Job Discussion Forums

aku_tonpa · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 63

Hi, does anyone have any experience of living in Makassar? I would appreciate any comments about the cost of living, amenities and general living coditions.

Chaers

guruengerish · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 424 Location: Australia

This question is asked about every 3 months, and I've replied to many of them.

How about a quick search, and you'll get it all in one!!

Basically, Makassar is hot, dry, a small shopping area, not a decent mall to speak of, but there are nice-off shore islands to visit weekends for snorkelling.

Almost no English spoken outside the school and some spoken at UNHAS Uni, and not a lot at all the other Unis.

Join an expat group on arrival (there is one - which is Makassar Hash House Harriers) who used to meet at a waterfront cafe, checking out the sunset most nights and every Friday night.

The school is new to me, but as I remember, the pay offered for an experienced EFL teacher was pretty pathetic. I tried!

Read the Lonely Planet book on Sulawesi. Go to Menado whenever you can afford the air fare, as it's the best diving anywhere.

You need to book well-ahead to go south to Bali, but no worries to Java.

specialsauce · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 34

i used to work there - not teaching english.

its hot, dry, dull and quite parochial. but if you are looking for the real deal, the provs outside makkassar are it although you will always find everything wanting.

you really should not drive thru poso, i dont know if its as dangerous as it used to be (no reason not to think so), but in 02-03 all of sule was a powderkeg (but the people were very decent).

guruengerish · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 424 Location: Australia

these mails seem to be very few and far between!

Going way back to your first enquiry, yes, of course there are differences in culture between Java and Sulawesi.

The languages are totally different, and the Javanese will assure you, the Makassarese are totally different to them.

If the book is still available, get yourself a copy of 'Culture Shock Indonesia'.

Here's some details on their latest book, and maybe they have the older "Culture Shock Indonesia" edition.

Culture Shock! Jakarta is published by Marshall Cavendish Editions and is available from most good bookstores in Indonesia at a recommended price of Rp.110,000 although I saw that Periplus in Bali is charging Rp.165,000.

ISBN: 9 780761 454076