So the Maple Leaf International School website has minimal info for the interns. So I thought that I would put together a FAQ sheet for them, I hope they use it. If there is anything that you think I should add or change PLMK!
Frequently Asked Questions:
What should I bring to wear while teaching?
Dress Code/Attire
Surabaya is known as one of the hottest cities in Indonesia. There are air conditioners at the school but the temperature in many of the classrooms never goes below 25’C and there are times when you will be away from the cool classroom. As such, most interns are most comfortable in lighter fabrics such as cotton and linen. Flip flops are not allowed to be worn at the school by teachers or students, but sandals with straps that secure the heel are permitted.
Ladies:
Summer-weight dress pants, jeans, knee-length skirts, capris, Bermuda shorts are acceptable. Modest dresses area also acceptable. Polo shirts, blouses and tee-shirts that are in good shape and are not see-through are also acceptable. Remember that Indonesia is a relatively modest country and when teaching you should dress modestly this includes minimal décolletage and no mini-skirts or booty shorts.
Gentlemen:
Summer weight dress pants, jeans or long shorts are a good option. Polo shirts, dress shirts (long or short sleeve) and tee-shirts that are in good shape and are not see-through are also acceptable. Most of the male teachers do not wear a tie except for special occasions.
Where will I be living?
Housing
Housing is provided by the school. The house is about a 10 minute walk from school and most interns walk to and from school. The house is in a safe and relatively quiet neighbourhood located in west Surabya. It is essentially a gated community and there are security guards who are stationed around the clock who patrol the neighbourhood.
There is a maid that works at the school and lives at the house and takes care of the sweeping, mopping and general cleanliness of the house. There is a washing machine available at the house for your use. There is no dryer and most clothes are hung to dry.
There are 4 bedrooms in the 2 floor house. Each room has a bed, a desk, a chair, a wardrobe (some hangers are provided) and an air conditioner. Sheets, pillows and blankets are provided, but you should bring your own bath towel or you can buy one when you arrive. The bathroom is shared with the other interns and has a western toilet and an Indonesian style mandi shower.
A fridge is available for you to store food. The kitchen has several pots, pans, plates, glasses, forks and spoons, a toaster and a blender for your use. There is a two-burner gas stove that some interns use to cook their meals. Other interns prefer to buy their meals from the street vendors or restaurants. There is no oven.
There is no internet modem at the house, although the school does have internet which you are welcome to use. Internet credit and a USB modem can be purchased at stores like “WELLCOMM” in SuperMal and give you internet access from home if you so desire.
What will I be eating?
Food
There is a grocery store called “Giant” about a 10 minute walk from the provided intern housing. It supplies items such as vegetables, fruit, milk, bread, eggs, meat, tofu, cereal, peanut butter, coffee, tea, juice, water, snacks, toilet paper and toiletries among other things. There are other grocery stores in the area including “Meat Shop” and “Papaya” that may supply more specialty and luxury items. There is also an “Alfamart” convenience store about a 5 minute walk from the house.
Most interns take advantage of the abundance of inexpensive Indonesian food and order delivery from a local café or restaurant for their lunch time meals with the help of the receptionist. There is also a catering service that delivers Indonesian meals daily at lunch time that many of the teachers take use.
Surrounding the neighbourhood of the school and the intern house there are several restaurants ranging from simple Indonesian food stalls to comfortable air conditioned restaurants serving Indonesian and Western food.
What can I do during my free time?
Surabaya and the Surrounding Area
Surabaya is mainly a business town with malls being the main focus of the social activity. Malls in Surabaya have several restaurants including Indonesian and Western food (KFC, Pizza Hut, A&W, and McDonalds). They also have movie theatres, salons, shoe stores, clothing stores, DVD shops and electronic stores. You can find most anything in the nearby SuperMal that you would find in malls at home in Canada.
There is a gym nearby at Graha Residen. It has treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, free weights, weight machines, a dance studio, table tennis, squash courts, showers and a large outdoor pool. If you have your student card and are 23 and under you can get a 1 month membership for 200,000 Rupiah ($22 CAD).
Several of the interns use the weekends and periodic long weekends to their advantage by taking trips. Many have taken a plane to Bali or Lombok for a few days. Others prefer to explore Java and have headed to Jogakarta (Brobodur), Jakarta , Bromo, Pacitan and other areas.
What is the weather like?
Weather
The rainy season in Surabaya is from November/December until April/May. During the rainy season, it rains regularly, about once a day for a few hours but the temperatures are still in the upper 20’s. The rest of the year is the dry season. The hottest month is October. Each classroom at the Maple Leaf Centre is provided with air conditioners or fans, however, it is still warmer than most classrooms in Canada!
What to Bring
· Toiletries (Shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, your preferred feminine hygiene products, facewash, or vitamins etc. You can buy all of these things here if you need to replace or forget something.
· Any Medications you are taking
· Towel
· Teaching clothing & Casual clothing
· Laptop – there are several DVDs at the house and many stores in the mall sell them for cheap. You can also use your laptop at school for lesson planning and other things.
