Making Indonesian Friends as an Expat

Indonesian friendships are among the most generous you'll ever experience.

The Magic Sentence

"Saya sedang belajar bahasa Indonesia." This transforms how Indonesians see you.

The Getting-to-Know-You Script

1. Siapa nama Anda? -- What is your name?
2. Dari mana? -- Where are you from?
3. Sudah menikah? -- Are you married?
4. Suka Indonesia? -- Do you like Indonesia?

Teman vs Sahabat

Teman = friend. Sahabat = close friend with deep loyalty.

Breaking Out of the Bubble

1. Eat at local warungs.
2. Learn your neighbors' names.
3. Stop defaulting to English.

Start with our Introductions module!