English Teacher and Teacher Trainer

All Volunteers live with host families for the full duration of their service. The experience of living with an Indonesian family is often one of the most rewarding aspects of Volunteer service. Host families support Volunteers in becoming an integral part of the community by supporting a deeper understanding of local culture, traditions, and customs in a safe, welcoming environment. Many homes are multi-generational, and Volunteers may have less privacy than what they are accustomed to. Volunteers will have their own bedrooms and will most likely share a bathroom and kitchen with the rest of the household. Volunteers live in communities where indoor plumbing may not be available and bucket showers and squat toilets are typical. Volunteers are expected to live according to the cultural norms of their communities.

Volunteers bicycle several miles, walk for about an hour, or use public transportation to get to and from work, and other activities. Volunteers may find that transportation to and from school by personal bike is the best mode of daily transportation. While most Volunteers are placed in rural locations, the extreme population density in most areas can make villages feel urban. Depending on the region, rural communities may have limited transportation options to Surabaya but much easier access to their regional capitals, where all basic goods and services can be accessed. Additionally, rural areas may have limited or unreliable internet/data. Volunteers should not expect to access consistent internet while living in their community.

Indonesians are often curious about the backgrounds of Volunteers. Volunteers, and particularly Volunteers of color, should prepare to answer many questions regarding their identity. It is also quite common for Indonesians to comment on physical appearance. Volunteers may experience a range of responses to their skin color: from being mistaken for an Indonesian, to being questioned about their U.S. citizenship, to facing behavior and language skill expectations, to being able to get better prices for goods and services. These instances can be turned into teachable moments for the Volunteer and the community. Respectful exchanges can make for rewarding Volunteer experiences that can help to balance some of the more trying moments Volunteers may experience in Indonesia when it comes to managing misconceptions about the United States.

Indonesian community members will be curious about your religious beliefs and practices. Volunteers with belief systems that fall outside the recognized religions in Indonesia (Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Confucianism, and indigenous faiths) will need to learn strategies for responding to questions about this topic. Peace Corps Indonesia places Volunteers in two provinces with a majority Muslim population and one with a majority Christian population.

Volunteers will likely find that values and norms are different from those in the U.S. Training sessions and discussions on community integration are part of Pre-Service Training, and Volunteers will be equipped with intercultural tools to navigate cultural differences and build strong relationships. Peace Corps Indonesia is committed to creating a supportive environment for Volunteers of all backgrounds. Staff and experienced Volunteers will address bridging differences throughout the training curriculum and identify support mechanisms for incoming trainees.

Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Indonesia country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.