In talking to my family and friends back in the States in the last month plus since I’ve arrived in Jakarta, I often get asked many of the same questions. I thought I’d take a few minutes this week to answer the most common questions.
Q: What’s the food like in Indonesia?
A: The nation of Indonesia is comprised of 17,508 islands. It appears as if every island has their own version of Indonesian food and every Indonesian you speak to will tell you that you will find the best Indonesian cuisine on their home island. I guess the best way to explain Indonesian food is to take the best dishes from China, India, Thailand, the Middle East, and throw in a little European flavor and you’ve got Indonesian food. While the exact spices used in a dish will vary, you can guarantee most Indonesian dishes will have quite a bit of spice to them. Consistent staples found in Indonesian food include chicken, beef, seafood (the prawns are huge here) and, of course, white rice.
Also, there isn’t a shortage of American style food here. There seems to be an American chain restaurant on every corner – Chili’s, Outback Steakhouse, Tony Roma's, Burger King, and of course McDonald's. The grease tastes exactly the same at the Golden Arches over here as it does in America.
Q: What’s the weather like in Indonesia?
A: For someone who grew up in the Midwest where the weather was always the first topic in any conversation, I must say it’s been odd how little I think about the weather. I’ll give the weather here one thing, it’s always consistent. About the only variety in the weather is if it’s raining or not. Temps will be anywhere from 80-95 degrees. Humidity will be somewhere between “instant sweat when you step outside” and “I can’t breathe out here”. I do enjoy living in a climate that has thunderstorms again. I really missed those in California!
Q: What’s it like living and working in a country that is primarily Muslim?
A: Being someone who grew up in an area where religious diversity meant a Catholic, a Lutheran, and a Baptist were in the same room together, being immersed in a Muslim culture has been one of the most exciting and educational parts of living in Indonesia. This experience has taught me about many of the traditions and beliefs of the Muslim faith. It has also reinforced my belief that while religions may seem vastly different on the outside, when you boil the messages down, they really are more similar then they are different. Oh, and one last thing. I never want to hear a Catholic complaining about not being able to eat meat on Fridays during Lent ever again. I just witnessed people go 12 plus hours a day without a crumb of food or drop of water day in and day out for one month. Talk about devotion!
Q: What are Indonesians like?
A: Just as you’d never say someone from LA is the same as someone from NYC is the same as someone from Pascagoula Mississippi, I don’t dare try to sum up all 230 million Indonesians in one paragraph. Instead, I will share some general observations I have made about the people I’ve encountered so far. First and foremost, family and religion are central to most people’s lives. Second, hierarchy is very important and we all have our place within the structure. Third, most everything you learned about collectivistic cultures in your Social Psych class can be applied here – in particular being highly relationship based and possessing an indirect communication style. Last, but certainly not least, Indonesians love to laugh. Many Indonesians may seem shy or timid when you first meet them. Don’t let that fool you. I’ve never seen so much laughter before. And yes, it is contagious here!
