http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/lifeandtimes/brains-who-return-home-to-indonesia/419190
Brains Who Return Home to Indonesia
Sarah Young | January 27, 2011
One of Thomas Wolfe's most famous novels is titled "You Can't Go Home Again." Many Indonesians who have studied abroad seem to agree with that sentiment, even those who do indeed decide to return.
Those who chose to come home again are the often overlooked corollary to the country's brain-drain problem.
In 2009, 50,000 Indonesians headed overseas to study, according to the Indonesian International Education Consultants Association (Ikpii).
A 2010 report released by the Indonesia Regional Science Association indicates that nearly half of all Indonesians going abroad to study in science-related fields do not return to the country.
Out of a total of 800 scientists that graduated from foreign universities between 2009-2010, 400 of them are now working at research institutes overseas.
But what about those overseas students who choose to come back home to the swirling traffic and mad rush of Jakarta? How do they cope after seeing such a completely different way of life?
Cindy Hendrawan, 22, who studied finance and accounting at Seattle University for four years, said she and her friends, who also studied overseas, found coming home difficult, despite growing up in Jakarta.
"It's not easy to adjust after four years away - Indonesia is very nice for a holiday, and Jakarta is alright for a month or two, but everyday? No."
"I wasn't used to it anymore - the traffic, the weather, the people everywhere. In Seattle you actually got to experience four seasons. Indonesia is like summer every day."
She said the contrast between the ease of doing things in Seattle and the challenges she encounters here, even with simple things like doing laundry, is very frustrating.
"Nothing is simple here, or efficient - the public transport, even GPS. If you want to go somewhere, you can't just find it on Google. It's probably not even there."
She said she missed being able to do things by herself.
"For four years, I was very independent. But here - you can't just do things on your own. Even something simple, like parking your car, leads to a man trying to help you who you then have to pay."
But despite the difficult process of readjusting, she said she would encourage others to go and study overseas.
"If you don't go overseas, you're in danger of treating things like everything is always provided for you. You won't learn how to do things for yourself. Obviously, this doesn't apply to everyone, but for some, yes."
She cited examples such as people leaving their leftover food wrappers on tables outside a boarding house or in the mall food courts.
"We wouldn't see that as much overseas. People would throw it in the bin. But here? No. They'll leave it on the table. That's just Indonesia."
She said it was good to immerse yourself in different perceptions and cultures.
"If you live with something every day, and don't compare it with something else, you always think that way is right. But maybe if we compared ourselves with others more - and saw what is better and what is worse - then we could change things. Otherwise you just think the 'Indonesian' thing is the right thing."
Despite the challenges, Cindy said she is slowly getting used to being back.
She said there are plenty of things she does appreciate here, such as the strong focus on community and family, as opposed to the culture in Seattle, which is more focused on the individual.
"And my family is here - at the end of the day, this is where I come from. This is my home."
Jakarta-born Deasy Setiabudi, 36, who studied chemical engineering at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia, worked Down Under for a year after graduating, until "something clicked."
"I realized it wasn't the money I was looking for - it was something to share. I wanted to do something for my country, and I couldn't do that overseas. Sure I can handle other countries - but I have to be able to handle Indonesia too. Then I'm still a part of my home. Then I can do something."
She said she did not think it would be that difficult to return - but the reality was a little different.
While the "obvious things," such as traffic, pollution and stomach bugs, were unpleasant, the more subtle difficulties came in the workplace.
Deasy said salaries were much lower here, and it took her a while to realize that she was not going to get what she expected - many Indonesian companies are happy to recruit those with less experience or qualifications as long as they can pay them a lower salary, she said.
"Here, you have to realize, you need a job - the job doesn't need you. There are plenty of people here, and many of them are willing to work for a lot less.
"If you want a specific target salary, go back to where you studied."
She said that job seekers need to be willing to focus on a specific position if they hope to find work.
"Overseas they teach you that you can do whatever you like. But here, it's much more difficult."
While Deasy said she has adjusted to living here once again, she said she also makes sure to walk the streets to work at least once a week.
"You see a beggar here, and one there, and children with nothing to eat over there. And then I know these things still need to change, and that I have to stay here to make that happen."
Deasy said she has never regretted coming back. By working for international companies, she has been able to influence her managers to set up charity and relief funds for Indonesian causes.
"People tell me I'm crazy and I should go back and work overseas. But if everyone did that, Indonesia would not succeed. It's a good thing that some people are crazy like me and believe that somehow Indonesia can be better."
For those who have studied overseas for a shorter time, the transition back here does not seem to be as hard.
Herman Terguh Sehadhi, 23, completed a one-year exchange program studying Japanese at Kanda University in Japan. His impression on returning to his hometown of Jakarta?
"Hell never changes!"
However, he said staying for only one year made returning not so much difficult as "bittersweet."
"If you go to a developed country and come back to a developing country, it's always going to be difficult because you get used to how safe and simple things are over there."
He said it was a lot easier to be independent overseas, which he did miss.
"I could go everywhere on my bike, and it was easy because everyone followed the rules. I'm the only one who didn't! I would happily go on a train or bus at midnight in Japan - I would never do that here."
Punctuality was also an attribute much easier to achieve overseas, he said.
"If a train was one minute late in Japan, they'd make an announcement. Here - you just cross your fingers, say a prayer and hope that Santa Claus arrives."
Still, he said his experience overseas changed him in a positive way.
"Before I left I was too scared to take a bus here, in case someone stole my cellphone or something. But now, after living by myself over there, I'm more confident. And I'm more confident to give my opinion - I can now say 'I don't like this,' which I wouldn't have done before."
And despite the challenges, it's always nice to be back home, he said.
"I know this area well and I know how to handle myself, how to deal with the people and the culture.
"This is where my family and friends are. Jakarta is my home.
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