Defeat Homesickness for good

This website focuses specifically on dealing with homesickness as one of the major culture shock's symptoms. You will find that actually you have experienced feeling of homesickness even before departure. This may impact defectively on your study overseas. Therefore, it is essential to deal with this feeling and not to wait for homesickness to leave you by itself. You should cope with this feeling. These website suggests several ways to handle this problem. Check it out..

Exploring Indonesian Cultures

Considering Indonesian Cultures in Australia

by Andress Hamenda

The 13th posting is my further explanation about the comparison of Indonesian and Australian cultures (12th posting) which was commented by Sonny Mumbunan (PhD student)Leipzig, Germany. He said that “it would be remiss not to mention the fact that Indonesia is also a heterogeneous land. "Orang Manado" and "Orang Jawa", for instance, are of distinct difference in some ways. The former is more direct when it comes to expressing something than the latter”.

Sonny is right. Indonesia is a heterogenous land which has different values, norms and beliefs and also influences how Indonesians behave differently. Indonesia is one of the most diverse countries in terms of population, ethnicity and languages. According to Hill (2008, p.84) that the population of Indonesia is 220 million people who are broadened in 17,000 islands and is the most populous Muslims in the world.

There are more than 200 ethnic groups spread over Indonesian islands, Sumatera has 42 ethnic groups, Java and Madura have 8 ethnic groups, Bali and Lombok have 3 ethnic groups, Kalimantan has 25 ethnic groups and Sulawesi has 37 ethnic groups as well as what Papua has (Warnaen, 2002, cited in Gani, 2004, p.196). In addition, more than 500 languages are used in Indonesia (Hill, 2008, p.84).

These ethnicities have different values and norms which may potentially bring conflict even among Indonesians. Take for an example, ethnic conflict Dayakese-Madurese was a really black day in Indonesian history which is not a proud evidence to write here. This is just one of the examples that different cultures even among Indonesians results in devastating conflicts.

Nonetheless, religions play important roles in Indonesian culture because it influences on how Indonesians behave. According to Koentjaraningrat (2002), Indonesian cultures, values and ethics are highly influenced by their religion.

Do not worry to ask about what their religions are. They will not be offended because it is natural in Indonesian culture. Indonesians' religion is written even in their National Identity Card which are not written in Western Identity Card (Because Western countries just use Driving license or passport as their ID hehe..) but, if you are reluctant to ask about their religion, just for your information that Indonesia's inhabitants are 85 percent Muslims(Hill, 2008, p.84).

Therefore, actually my 12th posting refers to Java culture (orang Jawa)and as the majority of 'orang jawa' are muslims, so I think that it represents Indonesian culture.

At this point readers probably think that it is nothing to do with this blog’s objectives. Students (who are from the other countries such as China, India, etc) think that “we are reading this blog to know what we should do to deal with culture shock in Australia particularly in Australian universities not in Indonesia”.

My point is because in Australian universities, students are also going to meet and interact with Indonesian students. More or less three hundred (300) Indonesian students (under scholarship excluding private students) have come and studied in Australian universities every year since 1950 (http://www.indo.ausaid.gov.au/bi/projects/ads-indo.html).

My logic is simple. Understanding Indonesians' culture will avoid conflict when you are joined Indonesian students when you do group assignments. As a result, you will decrease the symptoms of culture shock such as conflict with other cultures and isolation and you will find your new family as you make friends with Indonesian students. Isn't it beautiful =)

A Comparison between Australian and Indonesian Cultures

Strech your wings to campare those countries
by Andress Hamenda

In this 12th posting, I compare about the differences and the similarities of Australian cultures with Indonesian cultures in dealing with daily activities in the family, society and business matters.

When I spoke to a 27-year male student whose nationality is Australian from one of my classes, I found that Australian and Indonesian cultures are different in terms of individualism versus collectivism and power distance (Based on Hofstede's research). Therefore, I will give you suggestions on how to interact with Australian and Indonesian cultures to minimise miscommunication and misunderstanding among individuals.

Based on Hofstede’s research (Harris et.al., 2003, pp. 21-23), the country cultures of Indonesia are high power distance, low uncertainty avoidance, collectivism, and masculinity. Meanwhile, the country cultures of Australia are low power distance, low uncertainty avoidance, high individualism, and masculinity.

Based on Hofstede’s research, the highest Hofstede score for Australia is Individualism at 90 compared to the lowest Hofstede score for Indonesia’s Individualism at 14. An individualistic culture indicates that people are more direct verbal in communication and people are logic to point out their argument in confrontation (Reisinger, 1997). Australian people, for example, do not irritate to say the word “no” if they disagree with someone and make negative request using verbal communication directly when the situation discomforts them.

Meanwhile, a very low individualism score for Indonesia reflects that Indonesian country is a collectivism society. Collectivism means societies tend to sustain harmony and face-saving through strong personal relationship and support from third party (Chien, 2006, p234). In addition, people in collectivist culture are more likely to avoid conflict and these people are less insulting than people from individualistic culture (Cai & Fink, 2002). The demonstration of the collectivism is also shown in a strong long term commitment and responsibility for not only immediate family, but also extended family (International Business Center, 2003). Moreover, Reisinger (1997) explained that Indonesian people tend to avoid conflict by using indirect non-verbal communication and tend not to make people ashamed.

The lowest Hofstede score for Australia is power distance at 36 compared to the highest Hofstede score for Indonesia’s Power Distance at 78. It is also interesting to note that according to International Business Center (2003), Indonesia’s power distance index is 78, greater than the average Asian countries’ power distance at 71. In a low power distance culture, Australian people expect to lessen the imbalanced authorities in decision making within organisations and utilise consultancy to reduce that authorities (Reisinger, 1997). Australians, for example, tend not to prioritize the other people based on their age, position and gender. Australians do not usually call people or their managers by their formal titles.

In contrast, the high power distance culture in Indonesia indicates the high degree in which less powerful individuals accept the distribution of imbalanced authority in organizations or societies (Hofstede, 2001 cited by Chan et.al., 2003). Furthermore, Reisinger (1997) stated that a manager is authoritative in making decision in organisations and their subordinates respect them. Employees are more likely to call their superiors by their formal title, such as professor, doctor, or special term “bapak”, “ibu” which are translated “sir” or “madam” respectively to address people when they are not sure with their titles or older than themselves.

The other cultures are uncertainty avoidance and masculinity. Uncertainty avoidance is Indonesia’s second highest score which is 48, whereas Australia’s second highest score is masculinity which is 61. Even though Indonesia has the second highest score in uncertainty avoidance index, it is still a low score compared to a world average of 64 and Asian countries’ average of 58 (International Business Center, 2003). Low uncertainty avoidance for Indonesia reflects that communities are less aware of threat caused by uncertain condition and thus is less likely to avoid that condition.

In conclusion, in Australian cultures, it is acceptable to disagree with someone using logic argument and do not have to resist with uncomfortable situation if you do not like it. In Indonesian cultures, however, it is important to call people by their formal titles or the term “bapak” for ”sir” and “ibu” for “madam” to interact with Indonesian people.

Hopefully, this minor research article will help my Indonesian friends to interact with Australians. Get relaxed friends!

Building Relationship with your University

Here is the link to listen interview about how to adapt when you experience university's transition,how to manage your supervisor, how to make connection with tute and to take advantages of university services, and to deal with culture shock experience.

https://academicskills.anu.edu.au/podcasts.php?action=view&id=6

Culture shock in academic life

Here is the information about Australian education. The article presented several issues faced by students. Take advantage of reading this site in order to minimise the shock when entering academic life in Australia.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22792734-27702,00.html