Adapting to Life in Indonesia

Intro

An experience by any other international school student going to Indonesia will certainly use the word. Here in Jakarta, the choice of international schools is quite varied, combining both low-end and high-end international schools, covering pre-school to junior college. These are innovative schools, highly targeting parents and their high caliber choice of schools characterized by highly-rigorous subjects to offer students; there will be experiential learning that moves beyond mere and academic tests.

School profiles in Jakarta have thus been accordingly advanced, towards an international orientation of the students, with an impulse to Indonesian culture, but globally seen. They employ a variety of pedagogical methods with a view to ensuring the students get an all-round education and respect and incorporate local values. This does not only work to prepare students for colleges globally but also enrich their knowledge about different cultures and societies.

Parents highly regard such schools because they have a combination of fine learning programs embedded with academic excellence and cultural integration. With the schools combining the best of international standards with local customs, this aids integration into their life in Indonesia. This overall education model ensures that students are well-equipped to face the challenges of the future from academic and, most importantly, social angles, thereby giving a good platform to perform in the global world with sensitivity towards the rich mosaic of Indonesian culture.

Integration extends much beyond even academics. The schools have to play their part in fulfilling the requirement of an environment that would help the student to acclimatize them to the new surroundings. It would include knowledge and due respect to the local customs and traditions, involvement in the activities of the local community, and exchange of cultures that would make their experience of education richer. Such a multi-faceted approach ensures that international students do not merely excel academically, but also develop a deep appreciation for the cultural values of their host country.

Language Acquisition and Communication

One major component of becoming a part of any foreign culture is learning the language, and in Indonesia, it is Bahasa Indonesia. It can help to open many doors for international students enrolled in schools here. It gives them much better abilities to communicate with locals and move about more freely. Such linguistic ability involves much more than the knowledge of the words and grammar, but the cultural context of the language.

Most of them have a very well-rounded language program, in which students learn Bahasa Indonesia theoretically and also through practical applications. Usually, students are asked to speak among themselves, with teachers, and within the local community to hasten their processes of language acquisition. In addition, there are also many aspects of Indonesian culture included in the curriculum, such as history and traditions, offering the students a real-life immersion into the language that they are studying.

Speaking means not only the uttering of words or phrases in a language but also the underlying comprehension of intonation, body expressions, and cultural nuances that underlie any form of communication. People from Indonesia communicate using facial expressions and some form of virtual set of signs to a great extent. Understanding those enables them to communicate effectively. It further inculcates concern towards the polite forms of respect and the hierarchical nature of Indonesian society—respect to elders and authority.

By mastering the local language and understanding its cultural connotations, meaningful relationships with Indonesian peers or community members, in general, can be developed by international students. These relationships are significant to the integration of students, first because they build a nature of a support network for the students and second because they enable one to get the feel of the culture from an insider’s point of view. In short, acquiring language is one gate toward deeper cultural immersion and is attributed to the feeling of being there.

In addition, knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia enables learners to access local media, literature, and entertainment that form important aspects in acquainting themselves with the culture. Indonesian movies, local newspapers, and traditional music will enable a person to acquire relevant knowledge not only in language use but also in issues pertaining to values, events that take place in people’s lives, and historical knowledge of these people. Such exposure will enable students to acknowledge diversity and depth in Indonesian culture; hence, feel more attached to his/her new surroundings.

Moreover, by speaking Bahasa Indonesia, it is related to being particularly respectful and shows readiness for integration. In a way, it touches on the dear hearts of the locals. It means that students try to understand and get engaged with the culture and allow them to be accepted and supported by peers and also the neighbors. This mutual respect and understanding are quite needed in the creation of harmonious and all-embracing communities.

In essence, language learning and communication are two of the major underpinning ingredients in the integration process for international school students in Indonesia. The knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia with all its cultural intricacies will enable the student to relate well, be open to accessing local media and literature, and show self-respect and openness to integrating, having a successful and enriching stay in their new environment.

Taking Part in Cultural and Community Activities

Another very important way in which international school students are exposed to engaging in the context of Indonesian culture is through the participation process in these cultural and community activities. The cultural setting in Indonesia is broad and rich in tapestry, with students interacting and being given the experience. Such activities that may include traditional dance performances to local community festivals and community service projects to arts and crafts provide a variety of experiences, which enable the students to understand and appreciate the local culture.

Such cultural exchanges are most often facilitated by international schools. Some of the schools plan field trips to historic sites, museums, and cultural landmarks to let the student see in reality what Indonesia has to offer in the way of heritage. Very often, such excursions are followed up by discussions and reflection times to put what has been seen and learned into perspective. Moreover, schools can get local artists, artists-performers, and culture experts who can conduct workshops or other interactive ways concerning Indonesian cultural practitioners so that students can get first-hand exposure.

This is because participation in local festivals and celebrations makes a lot of impact. It means exposure to the rich cultural diversity in Indonesia and an insight into the local culture for students. In this way, a student will be able to witness some traditional dances of the area, music, and rituals that have fostered an attachment and appreciation of the culture. Normally it is the case that the schools often make their students go to school in their traditional attire, which really enhances the experience of being in the culture.

Community service projects offer another avenue for integration. Immersion can find students volunteering in different local initiatives such as environmental conservation, educational outreach, or social welfare programs. The community does gain and, in return, integrate deeper insights toward the problems and values of the locals. Such experiences help in not only instigating the feelings of responsibility and empathy within the students but also in making local friends, who recognize their effort and welcome them in return.

Extracurricular activities, such as sports, music, and arts, provide more opportunities for international students to foster relationships among their Indonesian coequals. They can engage in local soccer activities, play for a gamelan, or participate in traditional batik art classes, therefore sharing similar interests with their friends in cultural activities.

