Teacher and Expat, Nathan, discusses his experiences living in Indonesia

Nathan, who is originally from Surrey, England, has immersed himself in Indonesia for the past six years, serving as an English teacher before moving to a career in journalism. Over the last three years, he has chronicled his experiences through his social media accounts as a means to connect with friends and family, document memories, and offer insights into life in Jakarta.

Nathan, who intended to stay in Indonesia for a year, has no immediate plans to return to England. 

Ellie: Hey Nathan, so the first and obvious questions; why did you move to Indonesia? And why did you choose teaching?

Nathan: Lots of reasons, I suppose. I spent a year working in an office after university. The pay was good but the work was just dull. And I hated the routine I was in. Wake up, commute, emails and then back home again. It felt very unsatisfying. So I guess Indonesia was a new challenge. Teaching meant that I didn’t work in an office — and I’d had experience volunteering at schools before and really enjoyed it. Why Indonesia? I suppose to be honest, it was the country in Southeast Asia that I’d heard the most positive things about. 

Ellie: And you came here alone. How did you find that?

Nathan: I guess it was a bit disorientating. I just left everything that was familiar to me and all of the closest people. But I saw it like this — if I really really really didn’t like it, then I’d just get a flight back to England and figure out my next steps. 

Ellie: Indonesia is the first country you’ve lived in outside of England. So, how did you find the transition? It’s not just moving to a different country — it’s a different continent and with a culture that’s wildly different from England. 

Nathan: Surprisingly, I found it ok, but I have colleagues who struggled with the culture change — especially when it came to the chaos and lower standard of living in Jakarta. I think that just being naturally adaptable really worked out in my favor when I moved.  I’ve also done a fair bit of travelling, so I think I’d already had that initial exposure to some of Asia. 

Ellie: I’ve met lots of other teachers who always talk about the sociable expat life. Have you found that to be true while you’ve been working here? Is it easy to meet people?

Nathan: Yes, it’s been easy. The expat community is bustling here, so I’ve had no issue. I suppose the only challenge is meeting the right friends — like people who you know you’ll stay in contact with long after you leave. Sometimes the expat community feels like a conveyor belt — there’s a group of people in your social circle and then the next second they’re gone and replaced by a completely new group.  

Ellie: You’ve been living in Indonesia for 6 years now. What are the best things that this country has to offer?

Nathan: where do I start? You’ve got tens of thousands of islands, mountains, volcanoes, beaches, jungles — basically every single type of landscape you can imagine, and you’ll find it in this country. Volcanoes in Java, jungles in Sumatra and beaches in Lombok. And they’re all so beautiful. Some of the mountain hikes in particular — the views are just incredible, and they’re not too packed with tourists either. And the people here too — I’ve never met more friendly people in the world. 

Ellie: It sounds like you’ve fallen for the people and the landscape. What other reasons do you think people have for moving here? 

Nathan: the food is a big one. It caters to every type of diet — which isn’t always the case with other countries in Southeast Asia. Also, there are saving opportunities here too. Most people who move here come from places like Australia, and the US and these are really expensive places to live in at the moment. In Indonesia, we can make a decent salary and live in a country that's a lot cheaper than our own. It’s getting more expensive but nothing outrageous.

Ellie: are there any downsides to Indonesia — perhaps in some ways you prefer England to here?

Nathan: the heat can get a bit much every so often — especially the humidity. I’m living in the capital at the moment and the pollution levels here can get pretty bad too. 

Ellie: With that in mind, if you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving here, what would it be?

Nathan: Don't come with preconceived ideas. There’s the stuff you see on social media, but the day-to-day living is different. It’s very different from a Western lifestyle, but that’s not to say it isn’t a great one.

Ellie: And what advice would you give to people who are considering moving to Indonesia to teach? 

Nathan: Do it. If you like working with kids, if you’re creative and enjoy a job where each day is different, then why not try to teach? It's only a year, and you may get a long-term career out of it. 

Ellie: Thanks for sharing your experience living and working in Indonesia, Nathan.

Nathan: Thanks, Ellie!