Job Discussion Forums

Schottin · Joined: 29 Jul 2010 Posts: 3

Hello!

I had a good interview with this company and was seriously considering taking the position. I just wanted to know if anyone had any experience of working with them (although I understand it is quite small, so maybe not) and more generally, if people thought that Solo was a good choice, if I am lookign for something medium-sized but still with a bit of life?

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

My memory is terrible, but I believe one of the people I knew when I lived in Solo taught at this school. They had short teaching periods, I think 50 minutes and they had a fairly rigid syllabus that teachers were expected to follow (no supplemental material allowed). That said, teachers there seemed to enjoy working for them. I think they nabbed a few teachers over the years from EF. I think the owner is Australian/Indonesian, or maybe Indonesian, but raised and educated in Australia. Again, total speculation.

As far as Solo goes, I love that dirty little city! Much less cosmopolitan than Jogja. Not as many expats, or tourists as Jogja. Not much in the way of bars. So if you're into going out to clubs and getting smashed, it's not going to be the best place. I miss it ever so much though. One day I shall return.

If you decide to go for it PM me and I'll share as much as I can on the points of interest, food, etc. as I can remember.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Gajah Oling, can you share with us some of the non-bar and non-club activities that you enjoyed in Solo?

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

Well Mr. Cowell, I was fortunate enough to have a close Javanese friend in Sukoharjo, so I would go to wayang as often as I could until the rainy season began in earnest. It seems like I went to hundreds of weddings with friends who played in campursari groups. But most often on the weekends I would drive around the Solo area to snap photos, do field recording and try my nascent bahasa Indonesia on the locals. Staying off the booze was rather easy since Bintang beer only seemed to give me a headache anyway and purchasing bourbon in Solo was prohibitively expensive.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Did you learn to play any of that Javanese traditional music? I forget what they call it.