Search to Volunteer

Is Volunteering an act of charity or removing a job?

Well in UK there is the issue of young people being offered the chance for "Internships" a chance to gain inside experience and gaining entry to there chosen career. Now often seen as simple exploitation, with a revolving door of interns working for free and never getting a job but boosting the companies profits.
Of course rich kids have always had this sort of privileged entry to certain professions. Since they could spend years learning the ropes of their career on an uneconomic salary supported by there parents. As is the way of the world wealth creates more freedom.

Public Libraries suffered most in local authority budgets, now where  paid career staff jobs have been replaced by volunteers. Often older retired people who love books and want to maintain a community service that they value.

So whats this got to do with Jakarta and Expats "trailing spouses"? Well to volunteer you need time and that generally means you can or don't need to have paid employment. Most Schools worldwide welcome the involvement of parent volunteers, where is here not a PTA? May parents and teachers have "trailing spouses" so there is a wealth of skilled , eager volunteers. Many of whom have specialist skills and abilities that they are desperate to use, or just to keep active in doing something useful, to support there child's school. In Cairo as Librarian I had a number of mothers volunteering to shelve books etc including a university Lecturer, a Magazine Editor and G.P.Doctor who as trailing spouses were not able to practise there high powered professions.

In Indonesia schools the need to ensure that volunteers do not take Indonesian jobs is a hot issue. Ensuring that volunteers are security cleared for child safety, that there work does not infringe existing job posts and that volunteers are suitably qualified creates a mountain to climb for expats, that only want to do something useful. This has not stopped BSJ promoting volunteering to parents and staff spouses as an activity the school wishes to actively promote.

Expat Volunteering in Jakarta: The ways in are numerous and supported by Flagship Expat community organisations, The Anglican Church, ANZA (Australian, New Zealand, Association) the BWA (British Women Association) and the Indonesian Heritage Society. Their volunteering crosses over from providing support and social hubs for their community, to outreach too some very genuine charitable causes.

Exploration; Well having started with the Anglican Church there seems to be many opportunities, learning more about preaching and possibly teaching English to refugees. Then there is learning to speak Indonesian, there is a course at the Australian centre and talk of arranging a teacher for a group at country woods where we live. Learning to teach English seems like throwing myself in the deep end or partnering someone if I'm lucky or going for broke and doing a month long Celta course. It looks like as I don't have a BA Degree even the Celta course would not be enough for a work permit! But volunteer teaching would be fine..
Then Tuesday I visited: HELP on HELP Centre on facebook @helpforrefugees.id they provide Health Education and Learning Program for refugees. Its just opened and was run by refugees for refugees. They told me how Indonesia does not accept refugees except to wait till they can be resettled in Australia, New Zealand , USA or Canada? While they wait (that could be for years) they are not allowed to work or use the Indonesian education system. So projects like this are a real lifeline. I sat in with a group of about 20 teenagers in a small hot classroom for 2 hours. They were amazing, there were some clever girls from Ethiopia, and boys from Pakistan and Afghanistan, all keen to learn. I was surprised by there good English . Certainly an inspiring project.

 Wednesday: Indonesian Heritage Society open day, with fellow searcher Mark. This was at Erasmus Huis in the Dutch Embassy, which took us 2 hours making us 1 hour late. Quiet a splendid event with clearly well polished and well connected trailing spouse ladies [oh and a few guys] I have signed up for a book club reading Indonesian literature [ translated to English], Heritage tours, and the star activity training to be a English speaking guide to the National Museum. I met some lovely people who were very welcoming to us few men.

Thursday: Rawinala Institute project is a residential home and school for multiply handicaps especially blindness and low vision. This is supported by the Church and ANZA. Though looking at the map its even further away than my other explorations? Still distance is not the only factor in journey length.

The Elephant in the room. TRAFFIC: Everywhere I try to go to takes at least an hour in the car and I'm worried 2 hours plus is very possible👽😭😭


WAY FORWARD: One day at a time, I'm not jumping in and making any promises I won't keep... Time to reflect and look at the bigger picture... Talking with the existing Country Woods trailing spouse guys gives another option..

