Selamat Siang!
I’m writing this blog post at lunchtime, which is why I’m using ‘Selamat Siang’ as a greeting.
I’ve been in Indonesia for over six weeks now and so much has happened that I don’t even know where to start!
First of all, I’d like to say a few kind words: if I had to choose what I like most about being here, it wouldn’t just be the almost untouched nature and the breathtaking scenery. It would be the people who live here and have welcomed me with open arms and shown me so much warmth!
After spending almost a week in Bali, I arrived at my placement on 6 September, following the induction seminar. I knew that Tobelo on Halmahera was remote before I left, but I hadn’t imagined it would be quite this remote. From Bali, I took two domestic flights, a boat trip and a four-hour drive to reach Tobelo.
Here in Tobelo, everyday life feels very free. The Indonesians I spend a lot of time with always seem very friendly and cheerful to me. My main place of work is the local university. My main tasks involve teaching English and organising sessions where we exchange ideas about our cultures. The university organises various events from time to time, such as the Fun Run, which is a 6 km race. It took place early in the morning, but it was still very warm.
Speaking of warmth: I love the weather here! It’s such a liberating feeling to be able to leave the house without a jacket. Sometimes I feel a little confused, because it’s October now and I’m still outside without a jacket. But as soon as I step outside, I’m reminded that it’s at least 33 degrees Celsius here every day.
Tobelo offers a wide range of leisure activities, from simply relaxing on the beach and snorkelling amongst fish in a coral reef to planting mangrove seedlings – there’s something for everyone. Unfortunately, a motorbike is not included. This makes me feel quite restricted at times, as I have to ask someone to take me whenever I want to visit a place that isn’t easily reached on foot. My favourite beach here is Pantai Luari, where ‘pantai’ means ‘beach’.
One of the world’s most active volcanoes is located very close to Tobelo. I plan to climb it in the near future, hopefully to enjoy the view over Halmahera. There are also hot springs near the volcano, which I have already visited. It’s a very special experience: the water is much warmer than the surrounding air, so you can’t feel the cold at all, either in the water or when you come out.
The guesthouse where I’m staying in Tobelo is large and well equipped. I share it with Aya and two other Indonesian women who work at the hospital next door. Everyone has their own room with an en-suite bathroom, complete with a sit-down toilet. Sit-down toilets aren’t very common in Indonesia; squat toilets are usually used. There is also a shared kitchen and living room.
One more thing worth mentioning is that as soon as I leave the house and walk a few metres down the street, it takes less than a minute before someone passing by shouts “Mister!” at the top of their voice. So-called ‘bule’ very rarely come through Tobelo.
This Indonesian word roughly translates as ‘person of non-Asian origin’ and is also often shouted after me. However, the residents of Tobelo are simply expressing their surprise at seeing me here. You notice this particularly when attending local celebrations, such as weddings. It feels as though everyone wants to take a photo with me — I’m almost a tourist attraction! If I had to guess how many photos I’ve appeared in, I’d say it’s probably in the mid three-figure range.
I’ll tell you more about everyday life at university in my next blog post, as I’m sure a lot will have changed by then, and hopefully I’ll be teaching more.
So, stay tuned for my future posts and I’ll see you next time!
Yours, Cedric
This text was automatically translated using an AI-powered translation system.
