As many of my friends and family members know nothing about Indonesia I will give some background info. Indonesia is a nation of some 17000 islands and 300-400 languages. With over 235,000 people it is the world's fourth most populous nation and the largest Muslim country. Located just north of Australia, the two economies are greatly interconnected, and Indonesia is a member of the G20.
Here's a map! It's not in Africa see.
Jakarta is on the island of Java,
the country's and world's most populous island with about two-thirds of its
people, and is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Jakarta
is booming; some 15 million people live in the metro area and it is growing
daily. GDP growth has been about 6% in spite of the GFC (Global Financial
Crisis), and giant skyscrapers fill the view. The city seems random and
unplanned with the huge buildings jutted up against kampung, local
neighbourhoods. The pollution forms a protective ring around the city which is
killer on the lungs but protects you from the sun. The contrast between the
elite and poor is striking; wandering around neighbourhoods one may encounter
fenced off estates right next to small, working-class hovels. BMWs pass
barefoot cart-pushers, and ten-story high malls cater to the burgeoning middle
class, while mall employees commute up to four hours one way to work in the
central city. One in two Indonesians are middle class, which here is defined as
one who lives off $2-20 a day. Traffic is horrendous, and riding in a taxi can
be quite terrifying as no one stays in their lane, uses a signal, and one-way
streets are a mere suggestion.
Islam is, of course, the
predominant religion, but Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists have their place as
well. Many women wear veils, no one wears shorts, short-tailed cats beg for a
scrap, the air is thick with the humidity and smog, and everyone smiles.
Today
was our orientation day where we were briefed on health issues (dengue fever
makes you feel like your bones are breaking) and security (we should not be
alarmed if a bomb goes off in the city). For lunch we crossed the street and
entered a gigantic mall with numerous floors and food courts and Jakarta's
middle class residents shopping and eating in a very Western setting. The view
of the skyscrapers was incredible; you could be in New York or a major
Australian city. After lunch we were partnered with local student volunteers
who willingly gave up their vacation to wander around in the heat in search of
accommodation. After checking about 10 places and getting very tired and
sweaty, we found a place where I can stay for only 2 weeks. I will be staying
with 3 others girls in the programme. Our kos,, or boarding house,
is on a busy street near the university. Sidewalks either don't exist or are
quite perilous, so walking down the road dodging cars and motorbikes will be
the way of life. It is nice to be living with other programme participants so
we can motivate each other to get to our 8:30 language classes on time, which
start Monday. As many of you may know, I am a language-ophile and an aspiring
linguist and I can't wait to get my head around a new language.
Now
it is New Year's Eve, so Selamat Tahun Baru! We are getting dinner and drinks
and hitting up the local area. Fireworks and blowhorns will fill the air.
Tomorrow we move into our kos, and then we will be quite busy. I only have two
weeks here so I hopefully can see a bit before flying to Makassar on January
14th. See you!
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