Migration from Indonesia to Singapore often looks straightforward online. Better opportunities, better education, a better life. That is the usual story. Then there is another side that rarely appears in posts.
“Kabur Aja Dulu” has been circulating on Indonesian social media, especially among young people talking about studying or working abroad. The idea sounds simple. Leave first; figure things out later.
A recent TikTok video from an Indonesian who moved to Singapore at 14 as a scholarship student shows a different angle. Not just success but adjustment. A new country, a new system, and new expectations, and suddenly everything familiar disappears.
Migration Brings More
The OP describes living away from family feels different at that age. No one to sit with after a hard day. There is no quick advice from parents before exams. Every problem gets handled alone, even the small ones that normally do not feel heavy back home.
Adapting Can Be Difficult
School life does not translate cleanly. She shared being top of the class in Indonesia does not automatically carry over. In Singapore the environment shifts quickly with English fluency, classroom pace, and communication style all changing at once, and it hits like suddenly no longer being ahead but just trying to keep up for the first time.
Belonging also takes time. Friendships form but often within familiar groups first. Same language, same background. It feels easier. Expanding beyond that circle comes later, sometimes much later than expected.
A Growing Conversation About Migration
The comment section under the video reflects the same experience. Missing home food. Missing family presence after stressful days. Missing the comfort of being understood without needing to explain everything.
Others still point to opportunity and progress, but the emotional cost keeps appearing in the discussion.
Migration still opens doors. That part remains clear. But the experience rarely stays as simple as it looks on screen.
See the video here:
@gracegumala The harsh truth of being an immigrant / diaspora kid 🇮🇩🇸🇬 #kaburajadulu #immigrant #story
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