Leaving his hometown behind, Farel chose to start his career in Jakarta for greater stability and opportunity.
Farel is a young civil servant who has been working in his current role for around eight months. Before joining the public sector, he worked as an architect and interior designer at a design consultancy.
His move into a very different career was not something he had planned since childhood. Farel admits that becoming a civil servant was never his dream. However, his situation pushed him towards this path. His family had encouraged him to take this route as his father had already retired, and he still has two siblings who are not yet independent. As the eldest, Farel felt the need to become financially stable as soon as possible. He believes that, in Indonesia, being a civil servant is often seen as a stable job with a steady income.
For him, this job offers a sense of security. Unlike his previous work in the private sector, he no longer has to worry about short-term contracts, company instability, or the risk of being laid off. He also does not have to deal with unrealistic KPIs. In short, becoming a civil servant gave him what he calls a “safe spot” in life.
“I know life will get tough soon. I will need to be prepared, so in other words, I chose this job because it gave me a safe spot,” he said.
Originally, Farel came from Palembang, South Sumatra. However, before settling in Jakarta, he had already lived in other cities. He spent around two years moving between Bandung and South Tangerang in search of better opportunities. According to him, his hometown is not underdeveloped, but it offers limited options for career growth and personal development, compared to Jakarta and other cities in Java. So, like it or not, he felt that leaving was necessary.
When he finally moved to Jakarta, his first impression was a strong one. He clearly remembers thinking, “So this is why people say Jakarta keras (Jakarta is harsh).” At first, he thought people were simply ungrateful, but after experiencing the city himself, he understood. Living in Jakarta is hard, not only physically but also mentally. Jakarta made him realise how wide the gap is between social classes. Things he had to think about many times before buying were considered normal or even basic by others. The difference was shocking, and it seems to be growing every year.
Thankfully, his current salary is enough to cover his living costs. He is even able to save a small amount for emergencies. Farel admits that he is not very good at managing money. He does not carefully record his expenses, but he tries to live simply. He avoids going out too often and looks for cheap lunch options to keep his spending low.
“Although the living cost in Jakarta is pretty high, I can still save up some money. It’s not much, but at least enough for urgent things,” he said.
What he misses most about his hometown is the slower pace of life. In Jakarta, everything feels rushed all the time. He also deeply misses the sense of security that comes from being close to family. In Jakarta, life often feels lonely, with no one waiting for him after work.
“In Jakarta, everything feels lonely; going to work feels lonely, going back also lonely, no one was there waiting for me, no one was there to comfort me,” he mentioned.
Despite everything, Farel still appreciates Jakarta for its opportunities. The city is a place where he could find a more stable job, join an interesting community, attend many kinds of events, and expand his networks. However, Jakarta also exhausts him, as the pollution, traffic, high prices, and constant pressure create a tiring atmosphere. If he had to describe what he dislikes most about Jakarta in one word, it would be its nuances, a mix of many small things that slowly drain one’s energy.