Learning Indonesian
Have you mastered the Indonesian language? Or did you give up? When I first came here as a teacher about...
Observations
Be My Valentine
Lonely in a foreign country? I was. When I was hired by Cita Hati Sekolah in Surabaya thirteen years ago,...
The Greatest Love(s) of All
Turn on the radio or switch on the television set and it is fairly certain that within a couple of...
New Year’s Resolution: The Journey Inside
Are we in need of a New Year’s resolution? Yes, because at the end of the year, we need something...
Covid, the Blessings in Disguise
But what a disguise! COVID has been one of the most deadly plagues to ever hit the world, killing millions...
Fanning the Flames of Fame
It wasn’t exactly Beatlemania, but when I came to Indonesia twenty years ago, I had a taste of fame. Or...
Expatriation
Standing on the edge of the highway I held a sign that said “London”. It was cold, early spring, and...
Top Unusual Traditions You Can Only Find in Indonesia
Besides its breathtaking nature, like beaches, mountains, and historical sites, Indonesia is also well-known for its richness of cultural traditions....
Makan Bajamba, Minangnese Dining Tradition
Almost all regions have a communal dining tradition in Indonesia, including West Sumatra. For Minangnese people living in West Sumatra,...
Beat the Bulge and Enjoy Holiday Foods, Guilt-Free!
Here’s to a New Year, and a New YOU! 2023 is just around the corner. Happy December! That time of...
Bali’s Heavenly Hidden Spots
Bali has always satisfied its many tourists with its beautiful panoramas. Some natural spots such as the beaches, waterfalls, and...
Expat in Surabaya – Indonesia the Tenth Year
“Everyone is good at the honeymoon.” Have you ever heard of that? Recently some friends in the states moved to...
Crank Up the Holiday Season
As we approach the end of the year and the onset of the festive period once more, I have to...
Ten Biggest Indonesian News Stories of 2022
Ten Biggest Indonesian News Stories of 2022 – They’re not all entirely negative. 1. Regent’s slavery and lethal torture On...
Indonesia’s Riches – Too Precious To Export
To the Europeans and before them the Arabs and Indians, the lure of the archipelago was resources and trade. That’s...
The Curse of Corruption
“From education and business to sport, the government and the judiciary, corruption remains a curse in Indonesia, as indicated by...
Verbs and Tenses Matter
Most of us, in our childhood, watched the moon and thought it was a piece of white blob tossed on...
Art, History, and Entertainment: Changing Horizons
The past two-and-a-half years have thrown challenges that we never could have thought we would have to encounter. Most important,...
Rough Street Crime
Going off the straight and narrow can be costly in Jakarta, as Daniel Pope recounts. The last time I was...
Back To Bali
For two solid years during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bali was closed to the world, causing many of us to leave...
The Expat Life: Changing Times Mean Changing Expectations
Growing up, I never expected I would become an expatriate. I always assumed that like most people, I would graduate,...