April 18, 2025, 6:00 am

From a Small Meeting to a Thriving Network — How One Student Changed Everything

☁️ Back to Jakarta: A New Beginning in a Familiar City 

When I returned to Jakarta in early 2010, I instantly missed Gorontalo’s fresh air. The heat, pollution, and never-ending traffic of the capital became part of my new reality. But this move wasn’t just a change in location — it was a leap of faith. I had left behind the students, community projects, and impact I had built in Gorontalo. As a single mom of two, I knew I had to start over — not just for myself, but for the future of my children. My teaching journey was about to take a very different, unexpected turn.👩

Jakarta busy road

‍⚕️ Meeting Kristin: The First Student Who Believed in Me 

Not long after I settled in, I met Kristin, a kind-hearted psychiatrist from New York living in Jakarta with her husband. She became my first Bahasa Indonesia student in the city and believed in my work from day one. Kristin didn’t just thank me after class. She wrote a glowing recommendation and shared it with her friends in the local expat community. What I didn’t know at the time was how powerful that one act of kindness would be.

.💼 A Corporate Connection That Changed the Game 

Through Kristin’s network, I soon met Manon, an expat’s wife who took private lessons with me. She appreciated my structured yet engaging approach and immediately referred her husband, Mark, a manager at Chevron Indonesia. I met Mark at his office in Senayan, and to my surprise, he didn’t just sign up for lessons — he asked me to teach his entire team. That became a turning point. Suddenly, I wasn’t just teaching individuals — I was entering the corporate world of Jakarta’s expat community.

🤝 Lee and Susie, the Supportive Student Who Became a Lifelong Ally

Mark also introduced me to Lee, one of his colleagues. Lee was incredibly supportive and played a key role in helping me publish my first book, Get Talking Indonesian. That book later made its way to the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2015, representing Indonesia on an international stage. From a private language lesson to a global platform — I never saw that coming.

My First Publication, Get Talking Indonesian 2014

🍽️ A Luncheon of Laughs and Shared Stories

Meanwhile, Manon didn’t stop spreading the word. She introduced me to her circle at the American Club, including Susie, the wife of an ExxonMobil expat. Susie recommended me to her husband, Scott, who also became my student. One day, I heard a hilarious story about a luncheon where ten expat wives were chatting over lunch. When one of them said, “My Bahasa Indonesia teacher is Restiany,” the whole table burst into laughter — because they all had me as their teacher! That story stayed with me. It was funny, humbling, and heartwarming all at once.

💛 The Power of Trust and Word of Mouth

I hadn’t placed a single ad. Yet, my schedule was full. Students kept coming — one recommendation at a time. It wasn’t luck. It was trust. And the incredible power of community. To Kristin, Manon, Mark, Lee, Susie, Scott, and many others whose names may not be mentioned but whose support I’ve never forgotten — thank you. You helped build not just my Jakarta career but a meaningful life chapter I’ll always treasure.

📚 More stories from my teaching journey are coming soon!

 Thank you for reading and being part of this ride. 💛

📌 Disclaimer: All names mentioned are shared with heartfelt appreciation and to honor the role each person played in my teaching journey. I am forever grateful for their trust and support. Please excuse the quality of the photos included in this post. They were taken at the time with a low-resolution camera, but the memories they represent are priceless.