  Lie in , bit of a swim, trip to the shopping mall and coffee, back for lunch then a poolside beer and them an afternoon siesta. Get up and make sure he maid has cooked super for your hardworking wife.👍😇

Bandung a cool alternative

Jakarta is at sea level while Bandung is @700 meters above sea level, its about 4 C cooler and the air feels fresher 💋

Friday, day 1: After a few hours sleep and a splendid buffet Brunch, are party were ready to be tourists. We all agreed to take a "GRAB"[Ed.GRAB is an Indonesian alternative to UBER, though 5 of us squeezing into the car was really not the best option]  car to the Maribaya forest walk. 

Liz and Nick on not scary rope bridge

A very relaxed day out walking down a valley with waterfalls, monkeys and lush vegetation. Though there were some unusual caves/tunnels cut out of the cliffs. One called the Dutch and the Japanese cave. The latter was used as an ammunition store and dug out by Japanese POW's during the 2nd World War, I wonder if any allied troops died doing this hard labour?[I didn't go into this cave]

Travelling back to the Grand Ardjuna Hotel Bandung we were ready for a siesta before going out for dinner. Its certainly worth a mention that the Hotel staff and manager could not have been more helpful. It was under new management and recently renovated to a high standard. The manager is keen to attract more foreign expat guests. Going home to avoid another nightmare drive back was sorted, the Hotel booked us train tickets, then since this would be 4.am on Sunday morning [ only available seats] they drove us for free to the station 😃 Then for our next days tourism they arranged a driver with a 7 seater car who spoke good English. They also invited us to free afternoon tea, with entertainment the next day.

We didn't go far for a cafe for dinner since here was one on the hotel car park. Very good it was too though we did not choose the fish that were swimming around in a giant tank in the corner. I suppose its fresh but as newbies to Indonesia a bit out of the comfort zone.

Saturday Day 2 : We are met after breakfast by our driver for the day which will end with afternoon tea at 5pm. We are off to Tangkuban Perahu Volcano 

The top of the mountain is 4000 meters and so a lot higher and cooler. It smokes and last erupted in 2013. Then a long walk down and we put our feet in sulphur pools . For a fee you could have your arms and legs massaged with volcanic mud. Liz and I were happy just to paddle. Of course the crater top was surrounded by stalls selling all sorts of stuff for tourists, as "Bule" [slang for westerner] we received top dollar attention. 

We then moved on to see a Hot Springs resort near Lembang, a once noted hill resort used by Dutch Colonials based in Bandung.

Well there was no sight of Dutch colonial elegance but democratic Indonesian family fun park. It was chokka and any thought of changing into swimmies was abandoned as we would no doubt have become the "Bule" tourist attraction, featuring in a thousand face book posts. If we had little children it would have been great fun for them.

Saving the day our lovely driver took us to see his family farm and meet his wife and son. It was brilliant to see something normal and so welcoming. We had tea and he told us how it had been to hot and dry this summer so there was a bad harvest. Certainly one of the highlights of our trip. Then back to the Hotel for afternoon tea and entertainment.

Our guitar duo were soon joined by Liz and the other two women from our group. Reception would download music and words and an impromptu concert followed. Amazing talent.💋

We had an early night as catching the 4am Sunday train was never going to be easy. 
Sunday Day 3: Helped by the hotel we were safley delivered to Bandung station. Rather like an airline we had to check in having already booked on line. The machine printed our boarding passes/ticket. Then we joined a queue to have our ID checked and join the platform. The train was seat allocated and air conditioned with comfortable seats and a restuarant car. Only 3 hours later we pulled into Jakarta central station on time. [Next time we will take the train there and back] We were met by our car and driver but it then took us 90 min drive  to get back home through Sunday morning traffic.

What we have learnt?
Well it was nice getting to know some people and we met some really friendly Indonesians. There seem to be lots of people everywhere you go, too many people if your hoping for isolated open countryside. That travelling is very difficult and time consuming. We are wondering just how and when we wil get to use our lovley new car? Will we forever be just staying in our home on Country Woods La La land residency as its just to difficult to leave? Prehaps we just have to take a jet plane somewhere, but that has its problems.

