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SamanthaB
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Posts: 18
Location: Seattle, WA
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 Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:01 am Post subject: Just introducing myself... |
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Hi, everyone!
We just accepted job offers with EF Swara in Jakarta (I know, I know...), so I thought I'd introduce myself to the community! (I've been lurking around here for a while...)
My name is Samantha and I'm moving to Jakarta with my husband, Ryan. We'll be moving to Indonesia from Seattle (WA, USA) on July 20th, 2009 and we couldn't be more excited than we are right now.
While we've never been to Indonesia before, we've traveled to over 30 countries, including extended trips to Japan, Mexico, and throughout Europe. (I lived in England and Germany for a while in the late 90's.)
I'm 28 years old and I've spent the last 10 years working primarily in the social and human services. (But I've dabbled in the travel industry, too, working for a major American airline and as a Travel Advisor for STA Travel.) I haven't yet completed my undergraduate degree, but I have earned over 100 upper-division credits along with certificates in Chemical Dependency, Human Services Management, and Prevention. The bulk of my work as been with Southeast Asian and East African immigrant and refugee youth.
My husband, Ryan, is 26 years old and is a freelance journalist, primarily in the field of local and national politics. His work has been featured by many publications, including The New York Times, Politico, Wonkette, and The Stranger.
Neither of us have taught English before, but we're both hard-workers and love a good challenge, so we're super excited about our next big adventure. So, that's us! Glad to meet all of you, and I'm sure I'll be picking your brains quite a bit over the next couple of months!
Talk to you soon!
Samantha |
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father Mackenzie
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Posts: 105
Location: Jakarta Barat
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| Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome to Indonesia, I am sure you will find it a fascinating and beautiful country. I know I do  |
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SamanthaB
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Posts: 18
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:05 pm Post subject: Thanks! |
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| We're SUPER excited!!! |
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Booker_T
Joined: 03 Feb 2009
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:26 am Post subject: |
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Hello Samantha.
I have been working with the company that you have mentioned for the last 14 months, and I am really enjoying it! It always seems to get better and better  |
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ljb
Joined: 12 Feb 2009
Posts: 41
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| Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 7:46 am Post subject: |
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| Have a great time working here in Jakarta and welcome to the Swara group. I don't know which school you will be going to but wherever it is, I hope you have the experience you are looking for, both at work and at play. |
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SamanthaB
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Posts: 18
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 8:15 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks, Booker and LJB! We're super excited-- the next six weeks can't guy by quickly enough! |
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tukangojek
Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 17
Location: bogor
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| Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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| WELCOME TO INDO! WHICH SCHOOL WILL YOU BE TEACHING? IF YOU COULD, CHOOSE BOGOR. IT'S NICE SMALL CITY AND IT'S NOT AS HOT AS JAKARTA. ALL THE BEST! |
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SamanthaB
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Posts: 18
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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| tukangojek wrote: |
| WELCOME TO INDO! WHICH SCHOOL WILL YOU BE TEACHING? IF YOU COULD, CHOOSE BOGOR. IT'S NICE SMALL CITY AND IT'S NOT AS HOT AS JAKARTA. ALL THE BEST! |
We aren't sure yet-- one of the EF Swara school's. We considered Bogor, but we'd actually quite prefer to be located in Jakarta-proper, despite the heat and pollution and flooding. |
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father Mackenzie
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Posts: 105
Location: Jakarta Barat
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:51 am Post subject: |
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EF Bogor is a great place to teach. The other schools are also really good and there are lots of great things happening in all the schools at the moment. Currently in Jakarta, there are flash floods, thunder storms and the days are getting hotter.
I am sure which ever school you go to, it will be a great experience. |
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SamanthaB
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Posts: 18
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:02 am Post subject: |
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| father Mackenzie wrote: |
EF Bogor is a great place to teach. The other schools are also really good and there are lots of great things happening in all the schools at the moment. Currently in Jakarta, there are flash floods, thunder storms and the days are getting hotter.
