kameronchao

[kameronchao]

First 10 observations after full week on the Jakarta Experice

1. They have lots and lots of traffic. If you’ve been to NY, LA, Tokyo, Paris, London or any other cities, you still have NOT seen anything like this.

2. They drive more like water in a river, wherever there is space, they’ll go. They merge on the road the same way. The road signs and lane guides are more or less, optional.

3. They drive on the left side of the road but yet there were settled by the Dutch?!

4. Smoke is rampant here include inside buildings and offices everywhere.

5. Drinking is rare bc the tax is so high on alcohol: 200% tax, maybe the reason why smoking is so rampant.

6. Free healthcare for everyone; one of our colleagues visited with no wait and got medication instantly, all for free

7. Javanese food (island of Java, where Jakarta is located), has more sweet and spicy food compare to neighboring Sumatra island

8. Even though it’s suppose to be more sweet, it’s still incredibly spicy

9. Indonesian people are very friendly, always smiling

10. Mopeds are everywhere and they drive like crazy

[kameronchao]

From door to door, it took 60+ hours of travel and connection time to get from Tampa to Jakarta, but it was filled with moments! 1) I got to fly over my house and wave from the plane 2) I caught up on latest movies during the first leg of 14 hours flight to Seoul 3) I took advantage of the incredible free Korean transit tour while having a 23-hours layover 4) I got to see the old Gyeongbokgung Palace and the changing of guard in Seoul 5) I got to taste authentic Korean lunch on Insadong Street including fantastic bulgogi 6) I got to experience Capsule style hotel where I got some solid 5 hours of Z’s 7) I met up with Bryan, another member of of CSCIndo9 elite team and flew from Seoul to Jakarta All of it, awesome moments! Ready for Jakarta.

[kameronchao]

As I take off for the Jakarta Experice from Tampa, I am feeling both anxious and excited to embark on this adventure. Apart from the 12 weeks of incredible preparation from the @IBMCSC program, which included cultural training, consulting education, and team building exercises, I also squeezed many hours of honey-do-list activities and last minute family time. I’m blessed to have my wife and two girls supporting me to take on this adventure. While I know 4-weeks is significant longer than my usual business trips, but this is not another business trip. As I tried to explaine to my girls: this is like a giant community service to the world. I hope this will inspire them to create meaningful moments in their future versus thinking about the short weeks of being apart. #CreatingMoments

[kameronchao]

Since its launch in 2008, the IBM Corporate Service Corps (CSC) program has contributed over 3000 participants on over 275 teams to nearly 40 countries around the world, delivering over $70 million in market value consulting on over 1000 projects.  I am extremely honored to be a part of this incredible program where I will be joining 14 other members from Italy, Germany, UK, Mexico, Brazil, India and the United States to embark on the Jakarta Experience.