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Living in Indonesia

TESOL Certification Course in Surabaya Indonesia

Indonesia is a comparatively cheap country. Living cost is low and there is abundance of food. Life for native speakers will be very interesting.

Indonesia has a very fertile soil, bountiful nature, so that only by a little work one could get enough food. People are easily satisfied and quite content. This may seem a little odd to the Westerners.

The majority of the population lives in the country site. The farmers diligently cultivate their lands and grow most of the rice consumed in the country.

Food is simle fare in rural Indonesia. Basically rice and vegetables and may be at times poultry. The traditional markets in Indonesia are a great place to wonder about. Haggling over price but animatedly is common prstice. Here everything is sold from spices to meat and fish. You can be sure of your daily supply being fresh and tasty.
The daily haul of fish to the local markets is brought in by the Traditional Fishermen, who ride into the sea every night and return in the morning.

You may try some dried 'salty fishes' as a natural way of food preservation.

Try out the spread of traditional Fast Food vendors. They start early at 06.00 o'clock and serve precooked food. Usually they serve hot dishes like:
Nasi gudeg : nasi is a boiled rice and gudeg is prepared from jack fruit cooked with coconut milk, sambel goreng, a boiled leather buffalo with spices and chili peppers, and other dishes upon choice : boiled eggs, chickens, tofu
Nasi pecel : Nasi with vegetables. Nasi is basic food as bread for westerners.
Bubur ayam : Porridge of rice with chicken.
Bubur kacang ijo : sweet porridge of mung beans, cooked with coconut milk.

Excepts those traditional food vendors, there are also stalls selling susu sapi (fresh cow milk) and roti panggang (baked bread). These food stalls are handy for those with no time to cook their breakfast, or eat at home.

Work Hours
Work hours in the offices, public or private in many different sectors, five days or six days a week except holidays. The government officials start at 07.00 in the morning, the private offices start at 08.00 in the morning.
The shops, malls and shopping centers in the down town area open also at 08.00 o'clock local time.

The Pupils, The Students
The youngsters are a big part of the community. So early in the morning a big column of pupils, students as well as teachers, fills the streets on the way to their respective schools and universities, private and public. The classes start at 07.00 0'clock in the morning. Educational institutions are a booming industry.

It is worth to note, that although local educational system is improving and to certain aspects have a good quality, some luckier parents send their children to study in the universities abroad such as in Australia, Europe, Japan and U.S.A. But do not be surprised that some foreign students, mostly postgraduate are studying in the Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta in different subjects. It should give a positive result for a broad international cooperation in the era of globalization.
In spite of being predominantly Muslim Indonesian women play an important role in this country. Their presence is felt in every sector of work.

They are in the farms, the offices, the factories and the armed forces. Some brave heroines were Nyi Ageng Serang, a brave fighter during Javanese war against Dutch colonialism,Cut Nyak Dien from Aceh, Dewi Sartika from West Java and Kartini from Central Java.

Transportation
There are in Indonesia many traditional means of transportation, such as bike, becak (three wheel rickshaw), dokar (two wheel cart) andong (four-wheel cart) drawn by ponies and sometimes gerobak sapi, a cart drawn by oxen, tey still operate.
Modern City transports are also available like motor, bikes, cars, buses, and trucks. In some cities the both means of transport are on the streets and often disrupt traffic. So always travel with time in hand.

For transports in the city, regular small buses, buses, taxis and trains are available. For comfort, take the ones with air conditions. Flight to and from Yogya, Solo and Semarang are available on regular schedules.

There are many internet cafes in Indonesia and cell phones are affordable. .In Indonesia there are two systems of hand-phone namely AMPS (analog) and GSM (digital).Communication is not a concern here.

Life as an ESL teacher in Indonesia will be quite pleasant if one is a little alert and cautious. Like any other place there are burglars and pick pockets and touts one can avoid being tricked or cheated by exercising some caution

Entertainment
Indonesia has an active nightlife. There are many clubs and resorts especially in the island of Bali.
Shopping can be a good pastime here as there are many malls in the big cities.

One can enjoy local cuisine and cultural programs in the evenings. Indonesian culture is based in its Hindu past and extremely beautiful and entertaining
.
Of course one can also travel all across the country in great comfort as the salary of the teacher is quite handsome.
Indonesia is a good place to settle for some time with an ESL teaching job.