Job Discussion Forums

[Nabby Adams]

Many come to Indonesia for a year. Many come for an experience. Some even come to take back a little something or some one to their home land. How many on this forum are here to stay?

If you have no plans to leave care to share why?

[pauleslteacher1]

Hello Everyone..

I've been here for over 10 years and intend to stay here for the rest of my life... OMG, I'm sure many of you are thinking... "has he lost it"... "gone over the deep end".... "perhaps he's got nowhere to go"...

None of the above, rather a conscious choice to live and work in country that for the most part is quite entertaining to live in. Sure there are problems but compared to most countries in the world they are minor as long as you can "roll with the occasional punch"... patience and understanding are 2 key traits that you need to have to enjoy living here...

I remember coming here 10 years ago, thinking I would get some teaching experience and then move on to the bigger money places like Korea, Vietnam and Taiwan... but 1 year led into another year.... I learned Indonesian, people were friendly, lots of beautiful and cheap places to visit, good food and others. There is a "charm" about the place that makes living here different than countries like Malaysia, Thailand etc.

My Indonesian students are really great....... sure there are some not so good ones but I've found if you take the time to talk to them you can usually turn them around...

All in all Indonesia is great place to live!

[malu]

I'm in SE Asia for the long haul though I'm not sure I'd want to retire in Indonesia. My plans at present are to retire in Malaysia where there is more legal certainty and less hassle from officialdom.

If conditions don't deteriorate then I'd happily stay in Indo until age forces me to stop working. Life suits me here. However, there are certain circumstances that I wouldn't put up with. If Indonesia continues its drift toward an arabized, monolithic Muslim state then I'd probably ship out earlier than planned. Right now I think there is maybe a 50% chance of that happening.

[wailing_imam]

...and yet you want to retire to Malaysia?

Regarding Islamic lunacy, Indonesia still has quite a way to go to catch up with Malaysia.

[malu]

With respect, Imam, in Malaysia lunatic 'syariah' ordinances apply only to Muslims. In Indonesia the mad mullahs are not content merely to impose their will on their coreligionists...

There are a lot of things wrong with Malaysia, but as things stand now I'd feel safer moving my worldly chattels and dosh over there when the time comes to put away my whiteboard markers for the last time. There is a retirement scheme called 'Malaysia my Second Home' whereby retiring foreigners are actually made welcome, in contrast to the situation that persists here. It's a pity, because if Indonesian officialdom could ever think long-term they would see there is a lucrative business in attracting grey-haired tourists who will spend all their money locally then conveniently die.

[laughing_magpie06]

I've read about it. It sounds like a good, progressive idea. The only major conditions are regarding proof of monthly income and a fixed deposit to be lodged. I would consider it myself and must admit I found Malaysia to be similar to Indonesia without the hassles and BS.

[guruengerish]

Wow that Malaysian retirement program looks good!

I'd thought about retiring in Asia, as the Aussie pension is so pathetic. Indonesia certainly seems to discourage the idea.

Thanks for the tip.