An Education Volunteer in Indonesia: An Interview with Hank

In this interview, we hear from Hank Fanning. Hank is a working as a Peace Corps Education volunteer in Indonesia. What Hank shares gives us a better understanding of the work volunteers do. We learn about the challenges, rewards, and personal growth that happens from volunteering in a new place. Hank talks about living in a different country, working with local people, and dealing with surprise situations. Join us as we learn about Hank’s journey and see how volunteering with Peace Corps can change lives.

Volunteer Experience and Motivation

1. Can you tell us more about serving as an Education volunteer in Indonesia?

I’m teaching English at a SMAN (public high school) in Karawang regency, West Java. I come to school five days a week and teach two or three classes a day, along with my Indonesian teaching counterpart.

2. What motivated you to join the Peace Corps and choose Indonesia?

Ever since I was a little kid, I really wanted to live in a tropical country. I just really like hot, humid biomes, I’m not sure why. I like rainforests and coral reefs. At that age, I pictured myself on some lonely little island way out in the Pacific. I don’t think I was picturing myself in Java, one of the most densely populated islands in the world! But I have other reasons for choosing Indonesia specifically, which I’ll elaborate on more in the “Identity” section.

Aerial view of a typical Indonesian village where Education volunteers work, showing traditional red-tiled roofs and small local shops lining the main street. A white car travels along the paved road that connects rural communities, while power lines stretch across the landscape linking homes and businesses. The scene captures the everyday Indonesian community environment where volunteers in Indonesia like Hank Fanning engage with local residents and schools. Traditional clay roof tiles cover most buildings, creating the characteristic orange-red skyline common in Indonesian villages. Green trees dot the residential area, and distant hills provide a scenic backdrop to this authentic Indonesian setting where international volunteers experience daily life while contributing to educational programs. The elevated perspective shows how volunteers gain insight into the local infrastructure and community layout that shapes their volunteer experience in Indonesia.

Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration

3. Tell us more about your home situation

Indonesia is a very diverse country, and even the three provinces where the Peace Corps works have a lot of diversity between them, so a lot of the things I’m going to say don’t apply to other volunteers’ sites. My site is in Karawang regency, in West Java. It’s close to the greater Jakarta area (ten minutes from Karawang City by car), but it has a very rural feel, because it’s not connected to the city by any public transportation. It’s very flat, and there’s a lot of rice cultivation. The buildings and roads are built at a higher elevation than the rice paddies surrounding them, which are often flooded. A lot of small towns here consist of just one long road with a single row of houses/buildings on either side. So the roads and buildings can feel like islands in a sea of rice.

4. Any memorable experiences or interactions you’ve had?

Going on walks for exercise or pleasure is not a common hobby in Indonesia. PCVs aren’t allowed to ride motorcycles, which are the most common form of transportation in Indonesia, so you will probably do a lot of walking during your service. Personally, I don’t mind this, but I got the feeling that a lot of people at my site felt bad for me having to walk everywhere.

Expansive golden rice fields stretch across the Indonesian countryside where Education volunteers experience rural community life firsthand. The mature rice paddies show neat cultivation rows ready for harvest, representing the agricultural foundation that supports many Indonesian families whose children benefit from volunteer education programs. Traditional red clay roof tiles frame the foreground view, typical of local housing where volunteers in Indonesia often stay during their service. A communication tower rises in the distance, connecting remote farming communities to wider networks that facilitate volunteer coordination and educational outreach. The vast agricultural landscape demonstrates the rural setting where many volunteers in Indonesia work, teaching in schools surrounded by rice farming communities. Green tree lines mark property boundaries and provide shade in this fertile Indonesian region where international volunteers gain deep appreciation for local farming culture while contributing to educational development. This panoramic view captures the peaceful rural environment that shapes the volunteer experience in Indonesia's agricultural heartland.

Surprises and Challenges

5. What has surprised you most about challenges in Indonesia?

There have definitely been surprises, but basically all of them have been positive. I’m really struck by how friendly, polite, and happy the vast majority of Indonesians I’ve met have been. If anything, the challenge for me is trying to be like them and hold myself to a higher standard. I had one experience when I visited another volunteer at her site. It was the first day of Ramadan, and I was fasting. I’m sorry to say that during Ramadan, especially in the first couple of days when my body is still adjusting, I get grouchy and have a pretty low social battery. We were with one of the other volunteers’ Indonesian friends, who was also fasting. I was really struck by how upbeat and energetic he was compared to me, even though he was going through the same thing. It showed me how far I still have to go.

6. What challenges did you face while working on Education projects?

In general, my students are very well-behaved and respectful. However, often they feel unsure of their abilities or feel too shy to attempt writing or speaking English. I do my best to help them get over this by leading speaking exercises that the whole class has to participate in, and by emphasizing that mistakes are not bad and are a part of learning. In fact, mistakes are good, because if there are no mistakes, then my assignments are too easy – no point teaching students things they already know! I also make a point of never correcting a student in front of the class. If a student makes a mistake, I will give them feedback privately, if at all.

