a year in Jakarta
a note to the culture-shocks
Last August marked one year of my stay in Jakarta — something I never thought would happen. Back then, I had said that I didn’t want to move to Jakarta, even if it was for a job. The fast-paced city was never my cup of tea. But here I am, starting to love some aspects of this city while still hating others.
A year is a perfect time to look back at the things that have happened and the hopes for the future. Maybe we can start about the things that changed and gave me the culture shock I’ve experienced so far.
Dull sky, dull sky, won’t you go away?
In Jakarta, a blue-bright sky is a very very rare sight. If one day happens to have a blue-bright sky, I assure you that almost everyone in Jakarta will upload a picture of it to their Instagram story as if it is something bizarre. It is something out of the ordinary that needs to be documented.
I even read a post on X (formerly Twitter), where a young woman asks her nephew, “What is the color of the sky?”. The nephew, a preschool kid who had lived in Jakarta his whole life, answered, “The color is grey.” And he didn’t believe it when his aunt said the color of the sky is blue. It wasn’t until they went on vacation to another city that the poor little boy finally believed his aunt.
That story is hilarious yet sad at the same time. It makes me angry too because it is clear that the government does not care about the well-being of its people.
A five-minute difference is crucial
It’s a well-known fact that Jakarta is a fast-paced city. With its unpredictable traffic every day, every minute counts. If you go to work at 7 AM, you’ll probably arrive at 8 AM. But if you go to work at 7:05 AM, you might not arrive until 8 or even 9 AM. I thought that was just a joke, but sadly, that’s not a joke.
That situation will force you to stick to the same routine, down to the minute. Sometimes, in the middle of traffic, I find myself wondering, “What the hell am I doing here?”
So if you ever plan to visit Jakarta, please do not expect to visit 3–4 places in a day. With the crazy traffic and queues, I doubt you’ll make it. Spare at least 2 hours to commute (Yes, I know 2 hours is crazy but it is what it is)
So you think an hour of commuting is far?
Minutes are precious in Jakarta. Let me ask you a question: If you have an hour with normal traffic and speed, how far do you think you could get by motorbike or car? Maybe some of you would say you could get to another city or even another province, right?
Well, in Jakarta, you won’t get that. Unless you go by the train and you have to fight for space on the train, weekdays or weekends.
Window and sun are a privilege
One thing about me is I’m quite fussy when it comes to renting a place. I want a room with a window that can be opened. Good air circulation and direct sunlight are must-haves. Those two things are non-negotiable. Another thing I require is that it be near a bus stop and not located in a super narrow alley.
But in Jakarta, apparently having a room with a proper window that lets in good air circulation and enough sunlight is a privilege. If you want a room like that, you’ll need to pay extra (unlike other rooms with no windows).
Well sure, you can find a cheap rental, but do not expect a proper room. So if you have a limited budget, you’ll have to choose between the price, quality, and the distance to the office.
Brace yourself for the rain
It is no secret that the flood loves Jakarta so much. So, related to the rent or housing topic, you also need to consider whether the area is flood-prone or not. Pretty sure you don’t want to come back to your place underwater, right?
Another thing to note about the rain is its impact on traffic. Trust me when I say that if it rains after work, the chances of getting stuck in traffic for 2 hours or more are pretty high. Even my co-worker ever got stuck for 3 hours and she was still commuting within South Jakarta.
‘Mie ayam’ for the breakfast
For many Indonesians, breakfast typically consists of rice with vegetables and meat, a habit I’ve had since childhood thanks to my mother. Other people may have porridge or bread, along with coffee or tea.
But here in Jakarta, you’ll find people having ‘mie ayam’ or chicken noodles as their breakfast menu and it is a common thing. It is quite surprising because usually, you have your chicken noodles as your dinner. Some people even say that you aren’t a certified Jakartan if you haven’t had your breakfast with the chicken noodles.
However, despite the things that piss me off, I ‘ve— somehow — grown fond of this city. I’m learning to enjoy living in this fast-paced city and I cannot believe it’s already been a year since I arrived in Jakarta — a year I never would have imagined I’d survive.
Maybe it’s because of the parks, museums, and art galleries scattered throughout the city that I’ve come to love Jakarta. Or maybe it is the public transportation or the endless events every weekend. Whatever it is, I enjoy being here. Maybe this is what people call a “love-hate relationship”.
Sure, it gets lonely sometimes without my people around, but I’ve found people here who share similar mindsets and quirks. Without them, I might have gotten swallowed up by this city and become a zombie called “an adult that gets stuck in work and has no social life”.
But of course, I will never stop complaining about the hot temperature with high humidity of Jakarta, or its dreadful traffic.
