Preparations for Moving to Indonesia

This page is generously sponsored by Colliers International

When a company sends one of its executives on an overseas assignment, they will undoubtedly offer some form of assistance to the individual and their spouse to help them prepare for the move. Once the expat family arrives in their new posting, they are given additional assistance in settling in. The real question is just how much assistance the company is willing or able to give the expatriate family prior to and following their move overseas.

Companies recognize that they make an enormous financial investment in the placement of their overseas staff by transporting the family and their belongings, setting them up in a temporary home, purchasing a car and paying for their children's schooling. Therefore, companies recognize that it is in their best interest to ensure the success of the transition to the new posting. Staff within the company can provide this assistance, or the company can enroll the newcomers in programs provided by community organizations or through the assistance of a firm specializing in relocation or orientation services.

The goal of relocation services, no matter who provides them, should be to get the family settled in as quickly and smoothly as possible in appropriate housing, to get the kids settled in school, get transportation arranged and to join the appropriate community organizations. The sooner the expatriate family is settled, the sooner the working spouse can begin to concentrate fully on his job and the task at hand.

Various forms of relocation services include:

Pre-Departure Training

If your sponsoring company has sent other families to Indonesia in the past, arrange to meet with them and learn more about your destination. These 'veterans' , especially if they are recent returnees, can greatly assist new families in preparing for their move.

If a significant number of people from one company are coming to Indonesia together, it is advisable to set up a group training program for the employees, their spouses and even their children to help prepare them for their move.

Ask your company to purchase AWA. s Introducing Indonesia, A Guide to Expatriate Living in Jakarta and send it to you several months prior to your departure. The comprehensive information contained in this book will greatly assist you in preparation for the move.

Familiarization Trip

Many companies arrange for the employee and their spouse to visit Indonesia several months before their actual posting begins. During this 'familiarization' or 'look-see' trip they can view houses or apartments, visit schools and begin to get an idea of where they might want to live in Jakarta. They can also go to malls, department stores and a supermarket to see what products are and aren't available. This will help prepare them for packing for the move. The husband can meet people he will be working with in the firm and the wife can visit the appropriate expatriate women's organization and community organizations to get more information on lifestyle and conditions. For more information on what you might want to include in a Familiarization trip ... read our article on how to Hit the Ground Running.

Support Groups for Wives

In companies where there are a number of expatriate families, there is often a wives. group which meets regularly for socializing and to provide support and assistance to each other. Utilize these support groups, especially in the early weeks and months after your arrival. These 'seasoned expats' can help answer many of your questions and you can greatly benefit from their experiences.

Networking with Community Organizations

One of the best services a company can offer their newly arrived staff is supplying them with information about existing expatriate community organizations. The quicker the family becomes involved in the community, the quicker they. ll be making new friends and finding answers to their questions on their own and therefore be less dependent on the office staff to solve all of their problems.

Formalities Staff

Companies with large numbers of expatriate staff usually have staff who take care of the documentation requirements for expatriate families. These people are well experienced in dealing with the various needs and concerns of expatriates. Often a quick phone call to the formalities staff can get your questions answered with a minimum of frustration.

In some companies the formalities staff also arranges housing, home repairs, transportation, guards for your home and a variety of other services for the expatriate staff members and their families. Ask your sponsoring company what kind of assistance you can expect from the formalities staff, and what matters you will have to handle on your own.

House Finding

The search for a new home can be exhausting. Brokers come out of the woodwork when they hear a new expat family has arrived and is looking for a home. One of the best services a company can provide their incoming expats is to ensure that they are put in the hands of a reputable housing broker/agent from the start. One that will thoroughly survey the requirements of the family ... and only show them homes that match their requirements.

School Registration

Choosing a school for your children is rarely an easy choice. Especially in Jakarta where traffic is bad, a decision on which school to put your children in will affect where you live and how long the working spouse will spend fighting the traffic every day. You will need the assistance of someone who can help you visit the various schools and neighborhoods so that you can assess the appropriate placement of your children, while considering the extenuating influences this decision will have on your lifestyle during your stay in Indonesia.

Check out the listing of international schools so that you can contact them and get basic information before your arrival.

Orientation Programs

Orientation to your new life in Indonesia can include participating in a formal orientation course through a business or community organization. Personal assistance can also be provided through a relocation services firm. During your familiarization visit, or during your first weeks in town, you are accompanied by a seasoned expat who can 'show you the ropes' and take you around to schools, shops and services to help you get oriented quickly. Cross Cultural Training programs can also be very beneficial.

Personalized assistance in getting your home set up

Full service relocation firms can also assist you to accomplish almost anything that you need to do in your first few weeks in your new home. From buying furniture, to renting a car, to hiring household staff, to getting repairs made on your new home - they can provide you with the needed personal assistance.

Dependency

Relocation services provided by companies vary widely. If you are the unlucky soul that is basically told to handle it all yourself, at least you've found this web site to help show you the way. Hopefully your company will provide more assistance than that, recognizing that you are thrust into a totally foreign environment where you have to learn how to run your lives all over again from scratch.

Accept the fact that for your first few weeks and months in Indonesia you are going to be much more dependent on others than usual to help you accomplish your basic tasks. You can not do it by yourself, since you will not know where and how to accomplish things in Indonesia. Everything is done differently here than in your home country, from how you pay the phone bill to how you park in the mall.

The worst thing a newcomer can do is stay in their house and bemoan the fact that they don't know where to find something they need, or that they don't know what to do next ... get out of the house and meet other expats. Make it a point to ask every single person you meet at least two questions. If you take a proactive stance, you'll soon be on your way to finding all the answers you need.

Get involved in community groups early on. While you. re enjoying your favorite sport or hobby, you will be talking with other expats who can help with your settling in. Just remember, every expat you meet has been in your shoes before. Don't be shy about asking for help ... in fact you should be shouting for help in the first few weeks and months! You will find that most other expats are quick to give you pointers and to help you accomplish what may seem to be an insurmountable list of tasks to a newcomer, because they are easy for a seasoned veteran!

Interesting articles:

Quality of Living Survey

Myths of Expatriate Life

Ways to Help Expatriate Families Adjust

Top Ten Tips for Working with Other Cultures

Top Ten Words to Internalize to Enjoy the Expat Lifstyle

Apprehensions About Moving to Indonesia

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