I am currently working to get an unlicensed trash dump near my site turned into a public garden.

Vibrant Indonesian cultural parade featuring traditional lion dance performers and ornate golden ceremonial displays captivates local community members in a celebration that Education volunteers in Indonesia often witness during their service. The elaborate procession includes intricate red and gold decorative elements carried by participants in traditional costume, while colorful lion dance costumes in gray and pink create a spectacular street performance. Local families and children line the paved road to watch this authentic Indonesian cultural event, providing volunteers in Indonesia with firsthand exposure to rich local traditions and community celebrations. The festive atmosphere showcases the cultural immersion opportunities that make volunteer work in Indonesia particularly rewarding for international participants. Traditional residential buildings with clay tile roofs form the backdrop, while motorcycles and trucks navigate around the parade route in this typical Indonesian community setting. Such cultural festivals offer volunteers in Indonesia valuable insights into local customs and provide meaningful connections with the communities they serve through educational programs.

Practical Tips and Language Learning

8. Anything that you packed or didn’t pack that you’d like to tell future Indonesia volunteers?

Didn’t pack, but wished I did: A jacket. At my site it’s never cold enough to need one, but when I visit other parts of Indonesia that are more in the mountains, I definitely feel the lack of one, and other volunteers have been posted to these parts of the country.

Brought, but didn’t need: A suit jacket. A batik shirt is appropriate formal wear for men in Indonesia, and you will definitely end up with at least one batik.

9. How has learning the language been?

The main language of Indonesia – the language that everybody speaks at work and in public – is Indonesian. They gave us a pretty thorough education during training. It’s a fairly easy language to learn; it uses the same alphabet as English. I also studied it some on Duolingo before I came, which helped. However, this was several years ago, before Duolingo switched to a pay-to-play model where you have to pay for the premium version to make any real progress. So I would not recommend Duolingo now, in 2025, unless they change that.

Lush Indonesian rice paddies in various growth stages create a green tapestry where Education volunteers in Indonesia gain deep understanding of rural agricultural life that shapes local communities. The flooded rice fields show young green shoots emerging from fertile soil, bordered by tropical vegetation including banana plants and dense forest canopy typical of Indonesian farming regions. This agricultural landscape represents the economic foundation of communities where volunteers in Indonesia work with farming families whose children attend local schools. The natural irrigation system visible in the paddies demonstrates traditional Indonesian farming methods that volunteers observe during their service, providing cultural context for educational programs they support. Tall trees create natural boundaries around the rice cultivation areas, while power lines in the distance connect these rural farming communities to broader networks that facilitate volunteer coordination. Such scenic rural environments offer volunteers in Indonesia authentic experiences of traditional Indonesian agriculture while they contribute to educational development in farming communities. The peaceful wetland setting showcases the beautiful natural environment that enhances the volunteer experience in Indonesia's agricultural regions.

10. How has your personal identity shaped your service experience?

I converted to Islam several years before applying to the Peace Corps, and one of the reasons I applied for Indonesia specifically was because I wanted to see what life was like in a Muslim country. I have definitely found practicing my faith easier here than in the US. It’s mainly just practical things, like there’s a mosque or musholla to pray in every ten feet, you always know where East is, you’re not the only one disappearing to pray five times a day, work schedules change during Ramadan, everything is halal, etc.

I also find that I’m being more open about my faith. In the US, it doesn’t usually come up as a topic, and most people aren’t going to assume I’m Muslim (I’m a white guy). Here in Indonesia, “what is your religion?” is a common getting-to-know-someone question, and phrases like “inshallah” (God willing) and “mashallah” (thank God) are common everyday phrases. So when I also use those phrases, people tend to realize I’m Muslim.

11. Did your identity lead to specific challenges or situations?

It’s pretty much all been positive. Indonesians’ response when they find out I’m a Muslim has been overwhelmingly positive, although they’re often curious as to why I converted, and explaining can be difficult. I feel very accepted here. I guess the only challenge is sort of what I alluded to in question 5 – the challenge of holding myself to a higher standard.

Do it!

Final Thoughts

Hank’s story as an Education volunteer in Indonesia paints a clear picture of both the joys and challenges of service. From teaching in classrooms and building student confidence to walking village roads and adjusting to local customs, his reflections show the everyday reality of life as a volunteer. His openness about faith, culture, and personal growth highlights how service is as much about learning as it is about teaching. Through his experience, we see how volunteering creates connections, builds understanding, and leaves a lasting impact on both the community and the volunteer.

What are you waiting for? Opportunities like this don’t come often. If you have a passion for service and an adventurous spirit like Hank’s, apply to the Peace Corps today. Expand your horizons, push your limits, and create positive impact as a volunteer. You never know how serving as a Peace Corps volunteer could change your life.

The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or Indonesia Government.