I am sure which ever school you go to, it will be a great experience. |
I'm not opposed to Bogor. Actually, I'd rather be in Bogor than in the 'burbs. But I'd rather be in Jakarta proper than in Bogor OR the 'burbs... I know, I know. Floods, thunderstorms, heat, pollution... Maybe we'll change our minds after 12 months of it, but we *really* have our hearts set on being smack-dab in the middle of it all. And even though there's a lot of smack-talking about EF Swara on these forums, I've had a really great experience with them so far. They've been prompt and professional and completely honest with us. I've done a lot of research on their schools and I'm confident that we'll be satisfied with our experience. |
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father Mackenzie
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Posts: 105
Location: Jakarta Barat
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:16 am Post subject: |
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I have worked for them for a few years and I have no complaints with the operation or the people running it. There has been a lot of negative comments in the past but that has nothing to do with me or the centre that I look after and in my opinion it is an exciting and very positive workplace.
When do you come to Jakarta? |
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SamanthaB
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Posts: 18
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:24 am Post subject: |
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| father Mackenzie wrote: |
| I have worked for them for a few years and I have no complaints with the operation or the people running it. There has been a lot of negative comments in the past but that has nothing to do with me or the centre that I look after and in my opinion it is an exciting and very positive workplace. When do you come to Jakarta? |
Gusti told us to arrive ~July 21st, but we haven't booked our tickets yet. We've got a couple of different flights that we're choosing from. I think that we'll end up purchasing the flight that has us arriving in Jakarta on the evening of Wednesday the 22nd because it has the best connection. (Just one stop in Seoul-- we're flying in from Seattle.)
I know that our first week will just be orientation and shadowing, so I don't expect that we'll begin teaching until ~August 3rd or so. We still don't know what school we're going to be at, just that it will be one of the many EF Swara schools.
We're SUPER excited, especially now that the plans are in high-gear. We're in the process of packing up all of our worldly belongings and moving out of our loft right now. So much to do in the next six weeks, but so worth it!
What school do you work at? |
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father Mackenzie
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Posts: 105
Location: Jakarta Barat
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:12 am Post subject: |
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| Well which ever school you go to I am sure you find the teachers and staff very welcoming. I work at Puri which is in the west of the city. |
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benbobaggins
Joined: 17 Sep 2007
Posts: 60
Location: Jakarta
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:32 pm Post subject: arriving in July.. |
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Hi,
First, let me wish you both the best of luck on your adventures and experience. I'm sure with a positive attitude you'll both have a great time!
Just a word of warning....... I arrived for my first job at EF, many moons ago, and from the airport arrived at the school around 8 pm. I had 4 classes the next day, and orientation went out the window. So, don't be betting on having a week to get your bearings....
Jakarta can be REALLY annoying at times, but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty cool.
Best of luck! |
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SamanthaB
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Posts: 18
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:40 pm Post subject: Re: arriving in July.. |
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| benbobaggins wrote: |
Hi,
First, let me wish you both the best of luck on your adventures and experience. I'm sure with a positive attitude you'll both have a great time!
Just a word of warning....... I arrived for my first job at EF, many moons ago, and from the airport arrived at the school around 8 pm. I had 4 classes the next day, and orientation went out the window. So, don't be betting on having a week to get your bearings....
Jakarta can be REALLY annoying at times, but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty cool.
Best of luck! |
Thank you for the kinds words!
While I apologize if that was, indeed, your experience with EF, it appears that much has changed since then. They've been honest, up-front, and very professional throughout the hiring process. Gusti has been clear about their expectations and he is prompt and professional in all of his correspondence.
Our one-week of orientation/training/observation is written into our contract, and I have every expectation that they'll fulfill their promises to us, just as we intend to fulfill our promises to them.
We've spoken with several other new hires that are arriving in Jakarta this summer, as well as teachers that currently work for EF, and all of them had nothing but good things to say. It appears that they've worked out the issues that they may have been experiencing in the past.
So, while is unfortunate that you had a negative experience, we're going into this open-minded and positive that we're going to have a great experience. |
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