At 8 am I get ready for the day and take off on my motor bike to language school. I am still getting used to the flow of traffic that is more like water than sticking to your lane. People weave in and out of each other. Indonesians walk across the street that you have to move around. The canals on the side of the road are contaminated with trash and sometimes the smells are unbearable as I drive by.

Learning Language and Being Stared At

At school, I try my hardest to speak, listen and write bahasa Indonesia. By the end of the 3 hour class my brain feels fried. I go across the street to order some fried rice. Rice has become a main staple in my diet now, even though I rarely ate it in America.

After lunch, I go to the grocery store and continue to practice my language with the cashiers and people there. Everyone speaks Indonesian and I only am beginning to understand the basic conversations.

I try to go about my errands as discreetly as possible, but everyone is staring at me. There are very few Americans in the city and I stick out like a sore thumb. Some people come up to me and ask for my picture. They giggle when I try to practice my Indonesian with them. I am aware of my thick American accent and feel frustrated that I can’t sound more like them.

Late Friends and A Slower Pace

After I arrive back at home, I plop on my couch and feel like I’m ready for bed. It’s only 3 pm. I try to rest a bit then get ready to meet one of my new friends that I met in the park the other day. I arrive at the café and text her that I am there. She responds that she is still getting ready. An hour later she finally arrives and I am feeling a little agitated that she didn’t plan to get ready sooner and meet me on time. (I would soon realize this is normal in Indonesian culture).

We wait longer than I am used to for our food and then our check. The slower pace of life is so opposite from fast paced America. People just aren’t as busy and in a rush in Indonesia. It was something I respected but also drove me crazy!

Adjusting to the Culture

These are just a few examples of “culture shock” that I experienced within the first few months of living in Indonesia. Culture shock is the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes. It can hit you at different times and the feeling of “shock” can last for months.

Sometimes the culture shock was obvious and other times it crept in and it felt like I had really hard days but I couldn’t pin point the reasons. Slowly and over the years, I began to adjust and adapt to the new way of life in Indonesia. I grew a lot in patience and came to love the beautiful culture in Indonesia. When I returned to America I experienced “reverse culture shock” – to my own culture! Even though I still feel out of place at times, I am thankful I have adopted some of the culture I learned in Indonesia. Trying to have a slower pace and enjoy the moment is one value I am thankful I learned in Indonesia!

The post What is Culture Shock? first appeared on Pray For Indonesia.

Almost every Indonesian meal comes with rice. Indonesians have a saying “If you have not eaten rice, you have not eaten.” Even if they have eaten a full meal, if there wasn’t rice, they call their meal a snack. Most Indonesian farmers grow rice (77%) and 60% of rice production is grown on the island of Java.

Indonesian dishes are full of spices. They usually add “sambal” (a chili-based sauce) to most meals. Dishes aren’t complete unless they have a hearty dollop of this spicy condiment. Sambal is a combination of chilies, sharp fermented shrimp paste, tangy lime juice, sugar and salt all ground together with mortar and pestle.

Nasi Goreng

Nasi Goreng is the Indonesian version of fried rice. It is a staple and the most famous dish in Indonesia. Usually Nasi Goreng is made with vegetables and chicken and comes with a fried egg. The rice is then topped with pickled carrots and cucumber, and fried onions to give it an even more delicious flavor.

If you would like to make Nasi Goreng at home you can follow this recipe! One ingredient you need to buy is the Nasi Goreng  paste. You can find this paste at an Asian market near you.

Sate Ayam

Sate Ayam (Chicken Satay) is a tasty dish where meat skewers are marinated in turmeric and placed over hot coals. Indonesians use a fan to waft away the smoke as they cook. Once the chicken is ready, it is then served with rice and a creamy peanut sauce on top with kecap manis (sweet soy sauce).

Indonesians also barbeque goat, duck and rabbit for sate dishes. The barbequed meat with peanut sauce and kecap manis makes the perfect savory combination. This dish is a favorite among many people!

Mie Goreng

Mie Goreng is the famous Indonesian fried noodles. This delicious dish is served with chicken or shrimp. You can make Mie Goreng by frying egg noodles with cabbage, bean sprouts, garlic and chicken then adding spices and kecap manis. The same paste used for Nasi Goreng can be used to make Mie Goreng. You can then garnish the dish with chopped scallions and tomato wedges. Like most other Indonesian dishes, Mie Goreng can look different depending on which area of Indonesia you are in. The picture above is Mie Goreng from the island of Java.

Soto

Indonesians have many different types of Soto (soups) that they prepare. Common street versions are a simple, clear soup flavored with chicken, goat or beef. One famous soup is Soto Ayam which is Indonesia’s chicken noodle soup. There are also yummy soups that contain coconut milk like Soto Resah which is infused with coconut milk, turmeric and spices. Jakarta’s  Soto Betawi garners fame with its sweet, creamy, coconut-milk base. It’s usually topped with crispy shallots and fried garlic, and as much or little sambal as taste buds can take.

Nasi Uduk

Nasi Uduk is rice steamed with coconut milk, lemongrass, and bay leaves. If you love coconut flavors this is the rice for you! It is a flavorful rice that you can easily make in your kitchen! Nasi Uduk is usually served with meat, vegetables and tempe (soybean cake). Indonesians also eat it with strips of egg, roasted peanuts and cucumber slices. Try making Nasi Uduk in a rice cooker or Instant pot using this recipe.

Stop by your local Asian market and see if you can find Indonesian spices and pastes to make these amazing traditional Indonesian dishes! If you are nearby Austin, TX visit Twin Panda to try some delicious authentic Indonesian food. Enjoy!

The post 5 Traditional Indonesian Dishes first appeared on Pray For Indonesia.