ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the concept of expatriation, some locations, often including Jakarta, are considered hardship posts', which require those who are sent there to be compensated accordingly. In line with this view of expatriation as a strenuous and somewhat forced endeavour, many expatriates and their families do not necessarily want to live abroad. The chapter considers two groups whose members emphatically distance themselves from the family expatriates'. These are the firstly the younger generation of professionals, who live and work in Jakarta, and secondly the Western foreigners living in Yogyakarta, a medium-sized university town in Central Java. While the older generation often seeks to recreate their respective national cultures with regard to social activities, food, and entertainment, young professionals seem to aspire to more international, global' lifestyles. In contrast to Western backpacking tourists, who attempt to gain social capital through seeking out ever more remote and obscure destinations, among young professionals it is the shared experience of certain airport lounges.
