Job Discussion Forums

littlejamtart · Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Hi everyone. This is my first post and I hope that one of you guys with lots of experience can illuminate the darkness for me...

There is a lot of info about areas around Solo, but I can't find posts from anyone actually living there now. Maybe some of you have visited, lived there or even passed through? It'd be great to hear some impressions or opinions, as I will be there shortly. Loved it? Hated it? Felt nothing for it?

If you have a spare minute I would be really greatful for any advice or information.

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

It's somewhere I quite like to go for an occasional weekend though I've never lived or worked there. You have more chance of encountering Solo residents on the Indonesia Expat forum at www.livinginindonesiaforum.org

It is a fairly relaxed place with a compact city centre and one of the few cities where becak (bicycle rickshaws) are feasible because the land is flat and there are some special lanes for becak. There is a shiny new mall not far out of town for home comforts, and plenty of flights to Jakarta and even Singapore. There is a train service to Jogjakarta. The historic palaces etc are a bit grubby these days but the place at least gives an insight into how life was in Java a century ago.

In answer to your question - yes, I would consider living in Solo but that would depend on having a decent job there.

littlejamtart · Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Thanks very much, Malu! That is just the kind of information I am looking for. I have found a good position (I think/hope!) and will be arriving in early July. It seems like Solo is quiet-ish and centrally located, so it'll be easy to get away on weekends if I need a break. That link is really helpful as well.

Gajah Oling · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 62 Location: Jawa

I lived in Solo for a year.

I loved Solo, but like all cities, it's not for everyone. It's far less cosmopolitan than Jogja. There is an expat community there, mostly ex-oil engineers and people involved in furniture and textiles. There's also an ISI school there and young westerners come through to learn music and dance. But unlike Jogja, unless you seek these folk out, you'd hardly know there were any other bule there. Which, personally, I liked.

Are you considering EF? If you want I can put you in touch with someone still teaching at that school.

PM me if you have any specific questions about Solo: where to get sate babi, the best soto ayam, best medical lab, best place to buy liquor, best road side cobbler that can re-sole your size 46 shoes with car tires, etc.

littlejamtart · Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Hi Gajah Oling. Thank you!

I THINK I will like being off the beaten path (My last teaching job was crazy, busy and stressful and I was surrounded by expats. That may have been part of the problem!). Still, everyone needs a bit of companionship, so I hope that I will make some friends there. I won't be working at EF, but may like to meet some of those teachers. I don't know if there is even a place where foreigners congregate on weekends. Ah well, I suppose I will figure that all out when I get there.

btw I am a total newbie. I've never taken part in any forum. Ever. I don't know how to PM. I also don't know what any of those foods(?) might be. I KNOW I want to meet the cobbler though, preferably on my way back from the best place to buy liquor.

Gajah Oling · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 62 Location: Jawa

Expats can oft be found at Happy's. I can't remember the name of the street it's on, but it's across the street from the train tracks. Kind of a sports bar (all the expat places are big on sports.) A new hamburger joint opened up last year out near imigrasi. It's a bit far out there, but they have good burgers (hard to find in Solo) and a driving range! Lots of older expats go there (retired oil engineers). O Solo Mio is Solo's premiere Italian restaurant, but not much of a hangout. There's others that are slipping my mind. I didn't really go to any of the expat hangouts much.

PM is Personal Message. At the bottom of this and every post there's a button to send a personal message to a board member. At the top of this thread where there are the various FAQ, Search, etc links you'll see one for viewing your personal messages.

PS: I know teachers at some of the other schools too, if you're curious to find out more info on their reputations.

littlejamtart · Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

H again,

Thanks for the tutorial. You have the patience of Job. I haven't posted enough to be able to PM you, Gajah Oling. But I will try later.

Maybe you or Malu could answer me this:
On a few info sites Solo was called, I'm paraphrasing here, the epicentre of Muslim radicalism in Java. Does this mean that I should be careful to dress more modestly, or in any other way modify my behaviour? I don't get the impression that Solo is in any way dangerous, don't get me wrong, but is this something of which I need to be aware?

Gajah Oling · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 62 Location: Jawa

You'll be fine. Solo is about the safest city I've ever lived in. I lived about a kilometer from Ngruki, the school run by Abu Bakar Bashir, and never even sensed their presence. Those "radicals" would be loathe to promote violence in their own backyard.

As far as dressing modestly, anywhere in Indonesia it's not considered in good taste to show too much skin (especially navels) unless you're a becak driver. I saw people wearing shorts (though Indonesians can get away with that easier than foreigners) and I wore short sleeve t-shirts all the time. The more skin you show the more attention you'll draw to yourself in the way of locals pointing and laughing at you. If you can handle that, you'll be okay.