Inside Indonesia

You've all seen the newspaper headlines, the aftermath of the terrorist bombings and the DFAT travel warnings. We see this so much, in fact, that the word Indonesia has gained the power to strike fear into the heart of many westerners. I know because I was one of them, with such little knowledge of the mysterious nation that the only way I could understand it was to fear it. So after receiving an email that informed me of my acceptance on a Journalism Professionalism Practicum in Jakarta I suffered anxiety attacks infrequently until the day I left Australian dirt and the misconceptions it harboured.

Why would I apply to travel and work in a place I admit being terrified of? Why would I subject myself to such uncertainty and apprehension? Because beneath the image I held of Indonesia which was built upon snippets of information from the news and overheard conversation, was a burning curiosity. I can also admit that my application was submitted with the same degree of hope one has when entering Ozlotto. I was being the person who says they'd sky dive right up until the point when they're asked to jump out of a plane and then decide they're not so sure anymore.

But I jumped, because I'm also the person who has too much pride to back down and most certainly cannot miss out on an opportunity, specially when it was one I had made for myself. I set about doing my utmost to familiarize myself with the place, but nothing can prepare you for the thick hot air that rushes up to meet you on the tarmac of Sukarno Hatta Aiport. Nothing will prepare you for the food, the stares. the prayer and the poverty, but most of all, nothing can prepare you to be stripped of every scrap of knowledge or understanding you thought you had.

Having studied, worked and lived in Indonesia for the past 6 weeks, I am yet to draw a single parallel between what I've seen on TV and the reality of Indonesia. Actually, I'm yet to draw similarities between Indonesia and anything I've experienced in my somewhat sheltered life so far. Imagine a place where people with not a cent to their name will smile and wave for the camera, and are happy to play in the streets with an empty coke can. Of course Indonesia has its problems and bad people, but name one place on earth that doesn’t. I’ll miss the helpfulness and eagerness to please, not that Aussies aren’t a great bunch, but it’s a different kind of friendliness in an individualist society.
I might even miss being woken at 4.30 am every morning by the call to prayer that echoes all over the city, or coming back from lunch with my mouth burning because I didn't know what I was ordering once again. I'll feel weird walking to the checkout in a grocery store without my fruit weighed, or ordering a glass of wine for under $10. The shop keepers will no doubt be confused when I start haggling and the taxi drivers will think I'm joking handing over $10 for a 40 min cab ride.