Benefits gained in Indonesia

Benefits gained in Indonesia

I have been fortunate to have worked in Indonesia on various
industrial-related projects since 1973, following in the
footsteps of my late father who came out here in the early 1960s
to assist in the country's industrial development. During our
time we both came to love Indonesia and became entranced by its
charms and mysteries.

However, regardless of the fact that others may think that an
expatriate lives the life of Riley, whoever he might be, he or
she is usually engaged on a contract for a specific purpose. In
order to perform to the high expectations of the paymasters, the
expatriate must be focused, objective oriented, keeping a strict
eye on time constraints and budget limitations. A troubleshooter
is expected to get to grips with his tasks and tackle problems
the moment he arrives, with very little time for niceties, let
alone understanding the customs and courtesies of the Indonesian
people.

During my early years here I was totally absorbed by the task
in hand. The drive for objectivity, maximum efficiency and
meeting goals at that time was far more important than the human
element. No allowance was made for the differences in my culture
and work ethic and that of my Indonesian coworkers and
counterparts -- the national character and "Indonesian way" of
conducting business was an enigma to me.

I always take pride in the fact that I leave a client
satisfied as to my input and that the staff have acquired hands-
on experience to undertake future troubleshooting tasks without
my support. However, in retrospect, it is I who am the
beneficiary from my current four-year assignment here.

During these past four years I have gained a fraction of an
insight into the Javanese way of looking at problems and their
way of coming to terms with them. I have learned to be patient
with others and have come to understand their feelings,
sensitivity and needs and the impact on those around me of overly
direct impulsive speaking. I have even partly come to terms with
lost moments and opportunities caused by "rubber time".

In their haste and push and shove toward attaining more and
more material gain, those in the West could learn a lot from the
Javanese way of life -- by treating others as they would like to
be treated; to avoid confrontation at all costs and to respect
others and the space around them; hence, essential attributes on
such a crowded island as this.

My advice to expatriates who have recently arrived in
Indonesia is to take time to understand the local customs and
mannerisms of the Indonesians -- learn from them and above all be
patient. With forethought, patience, understanding and
sensitivity toward others, your time out here will be most
enjoyable and rewarding.

Upon leaving Indonesia I shall be taking with me the most
valuable thing of all which I acquired here. It is easily
transportable and nontaxable -- the lessons learned on how to
live and work with others and enjoy and respect them all.

I.T. GORDON-PULLAR

Jakarta