I have now lived and worked in Jakarta for approximately 10 months of a 12 month contract which I am already considering extending. The initial acclimatization to Jakarta's hectic and bustling lifestyle was a little daunting, but I have received lots of help and guidance from very friendly staff and fellow teachers in Pluit, north Jakarta. The School is well placed for shopping and eating and is only a short taxi ride from all the night-life you might want in central Jakarta.

The people are generally friendly and polite (despite recent developments) and I have not witnessed any of the much publicized dangerous elements of life in a big Asian city. If you do want a break from city life at the weekends though, we're only a few hours away from beautiful beaches and landscapes as well as fantastic temples and historical sights.

I realize this seconds like a holiday brochure but it is a good life (my first experience of working abroad) and you earn enough money to live well too.

I have lived in Jakarta for about 14 months, and so I am in my second contract. It was my first job out of college, and so I didn’t really know what to expect. I arrived and most everything was as I had thought – hot, sunny, crowded. There is no denying the positive and negative aspects of living in Indonesia.

Indonesia is certain to entertain in some capacity. If you are used to being pampered and love having things done for you, perhaps you should stay at home. Every day here is a new adventure and a surprise. I live in a middle-class neighborhood, and yet many around here do not speak English. For me, this is a bonus because I certainly feel like I am “in Indonesia.”

The teachers in the house and I are the only non-Indonesians in the neighborhood, and for us we love it. You will be treated like a local celebrity – everyone is eager to say hello and shake your hand, not to mention show you the nearest eatery or next holiday celebration. So far my neighborhood has invited me to: climb the greasy pole for Independence Day (you just have to be there to know what that means); participate in Idul Adha; attend a couple weddings; invite me to meet a new baby; countless meals in home; meet sons, daughters, and spouses; and much more. I play futsal (indoor soccer) every Saturday with my local friends, and I play tennis every Sunday. There are local gyms with western-quality equipment, pool halls with beer, and plenty of shops selling traditional things. I have been able to essentially take 5 major vacations every year – taking me to the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan (Borneo), Papua, Bali, Lombok (my personal favorite), and Flores.. There are nice beaches a few hours from Jakarta, and seeing the famous volcano Krakatoa is a must.

Obviously, as with every place, Jakarta has its drawbacks as well and it would be wise to know these too. It will be more polluted than back home for sure, and at first the language barrier can be difficult. The “hurried” feel in Jakarta is more than noticeable and there are few sidewalks for running. There are essentially no parks, so you must go elsewhere for your outdoor adventure (although the Botanical Gardens and Taman Safari Park are in Bogor – half hour drive). It may take a couple weeks to fully grasp the culture here but after that I feel most would enjoy the laid-back lifestyle of “Indonesian time.” If you can get past the pollution there are really no problems. I stayed for a second year, and I know two others in my house will do the same. .

Work itself is quite rewarding. The students here are generally more respectful than what I was when I was younger, and your D.O.S. and others are eager to help. I was a fresh college graduate with no teaching experience, and that tells me that if I can do it – most others could too. The schedules here are not too demanding – most of the time I work between 20 and 24 teaching hours, plus time to prepare. The other teachers are really nice and we have a lot of resources to help us. Sometimes it can be frustrating when things break down, but that can obviously happen anywhere. The laid-back atmosphere of the staff is a huge bonus, and the D.O.S. gives you plenty of time to get your “swagger” in the classroom. Teaching in my school is turning out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made in a really long time. I would recommend this for anyone who wants to try something different – something besides the 9 to 5 of the Western world. I think if you’re in the mood to hit the road, Indonesia is really a special place. br>

I have been here in Jakarta for 8 months of a 12 month contract. So why come to Indonesia or Jakarta in particular? Apart from training which can help people thinking about doing the diploma, I also came here for the surfing.

The nearest beach area is Pelabuhan Ratu, which is approximately 4 hours away from Jakarta (or 6 hours or 8 hours; it depends on your luck with taxis or buses). It is basically a small fishing village with numerous types of reef and beach breaks suitable for all levels. That gets me out of Jakarta virtually every weekend.

As a city Jakarta is exactly that; a city, with all the trappings, good and bad, that go with a city. It's smelly, it's busy, loud and relatively fast, it is both modern and quite shabby. If you want clubs they're here, if you want good restaurants they're definitely here.

So if you want a good lifestyle then you can have that here, it's not for everybody, its unique, stressful, annoying but surprising, fascinating and amusing. If you can handle things going wrong and deal with it effectively then you'll like it but if you want everything to work first time, every time you'll be disappointed and should stay at home. If you can handle it then come over. I did and I'm doing okay. The surfing is world class and the teaching? That's up to you.

I have been working at EF Tebet in Jakarta since January 2007 and can safely say that the last 21 months have been the most amazing and happiest time of my life. The support, training and development I have received from my managers have been outstanding, and at the end of my first year I was promoted to senior teacher which is giving me the opportunity to develop new skills which go much further than teaching.

As with everything you have to give in order to get but it’s been worth giving. I’ve learned more during my time with EF than I had done for years, and feel that my skills are acknowledged and valued. But it’s not all about teaching. There is a fantastic team of teachers, course consultants and support staff at the school who are a pleasure to work with, and the students are a constant source of joy.

And it’s not all about work either. Indonesia is an amazing country for anyone willing to see. It remains to be a never ending eye-opener, and my learning both in and out of EF has become an ongoing process. I have learned enough Bahasa Indonesia to be independent which has been very important. EF have been great at looking after me but some independence helps to build a healthy work life balance and has given me the opportunity to experience life in Indonesia. Jakarta is certainly not a beauty but her kampung areas have an incredible and unique friendliness and charm, her modern centre caters for most cravings, and there are beautiful scenery and good beaches close enough to get to on weekends..

Finally, despite all the new impressions, the new challenges that working in a busy and competitive environment brings, everything I’ve learned at the school and all the hours I’ve worked here, stress very rarely makes an appearance. I believe this can only be because teaching at EF Tebet is very satisfying indeed, and because I’ve never felt alone with the demands of work or life in a new and different environment. .