Hi, thinking of applying for an Indonesia placement through i-to-i, starting october/november time this year (2012). The thing I'm most worried about is getting lonely to be honest, if there arn't any other foreigners around. Does anyone know if it tends to be easy to meet other foreigners out there? And also is there anyone else who's planning on also going out to Indo (Jakarta) the end of this year????
Thanks, Heidi

Hi Heidi,

I know I just sent you a message, but I thought I would reply to this topic as well.

When I first got here it was a real shock to the system. The heat is a lot to take as it was -4C in England then 32C in Jakarta when I landed. My housemates are from England, Ireland and Australia and they've all been here for a number of years so they know the area, language and people very well. I'm very fortunate to have come here at this time in some ways as they've taught me a lot, but soon they are all leaving and there will be a whole new batch of teachers, which I'm also very excited about because hopefully they will want to explore Indonesia as much as I do. The good thing is that there are a lot of Western people about that are friendly as they know how scared you're feeling. I've had a really nice welcome and been taken care of by the school (particularly when I was very ill in my first week!). Every single native English teacher has an Indonesian boyfriend/girlfriend, so that has added to the loneliness, but again, as soon as new people get here, they can be singletons like me as well!

I get worried that I'll be lonely when the new people come, if we don't have much in common but it's easy enough to ask to contact the other teachers at the other school to mingle that way. The next few months are a massive question mark to me!

hope this helps

Nikky

Hi Nikky,

I just wondered how have you found the teaching and the workload? Are you in the Bekasi part of the city? And also how have you found Jakarta? Do you need to drive a motorbike to get to work?!

Sorry for so many questions, I found your post very interesting though as am still thinking of coming to Indonesia.

Lorna

Hi Lorna,

The teaching is terrifying in the beginning but I have completely settled into it now. There's a lot of support from other teachers and the textbooks, but freedom to do your own thing as well. No one teaches more than 23 hours a week, but the hours are spread our across the day which makes the days fly by. No marking and only a bit of planning.

I'm in Tanjung Duren, near Central Park and Taman Anggrek, two enormous shopping malls. It's very central.

Jakarta is very busy and noisy but the people are wonderfully generous and kind, it's refreshing from English people! I get an Ojek to work - riding on the back of a scooter. We have a little gathering of Ojek drivers that are like friends. I wear a helmet and it's very safe. It costs 10,000 rupiah (70p) and takes 5-10mins.

They're recruiting now if you want to apply go to efjakarta.com.

Best of luck

Nikky

Hello there! I'm thinking of doing the job placement service too, between August or October of this year. Compared with the paid internships that i to i offers, to me it almost seems too easy, considering you just apply and get the job, they pay for airfaire if you complete the contract, etc. The internships require you to pay a fee to do it. Does anyone know if there are any hidden costs or anything that I should take into account? Does anyone know if I could save money teaching there? I would like to pay off some student loans if possible. Thanks!

Hello everyone! just wondering who you applied through? And how long it takes the employer to get back to you? I finished my course last week and have just started applying for jobs a couple of days ago for a position in Indonesia with EF Swara...I'm really keen to work there and want to hear from them asap! So just wondering what sort of timeframe it takes for them to contact you?

Thanks!

Ellie,

Not trying to disuade you, but take a look around the web and you will see EF Swara isn't exactly the best EF out there. Search around the ESLCafe.com forums or other places and you'll see they don't have such a good reputation. Consider EF Kelapa Gading or Cengkareng if you can. :)

Thanks for the tip nojohnso, I haven't heard back from EF Swara so I will definitely look up those schools!