Author: Valerie Klesen

Have you ever moved to a country where you felt like you didn’t belong? All you wanted to do at first is find something that felt familiar? Hi, my name is Valerie, I’m 23, (half) Indonesian and I moved to Switzerland about a decade ago. In the first couple years I went on the hunt for (real) Asian food, by looking for the best restaurants and stores. I will be using this platform to provide you with insights on the best Asian restaurants and stores in the greater Zurich area, as well as inform you of stereotypical (indon)asian, pun intended, traits that you may not have known about. Also, if you’re interested in a recommendation by an Asian, of which Islands to visit in Asia: stay tuned. This platform should aid in learning about Indonesians, as well as spread the looooove for Asian cuisine and culture. I hope you enjoy the ride...

Indonesians don’t say…

Hi friends! Welcome to my last post on this platform. Yes, the last, can you believe? So, to wrap things up in a funny way, here’s a TikTok video of things Indonesians say that seem odd (and funny) on this side of the planet. Enjoy, share, & …

Indonesian in Switzerland

Throughout my journey of posting content in the past couple months, I’ve gotten lots of feedback, compliments, but most of all, questions. What is it like living in Switzerland? What is the weirdest thing you’ve encountered? How about a culture shock moment? All of these are very …

Indonesian Mom Recipe – Semur Ayam

As mentioned throughout my previous blog posts, Indonesians are very fond of food. Semur Ayam is one of the most popular home-cooked meals in Indonesia. But what is Semur Ayam exactly? Ayam is chicken and Semur is Indonesian meat stew that is braised in thick …

Places to See in Indonesia That Are Not Bali

One of Indonesia’s many poets, Toba Beta, once said: “Don’t talk about heaven if you’ve never been to Bali”. Tourists who have visited Bali have witnessed this firsthand, with many characterizing it as “heaven on earth.” For years, the island has been renowned for its …

Differences in Culture: Indonesia vs. Switzerland

There is a huge Indonesian community living in Switzerland. Many have been here over decades, others just moved recently. Have you ever wondered whether Indonesians in Switzerland experience culture shock? And if yes, to what extent? Are there any cultural similarities between the Indonesian and …

How To: IndoMie Goreng

After my second post, many of you wanted to know two main things through the comments on Facebook, as well as private messages on Instagram. What do I usually buy when I’m at the Asian store? What is IndoMie and how do you make it? …