Indonesia

Indonesia is NOT an Islamic country. While it's true that the majority of Indonesians are Muslim and that religion plays an important role in shaping the country's culture and practices, Indonesia is a secular state by law, meaning it is not constitutionally a Muslim country. Indonesia acknowledges six different main religions (see Religion for more information). Only one out of the 34 provinces apply the Sharia (Islamic) law: the Special Region of Aceh.

Indonesians are NOT "tribal" people. There is a stereotype, especially among those who have never been to Indonesia before, that all Indonesians live naked in trees in exotic-sounding tropical places far away. The truth is, while the country does hold indigenous tribes in remote areas (and some do live in trees), the majority of Indonesians live in urban neighborhoods. More than 50% of Indonesians live in cities and towns, and even those who live in more rural areas have houses and electricity.

Indonesia is NOT a poor country. While poverty is definitely a big social issue in Indonesia, the generalization that Indonesians are poor is not true. According to the World Bank, Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 10th largest economy in terms of purchasing power. The country also has a growing consumer class and skilled workers in local and international industries.

DO NOT confuse Indonesia with India. Although the names may seem similar, they are completely different countries. Another common misconception is that Indonesian and Indian food are the same, which is incorrect. Every culture in Indonesia has its own take on cuisine.  Javanese cuisine, for example, tends to be sweeter, while people from Padang like it spicy and savory. Other than that, many classic Indonesian foods are actually adapted from Chinese recipes, like wonton, noodles, spring rolls, stir-fried vegetables, and more.

DO NOT confuse Indonesia with Bali. Bali is one of the world’s top tropical destinations, but many people get confused about the island's geography, mistakenly thinking that Indonesia is IN Bali. In fact, Bali is one of Indonesia's 34 provinces. Bali’s sister island Lombok, also a popular tourist destination, belongs to another Indonesian province, West Nusa Tenggara.

Indonesia is NOT a small country. Since most think of Bali when they think of Indonesia, many assume that Indonesia is a small tropical country somewhere in the ocean. However, Indonesia is the largest archipelago on the planet, comprised of more than 17,000 islands (of which Bali is just one) and home to about 250 million people. Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world.

Indonesians speak more than one language. Indonesia has one official national language (Bahasa Indonesia), but it’s a very diverse country and home to hundreds of different ethnic groups that traditionally speak different languages. Nowadays, most living in developed areas can speak Bahasa Indonesia, but some still prefer to speak their native language at home or within their social circles. Children learn at least one native language at school, along with Bahasa Indonesia and English.

It is NOT always sunny in Indonesia. Indonesia is a tropical gem along the equator, which means the country has never seen snow (except for on the tallest mountains). The temperature is generally warmer than other non-tropical countries, but Indonesia does have its share of rainy seasons, which usually take place from September to January. 

Chinese people in Indonesia might not understand Chinese. From 1965-1999, Indonesia had a ban on Chinese practices, so people aged 20-60 may not understand Chinese. Although Chinese education became available once former president Abdurahman Wahid lifted the ban in 1999, many Indonesians under 20 — especially in Jakarta — may not understand Chinese since schools that offer it are considered elite and have higher fees. For young people outside of Jakarta — particularly in areas with Chinese communities like Medan and West Kalimantan — local schools offer Chinese classes a few times a week. Many people in these areas can speak Chinese, because of the preservation of dialects and exposure to Chinese television. However while many Indonesian Chinese can speak Chinese, most are unable to read it.