The Day I Made a Friend Entirely Through Indonesian

In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I’m
checking in from deep in the jungles of Borneo — or Kalimantan,
as it’s called here in Indonesia — surrounded by orangutans,
dense rainforest, and the kind of real-life language immersion
I’ve been aiming for since the start of this journey. After
nearly five months exploring the country, including a two-month
trek across Java and a recent stay in Batam with $30 ocean views
(just across the water from pricey Singapore), I’m finally seeing
major progress in my Indonesian: I’ve begun having full,
meaningful conversations and even making new friends entirely in
the language — no English safety net.


Of course, the road hasn’t been smooth the entire way. I share
some honest moments of confusion, including why I still struggle
to catch parking fees (yes, even numbers trip me up sometimes!)
and how dialect differences can make even the basics a challenge.
But I’m feeling more confident than ever, just in time for the
next leg of the trip — from East to West Borneo, then on to
Sulawesi and Sumatra, where I’ll rarely come across other
foreigners. If you’re starting your own language learning journey
and want personalised advice, you can book a consultation with me
here. I’d love to help you through any hurdles you’re facing —
and for a limited time, I’m offering these sessions at half the
usual rate.


Click here to book a personalised one-on-one language coaching
session with me


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