Moving to a new, foreign country is a daunting task which many expats find very overwhelming. At Asia Expat Guides, we understand your concerns and your specific needs as an expat. We routinely share articles and expat tips about moving to Asia at http://asiaexpatguides.com/expat-tips/. In this particular slide, we let you know the cultural mistakes to be avoided when you become an expat in Indonesia. Avoid embarrassing episodes!

1. Cultural Mistakes to be Avoided
in Indonesia
A Guide for New Expats in Indonesia
By: Asia Expat Guides

2. When in Rome…
• “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Therefore,
when you’re in Indonesia, do as the Indonesians do!
• There are some things that are considered normal in
the Western world but considered taboo in Indonesia.
Thus, in order to succeed as an expat here, you
should master the cultural differences and avoid
things that are considered offensive or inappropriate
in Indonesia.

3. • A common courtesy in Indonesia that should be
respected is not raising one’s voice or demonstrating
externally intense emotions. Head-on confrontations
are embarrassing to most Indonesians. Thus, they
prefer to talk indirectly and ambiguously about areas
of difference until common ground can be found.

4. • Indonesians are known for their friendly hospitality, so
it is the host’s obligation to offer food or drink to the
guests. Some people would take offense of the guests’
refusal, so it is suggested that foreigners working in
Indonesia never refuse an offer of food or drink, but at
the same time they should not appear “greedy”. It is
customary not to finish the food or drink completely
but to leave a little of the food or drink remains.

5. • Certain gestures should be avoided while in Indonesia. For
example, never touch the head of an older Indonesian as it
is considered very impolite. Kissing and embracing in public
as well as other display of affection should be kept to
minimum because it is considered rude and coarse. In
general, physical contact should be minimized, especially
for different genders and ages. The traditional greeting is a
nodding of the head and a gracious smile, although a soft
handshake is also very common.

6. • The use of the left hand for eating or for passing things
to others should be avoided because it is considered
the unclean hand. Pointing is also considered rude in
Indonesia and therefore should be avoided. When
doing handshakes, use the right hand softly.

7. • Indonesians do not like to be pressured or hurried, whereas
time in the Western countries can be wasted, spent,
utilized, and saved. There is a phrase in Indonesia
describing this concept that translates as “rubber time,”
meaning that time stretches or shrinks and is therefore very
flexible. Interestingly, only foreigners are expected to be
punctual, not the locals, and the higher rank people are not
expected to be punctual. Therefore, making people wait
can sometimes be an expression of social structure.

8. For more information about
being an expat in Asia, visit
http://asiaexpatguides.com