enough, being an ESL teacher, you get to be a cog in that progress wheel (debatable). Others stay because they like some aspects and hate others. There are some aspects about my country/city which I hate, that doesn't mean I should run away and try to find something better. Just means that every now and then we all need to vent a little. Is it racism? Usually - I think not. I know of few expats who actively "hate" Indonesians. Then again it is the same in Australia when the Aboriginals scream racism and we turn around and go - "fine, show us a section of your community that does not live up to the stereotype. I'll bet it will be in a massive minority and not based in the capital/large cities".

Anyway, rant over and it's been a while since I posted. Mostly because I am so happy in the job I have now that I rarely bother to read anyone else's problems (terribly selfish of me I know).

[tanyakenapa]

Yes there is a person like this at my workplace.

this person goes on and on about how f'ing stupid the Indonesians are. (loves the F word...in every sentence)

This person has something to complain about everyday... it NEVER BLOODY STOPS!!! Every spare minute they get in the staff room, they are always complaining about something...

When people try to give their own opinion, this person will not listen, and wil argue because they think that they know everything and whatever comes out of their mouth is correct. Come out of their arse more like it.

The other staff members are SICK OF IT... it makes everyone else depressed listening to the CRAP every second.... we do tell this annoying person to GO HOME IF YOU DONT LIKE IT... they reply is to just go quite...

We dont even need to read the Jakarta Post anymore....once the person enters the room, this person reads out all the headlines...either laughing at them..or cursing them... everyone tries to ignore it...but sometimes its just impossible.

This person is actually married to an Indonesian... God I feel so sorry for the partner...must treat them like utter crap....


aaahhh I had to get that off my chest I could go on forever about it.... personally I dont not like this person, and never really speak to them unless I have to. I just do not want to associate myself with someone like that. They are just not worth it. I think this person's attitude is downright DISGUSTING....

No wonder this person finds everything negative about living in Indonesia....with their attitude its no bloody wonder....

[diggydiggy]

this is a matter for the boss. Individuals can say what they're uncomfortable hearing but if it persists, it's up to the DOS to lay down the law. Most large businesses in Western countries now have guidelines for what is discriminatory language and behaviour. It's up to the school to set the standards. it shouldnt be too hard to find common rules or guidelines businesses use.

Look, I've been in classes where Indonesian students openly talk about how much they dislike the Chinese and others where the Chinese complain about how much discrimination they face here. I had one all Christian class where the students always wanted to complain how much the Muslims dominate life in Indonesia. Racism is everywhere, in every community. In Rwanda the cow herders hate those low class goat herders in the next village. No group is immune. That doesnt make it OK but in my experience people who say stuff that offends others mightn't even see that they are out of line. Everyone has different standards of whats OK and whats not.

If I say that businesses here are 'inefficient' am I being racist? I think it to myself everytime i have to queue an hour and a half to pay a bill or send some money home. But if someone is really getting obnoxious about it, have a staff meeting and set some guidelines. That ways it clear and this woman has a least been fully warned if she gets out o' line in the future.

[Gurusome]

I think it depends a lot on the way you express your wonder or disbelief at a thing or situation.

Let's face it... Indonesia is a strange country by any standard, and people are going to comment on this, even if they've been there a while.

But do you say: It's so freaking stupid that you can't drive around a roundabout, or; Indonesians are so stupid because they won't let you drive around a roundabout?

Do you say: It drives me nuts when they beep the horn at everything and nothing, or; All these F'wits think the horn makes the car go faster?

There's nothing wrong with expressing exasperation at a situation that exists unnecessarily or incongruously within an area or community, but it's wrong to blame everyone within that community for the faults. Especially in a country like Indonesia where so many of the problems are caused by so few people with so much power.

We all know there are scammers about. You can't avoid them, because they come looking for us. When you first arrive, it seems like everyone is out to get something from you. But it's just the people who come up to you. If you go up to somebody at random and ask them for help, they expect nothing from you, and are only too willing to help. But this vast majority get overlooked because the people who get in your face are the most annoying people in the country. And it starts as soon as you get off the plane. Those first impressions leave a lasting image on a lot of people, who may never trust the rest of the population enough to discover how honest and helpful most of them are.

As for comments about lack of brainpower and entrepreneurial skills... I think Indonesians are particularly creative in finding niches to fill in a country so lacking in opportunities for people with no capital. There's no service that isn't offered. At the first drop of rain, kids appear with umbrellas. Petrol salvaged from almost empty tanker trucks is sold in bottles at warungs. Any kid in the street is willing to run to the shops for you. Most people in the country manage to build their own house. People survive by "helping" other people make U-turns. Food comes past your door all day every day.

There's a popular notion that because Indonesia is one of the most corrupt countries on Earth that it follows that all the citizens are corrupt. Like thinking that because America is a wealthy country, all Americans are rich. Nevermind that 40 million Americans live in poverty. It's faulty reasoning, but it seems logical at first glance, especially when the prejudice is reinforced by having a taxi driver rip you off after being in the country for a minute and a half.

So maybe point out to your racist workmates that it's a small minority of Indonesians making the rest of them look bad. Just like a few racist bule with big mouths make all of us look bad to a lot of people.

[-3E-]

That post is on point Gurusome.

[xsbir]

[Rowlf the Dog]

I met two older women in two different schools I worked at when I was in Jakarta that seemed to have chosen to go to Indonesia to escape whatever problems they had had back home. The mentality was that they would escape their problems back at home by helping the "lesser" people of Indonesia.

They got to Indonesia and when the honeymoon period wore off they were quite honestly a pain to everyone because they must have built up false expectations about what Indonesia was going to be and how the problems and baggage was going to be magically lifted and their worries would be magically lifted away.

They were the type of foreigners who refused to learn Indonesian (one of them was deeply offended everytime she heard me speaking it in the office!--She even referred to some Indonesian writing on the board as "crap..."). It was as if they expected Indonesia to become a scene from "The King and I," or they were enticed by the fact that they would have a live-in maid and they would get all of the luxuries and comforts they had dreamed about.

Rowlf