home | just arrived

culture shock | learning the language

Cultural Experiences

Cultural Centres provide a wealth of information about Indonesia and are a good way to meet like minded people.

Indonesian Heritage Society
This is a society that aims to promote interest in and knowledge about Indonesian culture and history. Activities include guided group tours, evening lecture series and study groups.

Library Office:
Sentral Senayan I, 17th floor (Opposite Plaza Senayan), Jl. Asia Afrika No. 8, Senayan
Tel: 021 572 5870

• Library hours
9:30-15:30 Monday
9:30-15:30 Tuesday
9:30 -12:30 Wednesday
12:30-15:30 Thursday
9:30-12:30 Friday
9:00-14:00 Last Saturday of each month

Library is closed on all public holidays
• Cash Only

Australian Embassy
Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said Kav C15-16, Kuningan
Tel: 021 2550 5555

The British Council
Jakarta Stock Exchange Tower II, 16th Floor, Jl. Jend. Sudirman 52-53
Tel: 021 515 5561
Email: information@britishcouncil.or.id
www.britishcouncil.or.id

Erasmus Huis (Dutch Cultural Centre)
Jl. H. Rasuna Said Kav S3, Kuningan
Tel: 021 524 1069
Email: info@erasmushuis.or.id
www.erasmushuis.or.id

French Cultural Centre
Jl. Salemba Raya No. 25, Salemba
Tel: 021 390 8585 / 021 390 8580
Email: info@ccfjakarta.or.id

Goethe Institut (German Cultural Centre)
Jl. Sam Ratulangi No. 9-15, Menteng
Tel: 021 2355 0208
Email: shprtaria@jakarta.goethe.org
www.goethe.de/do/jak

Istituto Italiano di Cultura
Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto No117, Menteng
Tel: 021 392 7531
Email: itacult@link.net.id
www.Italcultjkt.or.id

Jakarta International Community Centre (JICC)
see here for more information

Japan Cultural Centre
Summitmas Tower I, Level 3, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav 61-62, Senayan
Tel: 021 520 1266 / 021 525 5201
Email: pkj@jpf.or.id

Russian Cultural Centre
Jl. Diponegoro No. 12, Menteng
Tel: 021 335 290
Email: ruscsc@dnet.net.id

Culture shock

Culture shock may be something that you experience when you first arrive in Jakarta.

Reasons for culture shock:
• Indonesians often think differently to you. What may seem very logical to you is not to them and vice versa. This may be a source of frustration and miscommunication.
• There is a language barrier.
• Traffic.
• The sheer volume of people, there are roughly 10 million people living in Jakarta and if you are not used to living in a big city this can seem overwhelming.
• Personal space may be invaded purely due to volume of people in a particular location i.e shopping malls at the weekends can become extremely crowded.
• Time, you may only have time to accomplish one or two errands a day. Or you may run out of time before you get anything done due to traffic delays.
• The heat.
• The pollution and filth, the canals are filled with sewer water and garbage is everywhere. The air is thick with emissions and smoke from burning trash.
• Dependency on the persons whose visa you have arrived under, many tasks can not be accomplished by you. You may have to wait until the office can handle your needs.
• Jakarta is not laid out on a grid pattern and it is very difficult to learn your way around the city. House numbers are not in sequence.
• There are no real foot paths, this can make walking anywhere difficult and unpleasant.

Dealing with culture shock:
• Learn the language
• Join an organisation. Not only do these groups provide you companionship, but they have great social welfare committees that give generously to the community.
• Talk about your feelings. Almost everyone has experienced what you are feeling and will gladly commiserate.
• Exercise.

Learning the language

The language of Indonesia is Bahasa Indonesia which literally means language of Indonesia. Learning the language is relatively easy, and even if you only learn some basics it will help you a lot with your staff and in many situations when you are out. it is also a great opportunity for children from English speaking countries to exercise the language centre of their brain! Indonesian people are very appreciative of the bule (foreigner in Indonesian, a derogatory term) who try to learn their language. Making an effort to try helps a lot in many situations, after all we are guests in their country.

Depending on your needs you can be privately tutored, enrol in a short course offered through one of the centres listed below, or take part in a more intensive course, many of which are offered in Yogyakarta.

Talk to friends for contacts and good tutors.

Christine is a tutor who comes highly recommended.
She has good experience teaching professionals in the workplace and teaching people in their own homes.
Hp: 0816 1992242

Australian College of English
Jl. Kemang Timur, No.998w, Kemang
Tel: 021 719 7317
Fax: 021 718 1245
www.trainingaustralia.or.id

Indonesian Australia Language Foundation (IALF)
Jl. Rasuna Said Kav C-6 , Kuningan
Tel: 021 521 3350
Fax: 021 521 3349
Email: ialfjkt@ialf.edu
www.ialf.com

Yogyakarta

Sanata Dharma University
Indonesian Language and Culture Intensive Course
Pusat Bahasa Universitas Sanata Dharma, Tromol Pos 29, Mrican Yogyakarta
Tel: 0274 515352

Puri Bahasa Indonesia (PBI)
Jl. Masjid, No.24, Pakualaman Yogya
Tel: 0274 588 192
Email: puriindo@indosat.net.id
www.indigo.ie/~noelrubt
Links in Dutch and German

back to top