Culture shock is very real and will happen to you!
Reasons for culture shock:
Whenever we move from our home countries to another, we leave behind what we have become used to. When we first arrive, our senses go into overdrive analysing and understanding our new environment. As well as the tangible differences, there are the intangible and unexpected things which can affect us too.
Many people experience exhaustion during the intense process of making sense of your new life and, for the main family carer, working out where and how to meet your family needs. This can lead to frustration, stress, irritability and judgement of what is different.
If you are feeling the effects of culture shock, grab a coffee and read a few articles on what you are experiencing
Struggling with culture shock – Telegraph – UK
Adapting to a new culture – AGS Movers
Expat relocation and culture shock – Kwintessential
An account of culture shock in Indonesia – Expat Arrivals
We want you to not only survive in Jakarta, but thrive!
So here’s some common problems related to culture shock and our suggested solutions
| • If Indonesia is not the country you have grown up in, what may seem very logical to you is not necessarily what is logical here. This may be a source of frustration and miscommunication. | · Buy Indonesia (Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette).See our Directory for bookshops.
· Try and make Indonesian friends from school or work or volunteer in an organisation with Indonesian team members. |
| • If you don’t speak Bahasa Indonesia, you will be facing a language barrier. | · Learn Bahasa Indonesia. See our Directory for language schools. |
| • Traffic is particularly bad in Jakarta. | · See our guide to getting around Jakarta. |
| • The sheer volume of people—there are roughly 10 million people living in Jakarta and they are all interested in you and your family. You may find yourself posing for photos with strangers. | · Smile and enjoy meeting new people! You will not be treated like a movie star back home. |
| • Personal space—Indonesians have a smaller personal space and view sitting next to you and your family as a non-issue. | · Make time and space to spend time relaxing by yourself and processing what is going on. |
| • Time-you will only have time to accomplish one or two errands a day. Or you may run out of time before you get anything done. | · Set aside tasks you can do in the car.
· Be patient and not over-ambitious. |
| • The heat and humidity. | · Keep cool with air conditioning in the house or car.
· If all else fails, jump in a pool! |
| • 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. | · This is a fact of life in Jakarta, but there are also parks and open spaces and, of course, many pristine malls! |
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· Be patient and focus on what you can do yourself. |
| • 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. | · Allow extra time to find places when you go there the first time. |
| • There are no real foot paths, this can make walking anywhere difficult and unpleasant. | · Visit Jakarta’s green spaces which include Ragunan Zoo, Taman Mini, Monas etc, take regular weekend getaways and holidays to explore the beauty of Indonesian nature. |