School administrations also help ensure the success of cultural programs in which students take part in cultural exchange programs by staying with a local family to learn their ways of life in terms of tradition and cultures. A homestay program would really share the subtleties with regard to the culture of Indonesia, from family relations to culinary traditions. Living with a local family offers a student not only the study of a culture but also life experience outside of the classroom, which eventually gives a very clear and in-depth recognition of customs and lifestyles of the people from Indonesia.

International students will then feel a sense of belonging and enhance respect toward Indonesian culture by participating well in the cultural and community efforts. Such experiences enrich one’s education and personal growth, making them well developed and international. Through this experience, students will learn about the local culture but also give back to the community, enabling better integration and a better experience in Indonesia.

Understand the Local Customs and Social Norms

Understanding and inculcating local customs and social norms goes a long way in assisting international students to adjust to life in Indonesia. Cultural norms guide daily social interaction and behavior. Understanding these small cultural details brings the transition to a new country into placid comfort.

 The first thing that students learn about is showing their respect to people. The respect for elders and figures of authority in Indonesian culture is very highly developed. It can be shown by special titles of address, etiquette, and body language. For instance, addressing an older person or one in an authoritative position by putting “Pak” or “Bu” in front of the name is quite common. Little bows when one is going to greet or thank someone are also put into practice. That is why schools very often make mention of these social norms, helping students understand and accept them.

This also extends to significant social norms, such as dress code. Although Indonesia is a very diverse country, there are regions in Indonesia that prove to be less conservative than others, it is always best to be modest. Wearing clothes covering the shoulders and the knees is common sense for international students traveling there, especially during visits to a certain area that is considered pretty conservative or when attending religious places. There might be some dress code policies in schools related to conformity with local tradition, so that students know how to dress appropriately at the right time and place.

Another aspect in which clear cultural differences can be found is dining etiquette. In most parts of Indonesia, for instance, people are used to always eating and sharing dishes with their right hand. Knowing such practices will ease a student’s life in social settings and will help him or her respect local culture. Many schools include such information in their cultural orientation programs.

Social interaction in Indonesia very often involves a sense of politeness and indirectness. People tend to avoid confrontation and maintain harmony in interactions. Students, even international ones, quickly pick up this style of communication that may be different from what they are used to. Such awareness about saving face and not directly criticizing may allow a student to forge good relations with Indonesian peers and teachers.

Even participating in traditional ceremonies and religious rituals has a way of finding its way into the school curriculum. Whether students are taking part in a local wedding celebration, a religious festivity, or a community get-together, all these experiences help students relate to the cultural setting in which the people of Indonesia live. Many schools motivate students to do so, and they even give guidance and support in helping the students learn the meanings and what to do.

Further, knowledge and appreciation of the host culture will spare any embarrassment due to a lack of understanding of local customs, as well as save a person from the often unwitting exposure of cultural faux pas. For Example; touching a person’s head in Indonesia is regarded as impolite and disrespectful; the head is considered the holiest part of one’s body. Similarly, pointing by a finger is perceived as rude while Indonesians generally point by their thumb. These are subtleties that can be learned to save students from a lot of awkward situations and to let locals know they really are trying to respect the tradition. In addition to these, major cultural and religious events are to be studied and participated in by international students. For example, awareness about the holy month of Ramadan and the practices in connection with it can be of immense cultural value or facilitate inclusiveness. These involve community activities, such as having iftar-the act of breaking the fast together, through which a student will be exposed to the spirit of togetherness and hospitality that is a trademark of the Indonesian culture.

Immersing them into the local customs and social norms is a way that international students can utilize to show cultural sensitivity which is important for the successful integration physically and physically into the Indonesian society. This does not solely help them cope with their new environment easily but also facilitates mutual respect and understanding by both parties. In return, the process of student exposure to cultures helps a student gain a deep appreciation for the rich traditions and values of Indonesia, thereby adding value to one’s culture and developing global citizenship.

In short, there are many different ways by which students of an overseas school could adapt to the local Indonesian culture: studying the movement, active participation in all the activities pertaining to the local culture, interest in the state tradition, and the mastery of elementary local customs and rules of social behavior. These efforts help students build meaningful connections with the local society, understanding and appreciating the culture, and putting down roots in their new home. This not only enriches their educational experience; it also prepares them to be globally minded individuals who can navigate and appreciate diverse cultures.

Conclusion 

The integration of a student in Jakarta, as an international school student, has multiple dimensions. It involves language learning, cultural activities, local community involvement, and understanding the local customs and social norms. Parents and students seeking international schooling in Jakarta are advised to take due note of the following with regard to international schooling in Jakarta: Foreign Languages Programs. Cultural Activities—Availability of school-based participation in cultural shows and festivals is a major plus point.

• Foreign Languages Programs.
• Cultural Activities: Availability of school-based participation in cultural shows and festivals is a major plus point.
• Community Service: Observe if the schools are into community service and volunteerism.
• Pedagogies: Get an indication of the balance between traditional academic testing and experiential learning.
• Curriculum: See if the curriculum is a mixture of global standards and local values.
• Support Systems: Check if the support systems for the children are robust to ensure that the child gets used to the new cultural context.
• Social Etiquette: Observe if the school takes the time necessary for a detailed briefing of children on social norms and customs.

Parents can hence get an international school in Indonesia that is academically outstanding and, in respect to that, assures parents of the ease of their children’s absorption into the local culture.

 

Learn more about our curriculum and how we prepare your children to adapt in Indonesian culture here!

Suda et. al. (2019). Dynamics of Social Life of Indonesian People in Dealing with Globalization Era. Atlantis Press. https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/iciir-18/125913544