Jakarta International Community Center: A big melting pot to help expats

Susanna Tjokro, Contributor, Jakarta

If you have just arrived in a foreign country without friends, your family, if you are married, will be your only companions. You don't speak the local language. On top of that, most locals don't speak English, let alone your mother tongue.

You know almost nothing about the local customs. You want to make some new friends, but how? You feel uneasy to chat with strangers that you meet in the supermarket, as they may think you are a psycho.

But there is a place called the Jakarta International Community Center (JICC) located in Kemang, South Jakarta, which is designed as a cozy home instead of a formal meeting place.

The center helps expatriates, especially newcomers, to understand the local culture and assimilate better with others. Everybody is welcome to join JICC, including Indonesians. This is the kind of place that gains its popularity from word-of-mouth recommendation.

Opened in July 2001, the center is a place, a melting pot, where you can mingle with other people from various nationalities and also join courses offered there.

People have different reasons for joining JICC. Some want to learn about Indian or Chinese cuisine, others want to make some new friends, join the yoga class and so on. Some members even become volunteers in the community. It's a good idea, rather than waste your time at home, doing nothing.

Stephanie Angel Whiteley, 14, prefers to spend her time with a group of children there in the afternoon. "People are nice and there are different, interesting activities here," said the British girl.

Indeed, members can drop by as often as they like.

"Members' doing it for members" is the JICC motto. It encourages its members to share their knowledge with others.

The center tries to cater for the needs of its members, as a wide selection of courses is offered there. They have children, adults and also staff classes. Some of the courses are quite unique, such as Painting on Silk and Bamboo Brush Painting.

Children classes are popular too. Kids can learn ballet, jujitsu, tae kwon do, gymnastics, Balinese dance, oil painting, magic tricks and even story telling. Toddlers, aged between 14 and 30 months, can join "Gymboree" (Half Notes) class, where the little ones play instruments, sing and also dance to a medley of musical styles.

The most popular class for children is cooking. They can suggest what food they would like to learn -- and then eat afterwards -- starting from pancakes, sandwiches, hamburgers and doughnuts. It is, of course, more than just a cooking class, as the children get the chance to make new friends and also learn a few lessons, like basic cleanliness in the kitchen.

Petra and Sabrina Khalid Selameh, Hannah Koch, Simran Kaur, Mira Sterckx, Christopher and Genevieve Kour were among children joining the JICC School Holiday Program for six weeks. They all admitted the cooking class was their most favorite.

"I think cooking is fun and I like eating," said Sterckx.

For adults there is a list of classes from pilates, yoga (Yudhi Widyantoro, a popular yoga instructor also teaches there), oil painting, body language, stretch and tone, Indonesian and English conversation and Latin dance. Women can join the evening classes of jujitsu and martial arts.

The library is another destination for members thanks to its collection of magazines and list of 502 books, which includes 100 titles for children. The books at the library are donated by members who can borrow them for free.

Those who appreciate the art of beads but are not yet experts can join the Jewelry Tour and Workshop. Among the program is visiting Ibu Sayekti Kusmartono's house in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. She has studied the East Javanese Prayer beadmakers and researched the history of beads. With only Rp 150,000 (US$16.5) you can join the workshop and design your own creation.

Among other programs are the Country Walk and Kampung Visit to Bogor and the Pasar Baru Cultural Tour.

Despite courses for adults and children, JICC also provides courses for your house maids including English and cooking classes of Chinese, Italian, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. They are also taught how to set the table and fold napkins.

The maids will also be provided with basic knowledge on First Aid. The course will include treatment for shock, bleeding and wounds, poisoning, burns and heat-related injuries.

Looking for good housekeepers? JICC has a list of maids, nannies, cooks, gardeners and also guards. All of them should provide a recommendation letter and a copy of their ID cards.

JICC regularly stages coffee mornings every six weeks to allow expatriates and Indonesians to mingle and share their knowledge about different subjects.

"It's free of charge, for members and non-members," said Silvia Feronica, one of its staff members.

Last June, the participants were involved in a discussion about wayang (Indonesian puppet shows). During the coffee morning, Hilda Aldi, a wayang expert, gave a shadow puppet performance and showed her collection. Such topics are in accordance with the JICC mission to promote local culture to its members.

Like many organizations, community members are also involved in social welfare programs.

Despite giving donations to unfortunate students and orphans, the JICC also accommodates handicrafts made by disabled people in Bandung, Yogyakarta and other cities in their gift shop. The handicrafts on offer vary from wooden ducts, batik bags, shakers to egg stands.

The center staged its first bazaar last year and between 40 and 50 local vendors joined in. This year, it plans to hold the bazaar twice.

"The best-selling items at the gift shop are handmade cards made by handicapped people at Panti Paraplegia," said Silvia, adding the price varies depending on the design and material.

For many people, the JICC adds warmth and color to their stay in the city. Members, both adults and children, don't only socialize but also learn plenty of new things, particularly about local culture.

Please note that some courses may be temporarily unavailable. Contact JICC for further information.

Jakarta International Community Center; Jl. Kemang V, No. 2, South Jakarta; Tel: 717 91835; Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; E-mail: jicc52@hotmail.com; Membership fee: Rp 200,000 per family per annum.; Non members pay a registration fee of Rp 50,000 for one class except the Tours and Workshops at Rp 20,000.