Coming soon:

• Getting our Indonesian Driving Licence, and our first drive on our own.
• Parties, meals, cooking, shopping 
• Church and volunteering 
• Holiday planning
• Learning to speak Indonesian

This is all the stuff I've been involved in or planning to do

Experience adventure with Crappotours

CRAPPO-TOURS real travel that you never forget😀😀

Less a travel company more a state of mind. To become a tour leader special qualities are required , some may caricature these as a "gungo-ho sense of adventure and recklessness". The primary ingredient is to take a group who want to have a trip together and they can trust one self confidant leader or just act as a committee , taking an organised professional tour is not the Crappo-tours way. That said there are  many tour companies that aim at budget backpackers, who not only overcharge but provide a similar Crappo-tours experience.

Idul Adha: Eid al-Adha, also called the "Sacrifice Feast", is the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated worldwide each year, and considered the holier of the two. August 31, 2017 – September 1, 2017.

Well in preparation for this feast heards of sheep, goats and cows were appearing and filling every street corner. Indonesias population is 87% Muslim so this is the biggest celebration. It has a similarity to Christmas (or perhaps ,Thanksgiving in the USA) in that everyone travels to see their family. It is a state Bank Holiday and long weekend 

LONG WEEKEND: Only means one thing to intrepid Expats , a chance to get out of town and explore. Many experienced hands had there flights booked to jet off to Singapore or Bali, leaving straight from work on Thursday evening returning refreshed on Sunday evening  on perfectly well organised package flight and hotel breaks.

Crappo-tours: Devotees always have a better and original idea. Some confident colleagues who have lived in Jakarta for a year, which gives them natural Crappo-tours leadership rights had a plan. We would drive to a City in the cooler mountains, walk by waterfalls, soak in thermal springs and climb a volcano. Once more we would not rush off straight from school but leave at 8pm to avoid the traffic on our way to Bandung. The car was just big enough for the 5 of us and our driver, comfortable enough for the 3 hour journey.

Jakarta Traffic 😢 https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/nov/23/world-worst-traffic-jakarta-alternative

Well we are pleased to confirm that our journey from South Jakarta to Bandung, justifies the Guardian description of the "Worlds Worst Traffic". Our 3 hour journey had passed and we were not even out of Jakarta on the "fast Toll road", 

😰 Keep calm deep breaths, check the Google maps. Well our journey should have taken 1 hour so making a mental adjustment the remaining "google 2 hours" journey was going to take maybe 6 more hours.

After 5 hours we all needed a break, not least our driver, we were still in bumper to bumper traffic. In the UK you may see traffic jams like this on an August Bank Holiday where everyone fancies a trip to the country and spends a day on the M1 instead. There would be helicopters and TV news bulletins, warning people not to travel . This was just such a situation but in the dark in sweltering tropical heat and no obvious TV crews.... At the roadside cafe stop the last straw for me was a self inflicted accident. Wanting something out of my bag I opened the "tailgate" of the car. Immediately a suitcase tumbled out and managed to scrap most of the skin off my shin 😡(I joke not a week later I still have the scar.) 

Needless to say we ploughed on, fatigue allowed some neck crooking sleep, conversation of the lets all get to know each other and talk about similar travel disasters dried up. With grim determination we stuck it out for another 5 hours arriving at our hotel at 6 am just in time for 1st Breakfast! We all went to bed and had last breakfast at 10 am....

Rather like the 4 Yorkshire men of Monty Python fame, we all now have a story to tell, when someone complains about traffic.

"Call that a traffic jam?" "That's nothing we once travelled from Jakarta to Bandung..... Blah Blah Blah... That's a 3 hour journey of 92 miles....It took us 10 hours at 9 miles/hour...BEAT THAT, Ha.

We are now forged into a group by our odyssey and a mutually complete denial of our own stupidity. 

CRAPPO-TOURS real travel that you never forget😀😀

I've been told that BLOGGS are bite size , so I hope this is digestible.

More to follow about the fantastic time we spent in Bandung and how we managed to get back and are still all talking to each other.