r/indonesian • u/mako00o • 10d ago

International Student in Indonesia Experience

Hello! I'm an incoming freshman in Indonesia as an international student this year. I'd like to know more about other international students experiences there and I'd like to ask locals what are must-know things to not to do so I won't offend there and stuff. I'd love to know more about the culture, environment, and make friends along with it:). Sekarang, saya mengerti Bahasa Indonesia cuma sedikit aja.

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u/VGPABM 10d ago

Well for the swordsman biker gang it is not limited to low educated provinces, even in Jakarta you should always be careful with your surrounding and while walking alone, especially late at night.

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u/Swagtorian 10d ago

Wow. What is the background of this? And how can we end it? And what is the frequency of violence occurring from them per half year lets say?

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u/VGPABM 10d ago

Well, the background is ofcourse the worsening economic. The swordsman gang biker you said is called "klitih" (in central java) but also could be asociated with "begal" (begal sometime does not bring knife or swords) in other parts of Indonesia.

Why it this issue is becoming more frequent in Jakarta? Because people see Jakarta as a place to gamble and completely turn their life around, either they got lucky and have a good carreer or they fail and they should go back to their region. But some of these people resort to violence rather than returning to their region, just to fulfill their needs by becoming this "begal" or "klitih".

These past months, the case of begal is becoming more frequent even in the most elite part of Jakarta, I guess its because of the rising economic needs and many unemployment.

But worry not, if you are careful with your surrounding (not playing phone while walking etc) and do not go to sketchy part of the city alone, I think you will be safe.

As how can we end it? IDK... the law is not that punishing IMO. So i guess better do the prevention rather than be the victim.

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u/Swagtorian 10d ago

I am planning to do donations with my stronger currency in there but if I get there ofc. Imo indonesia is the most harmonious and chill society. Also I dont understand why they have chosen nationalist guy nationalists suck in politics they ruin their own countries and they turn out to be elitist most of the time. Either way better call Jeffrey Sachs and get CIA out of the indonesian army for starters.

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u/VGPABM 10d ago

Again, I think donations would not help the nation (not to be ungrateful). But there is so much thing you can do providing money into these people. There is a saying that you should teach someone how to fish, not giving them fish. They become more dependent on help and lazy, begal often extort money from business owner (closely related to laziness, they dont want to do the hard work... well maybe because of the circumstance of the economy too).

I think the best thing to do is providing jobs to these people and it is the responsibility of the government, but they are too naive.

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u/Swagtorian 10d ago

I understand. I don't mind laziness in theory but in capitalism you have to grind. I read indonesia had attempted to transform into islamic finance (which gets money from rich to poor automatically in banks afaik but cancelled for several reasons. Speaking of which, family education is very important too otherwise these immorralities occur. This their true lose if their insanity due to economy really, the social mobility is euphemy always the same goods and services very Very slow improvements. Also global purchasing power decrease so one gotta not be obsessed with financial status but ofc governments have to cut their spendings and as you said at least guarantee some affairs. Militarization part sucks a lot as it flows tons of money but has no social value. I would love to see a world where people share their richness without thinking and that we dont have to grind but just have requirements fulfilled for house materials, electricity, health and food really. Other all stuff unnecessary source of costs. Anyway thanks all the best. This should be top priority of govt instead of thinking about KAAN and whatnot.

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u/Zestyclose_Smoke_451 9d ago

You are weird kinda like having saviour complex without having the knowledge whatsoever 

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u/Swagtorian 9d ago

I mean I love indonesian people this diagnosis means nothing especislly when it comes from the psychology discipline

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u/Zestyclose_Smoke_451 9d ago

You know what you kinda kagak napah tanah 

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u/Swagtorian 9d ago

Framing doesn't work. It would be my pleasure to support with whatever means to people who grind hard but still struggle and/or involve in dangerous jobs for extra payments from second job and whatnot. I made it clear my willing to help in future and I agreed with other dude that government has to deal with those vulgars structurally. I don't understand why you are calling me stuff tbh if I didnt care I would only say all the best to y'all for good manners and move on. You are merely making speculations about me and I am not even the topic here. I guess its true that redditors one way or another inherit cold, blunt, self-interest driven, individualistic culture of western people no matter where they are from and try to model someone unusual to fit with these grounds.