Breaking Stereotypes: Indonesia

On Wednesday, December 3rd, at 19:00, we gathered at Trattoria Al Forno for an evening of fascinating stories about Indonesia—a country of 17,000 islands and 250 million people.

Indonesia, located 23 hours away by plane from Poland, is a country many of us know very little about. Yet, Indonesia spans over 5,000 kilometers, covering nearly 2 million square kilometers. It’s the largest Muslim-majority country in the world, but despite Islam being the dominant religion, the nation is incredibly diverse in culture and nationality.

When we lack knowledge about a country or its people, stereotypes often fill the gaps. What if we know almost nothing about it? Most of us may be familiar with popular tourist spots like Bali or the famous Komodo dragons. The world has also seen news reports about the tragic terrorist attacks in Bali or the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. And some might even think Indonesia is an undeveloped nation.

But is that really the case? Is Islam dangerous for tourists in Indonesia? Is Bali truly a paradise, and is there more to Indonesia than just that one island? What about the people of Indonesia—what are they like, and what does daily life there look like? What should we know about this vast and diverse country?

Our guest speaker for the evening was Katarzyna Warchoł, a graduate in journalism and international relations, who taught English in a local high school in Indonesia. Kasia likely holds the unique distinction of being the only Polish person—and the only white woman—who lived in Lamongan, Java, just 60 kilometers from Surabaya, in one of the most Muslim cities in the country.

The event invited us to challenge our preconceptions and offered an insider’s view into the rich, complex world of Indonesia beyond the usual stereotypes.