Job Discussion Forums

[Kamala]

So I realize this question makes me look a little paranoid, but --

What kinds of vaccinations are required, or at least do you think are necessary, to go to Indonesia?

Also, how is the quality of drinking water, is it better to drink bottled water there?

Lastly, on the US State Deptartment website it was advising travelers to beware of Hep. A and B, Typhoid, and a few other diseases.
Any thoughts on this, or likelihood of contracting these diseases?


Personally I am not a fan of vaccinations, being an American and having been shot full of them since infancy....

Thanks everyone

[father Mackenzie]

Yes it is beginning to make you look paranoid however....

Don't drink tap water. Its ok for showering and cleaning your teeth and I boil it to cook with. Where ever you end up you will be drinking bottled water. It is cheap and available everywhere.

Vaccinations, well I guess you can have as many as your government suggest, HEP A,B are good, Tetanus and Typhoid also.

Indonesia is overall a 3rd world country and there are out breaks of all sorts of diseases here from Leprosy to Rabies. In Jakarta I know of teachers ending up with Dengue or Typhus. STDs are not uncommon either.
Most of the country is Malarial and Dengue is also passed by mosquitoes so wearing repellant in the evenings and when you are in places where they are present will help prevent that.

I would also suggest that you are going to experience stomach upsets once in a while with the food and ice here, however again if you are sensible and follow the advice of those around you, you will become less vulnerable to those attacks.

What worries me is not the viruses or the food but the air quality, exhaust emissions from all vehicles and the dangerous and stupid drivers I have to deal with every day.

You should also be wary of the Doctors here and what they prescribe. I have seen and had teachers ending up in hospital due to mis diagnosis and through taking the drugs they prescribe.

Despite all this, I have been here since 2007 and apart from the Flu and the odd stomach upset I have not had any major issues and find the range and price of fruit and vegetables and the lack of processed foods has actually helped my diet and I am trying to find ways to stop gaining weight .

[ESLninja]

Further to the good Father's advice

[Elkythedogsperson]

Kamala,

The more you worry in advance, the more you will worry when you get here.

Vaccinations, I came from US and only made sure tetanus was recent. The same diseases would happen in parts of the US. The advice above is good.

No worries on water. My main complaint is Indo's use of plastic. Everyone will buy a new bottle of water each day and throw away the bottle. I live and teach in places where we have 3 gallon jugs of purified water. I refill my bottle each day from there. Since I have been here, I think I have only bought 10 bottles of water, and usually when traveling. Personal eco-thing of mine.

You seem to be stressing over an adventure for your life. Let it happen. If you go to a new place worried about what happens, bad things will. If you go happy, good things will.

[malu]

Vaccinations that are a must are Hep A and Typhoid, both of which are very common here and to which few westerners have any immunity.

I wouldn't cook with tap water or drink it after boiling as there can be all manner of heavy metal residues in it.

Exercise extreme caution when dealing with doctors and hospitals. The cheaper ones may have surprisingly little idea about medicine and basic hygiene, while 'international' hospitals routinely over-prescribe and insist on unecessary treatments and procedures just to make a profit. If you are covered by a good insurance policy that isn't really your problem as the expenses are reimbursed, though being sent for quite pointless tests and scans is a waste of your time. Quite why anyone would want to do an ECG on a patient presenting with earache is quite beyond me, but it happens...

In Indonesia being ill is something of a family event and if little Bambang has a sore throat he will be accompanied to the doctor's/hospital by both parents, all siblings, at least one grandparent and probably old Pak Didik from the house next door for good measure. The result is far from the anxious hush that we are used to in western waiting rooms or treatment wards.

Simple conditions are often easier to treat yourself (if you know the usual treatment) and pharmacies will sell you many medicines that you would need a doctor's prescription for in the west.

[Kamala]

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice I am looking forward to (hopefully) going there. Have the phone interview coming up soon!

I would like it to be a fun adventure, and a great learning experience too.