The So Called Work

Ok guys, I’d like to tell you more about my work. I’m supposed to help boss at the office with marketing activities, planning, brochures, website and etc. I say supposed because so far I’ve done the normal office work for maybe three days only. The office is being renovated, there are workers going in and out so it’s practically impossible to work. So until the renovation is over, my work is to go with the boss to many tourism conferences he goes to. During one week, I’ve been to three of those.

A conference usually looks like this:

That is, around 40-50 Indonesian guys wearing traditional hats and shirts with traditional patterns and me sitting in front. Yes, in front…. Yes, they do their best not to stare.. Doesn’t really work out though.

The conferences are of course held in Indonesian. Yeah, fun for me. So the first part of the conference I usually spend daydreaming and playing the game called ”find 5 differences between  40 men” and during the second part I have to say something smart about tourism marketing in Malang. Then I have to “test” tourism driver’s ability to answer questions about trips and try to sit in the jeep. Drivers usually do not speak much English making the test even more fun… I have to give the evaluation and at the end shake hands and take pictures with many government officials. If I’d asked money for pictures I’d already be a millionaire. Oh wait, with the rate of Indonesian rupees, I already am!

That is how usually every conference goes. Oh yeah, and they have free food after the conferences at the best hotels!

Testing the jeep:

Fun fact about Indonesia #346 : the handshakes in Indonesia are limp. I read  about it before coming, but it still felt weird in practice when they barely squeezes your hand while shaking it. I probably almost crushed the first hand I shook before realizing that I should just gently squeeze it, since a limp soft handshake is simply polite.