Editor’s Note:
This article was originally written by David Cook and reflects the personal observations and opinions of the author based on his experiences living in Indonesia. While some details may feel dated, many of the insights still resonate with expats today. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of expat.or.id.
Some Good Reasons to Live in Indonesia…
The people in Indonesia are some of the friendliest, most pleasant people you’ll ever encounter.
Jakarta has the best Hard Rock Cafe Jakarta in the world.
If you gain the trust of Indonesian people, they may be willing to open doors for you that you never imagined could exist.
Indonesia has more pretty girls per square meter than anywhere else, with smiles that will melt your heart (if you’re more interested in guys, you’ll have to judge for yourself).
The language is fairly easy to learn, and there are about 200 million capable teachers eager to help you.
Nobody minds if you want to smoke in public.(Editor’s note: While still common, smoking regulations have tightened in many public indoor spaces in major cities.)
Religious or racial intolerance are concepts that are not understood here. Most people (86%) are Moslem, the remaining 14% are Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist and Hindu. Whichever of these religions you practice, you’ll find that you’re accepted and respected by everyone else. People will often refer to you by the colour of your skin (the black guy, that pink girl, etc.), which seems odd at first but usually carries no derogatory intentions. The acceptance and respect afforded to anyone of different religion or race is something the rest of the world needs to learn from Indonesia.(Editor’s note: Indonesia remains widely known for its diversity and tolerance, although—as in any country—experiences can vary depending on region and situation.)
You can forget how a washing machine or an iron works. Your household staff does all that stuff for you.(Editor’s note: Domestic help is still common among expat households, though less so for younger professionals or those on smaller packages.)
You’ll never need to put on an extra sweater, unless you’re visiting the mountains.
You can buy 30 packs of cigarettes for the same price as 1 pack in England, and 22 litres of gasoline for the price of 1 litre (but you need a truck-load of money to pay for anything).(Editor’s note: Prices have increased significantly since this was written, though fuel and cigarettes remain relatively inexpensive compared to many Western countries.)
Some Reasons Why You Might Not Like Living in Indonesia…
If you’re loud and aggressive, you’ll suddenly find you’re invisible (which is fine by me).
Jakartans in particular don’t seem to notice rubbish in the streets, and there’s lots of it.(Editor’s note: Waste management has improved in some areas, but this remains a common concern in many urban environments.)
If you’re Western, everyone assumes you’re very rich, and tries to charge you accordingly. Always go shopping with an Indonesian friend to get the right prices!(Editor’s note: This perception still exists, although modern retail environments and malls now offer more transparent pricing.)
The police may try to find any excuse to get you to give them money.(Editor’s note: While reforms have been implemented over the years, expats are still advised to understand local regulations and remain cautious in interactions.)
The traffic in Jakarta is terrible and the air is very polluted in the dry season.(Editor’s note: Traffic congestion remains a major issue, although improvements such as MRT and TransJakarta systems have helped ease some pressure.)
© David Cook
