Come to Indonesia to be Happy - Meet the Expat: Gilles

Summary

Jill, a French national, shares her deep connection to Indonesia, a country she first visited in 1983 and has now lived in for seven years. She appreciates Indonesia's multiculturalism, the friendly nature of its people, and the warmth of their hospitality. Jill contrasts this with her experiences abroad, particularly noting the exceptional service in Indonesia, such as car refueling without leaving the vehicle. She also discusses supporting her wife’s restaurant and their mission to offer healthy, organic French home food. Despite traveling the world, Jill has decided to settle in Indonesia for the happiness it brings her.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jill is French and has been living in Indonesia for a total of seven years, starting from 1983 and returning in 2001, then again in 2018.
• 😀 Indonesia's multi-cultural environment, friendly locals, and willingness to help foreigners have been key attractions for Jill.
• 😀 Jill appreciates the friendly and helpful nature of Indonesian people, who are always ready to assist, whether in directions or with other needs.
• 😀 The Indonesians' willingness to spend time with others and engage in conversations stands out to Jill compared to other countries.
• 😀 Jill considers Indonesia the best country for hospitality and service, having visited multiple continents and experienced services worldwide.
• 😀 An anecdote illustrates Indonesia's superior service: Jill was surprised that in France, when she stopped to refuel, she had to get out of the car, unlike in Indonesia, where attendants often provide full service, including washing the car.
• 😀 Jill’s wife is Indonesian, and they married in 2005. They have a daughter together.
• 😀 Jill supports his wife in her restaurant business, which they started in June of the previous year, with Jill helping on weekends and evenings.
• 😀 The restaurant offers French home-cooked food with a focus on healthy, organic ingredients. Their best-selling dish is a French-style chicken with thyme and lime sauce, served with mashed potatoes or wedges and a variety of vegetables.
• 😀 Jill believes that Indonesia offers good business opportunities, especially for foreigners, as skilled staff can be found easily and quickly trained.
• 😀 After traveling to various countries, Jill feels that Indonesia is the place where he has found true happiness, and he plans to spend the rest of his life there.

Q & A

What made Jill first attracted to Indonesia?

Jill was first attracted to Indonesia because of its multicultural nature, the diversity of languages spoken, and the friendliness of its people. She appreciates how Indonesians are always ready to help foreigners and how they take the time to engage in conversation, which she finds rare in other countries.

How many years has Jill spent in Indonesia, and what is her overall impression of the country?

Jill has spent a total of seven years in Indonesia: two years from 1983 to 1985, three years from 2001 to 2004, and the last three years since 2018. Her overall impression of Indonesia is extremely positive, especially regarding the hospitality, service, and friendliness of the people, which she finds superior to other countries she has visited.

What experience did Jill have in France that highlighted the difference in service compared to Indonesia?

While in France, Jill stopped at a fuel station to refuel her car and stayed inside the car. She was surprised to find that, unlike in Indonesia where attendants provide full service, in France she had to step out of the car herself. In Indonesia, attendants not only refuel your car but sometimes wash it as well, showcasing the difference in hospitality.

How did Jill meet her wife, and what is her role in their business?

Jill married his Indonesian wife in 2005. She opened a restaurant in June 2023, and Jill supports her by helping on weekends and evenings. His role involves sharing his knowledge of French hospitality and food culture to enhance the service and customer experience in the restaurant.

What type of food does Jill’s wife’s restaurant specialize in?

Jill's wife’s restaurant specializes in French home-cooked food, focusing on healthy and organic options. The concept emphasizes using high-quality, fresh ingredients such as farm-raised chicken, and the dishes are served with a variety of vegetables to ensure a balanced and nutritious meal.

What is Jill's best-selling dish at the restaurant, and what does it consist of?

The best-selling dish at Jill's wife’s restaurant is 'purée hota' (a French dish). It consists of chicken with thyme, served with a French lime sauce. The chicken is sourced directly from a farm, and the dish is accompanied by mashed potatoes or potato wedges, along with a generous portion of vegetables.

Why does Jill believe that Indonesia is the best country for hospitality and service?

Jill believes that Indonesia offers the best hospitality and service due to the genuine warmth and friendliness of its people. From personal experiences like receiving full service at gas stations to the attentive service at his wife’s restaurant, Jill feels Indonesia stands out in terms of customer care and friendliness compared to other countries.

What is Jill’s long-term plan regarding living in Indonesia?

Jill has decided that Indonesia will be his permanent home. After traveling extensively across six continents, he feels the happiest and most fulfilled in Indonesia, and he believes it is his destiny to spend the rest of his life there.

How does Jill view the potential for foreigners to start a business in Indonesia?

Jill sees great potential for foreigners to start businesses in Indonesia. He emphasizes that skilled staff can be easily found and trained, which is encouraging for people from other nationalities, like the French, to open businesses and succeed in the Indonesian market.

What cultural difference does Jill appreciate most about Indonesia in terms of human connection?

Jill deeply appreciates the way Indonesians value human connection. In Indonesia, people take the time to talk, interact, and assist one another, which Jill finds more prevalent compared to other countries where people often seem too busy to engage in such interactions.